Why do people insist on calling us autistics "people with autism?"

No matter how much we insist that we want to be called "autistic people," or simply "autistics," they insist on saying the other thing because "autism doesn't define you" and "you're so much more than autism!"

Why do they not understand that we WANT autism to define us? Telling me that I am more than autism is not a compliment, it is an insult, because it implies it is this terrible disability that i should overcome. It is not. I am not mentally handicapped. It is not like down syndrome. I know I don't speak for all autistics, but I speak for most.

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Comments ( 13 )
  • Abnormal_Someone

    Isn’t it the same thing? Maybe you do have autism if you’re autistic

    I mean sorry what’s the difference?

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    • Yeah, but It's their intentions that matter. So many people correct us. When we say "I'm autistic," they say "you mean you HAVE autism. Remember, you're a person first!"

      They legit think that's supposed to lift my spirits or something, but I'm already perfectly happy with myself.

      It's all Autism $peak's fault, making people think autism is this terrible thing that no one should want to have. Well, I do have it, and I want to have it! I hope my kids will be autistic too, because autism is wonderful.

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  • Nikclaire

    How about people stop giving a fuck about labels. Language is required to explain something. Get over it.

    I'll be fucked if I am going to ask every person I meet how they wish to be identified.

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    • Euterpe

      I'm autistic and I agree!

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  • JellyBeanBandit

    I've never really paid attention to what term I use for autistic people. I'm sure I've said 'people with autism' a few times, I didn't think it mattered. I wouldn't say something like that 'autism doesn't define you' though, not if autistic people themselves don't think that anyway.

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  • WashYaDoggy

    I highly doubt someone will say "look he is autistics".
    They would say "look he is autistic".
    Maybe if one was grouping together a bunch of autistic dudes they might say "look at all the autistics".

    I wouldn't worry about it!

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  • cupcake_wants

    They want to empower you and not feel like you can't work beyond being autistic. You can do anything you set you mind to.

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    • CozmoWank

      But wouldn't empowering them mean letting them define themselves? Not labeling them as we think they should be labeled?

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    • Yeah, but I don't need to "work around" being autistic, since it doesn't really disable me in any way. Of course I can do anything I set my mind to. Autism doesn't slow people down, it makes us even more able. If I were not autistic, I wouldn't have been drawing cats and butterflies when I was 2. I would have been drawing them ate age 4, like all other other kids. I am gifted.I don't want to me more than autism. I am autism.

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  • RoseIsabella

    No poll. 😕

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  • Euterpe

    Woah. First of all, I am also autistic and I DEFINITELY don't want that to be my defining factor. It's not who I am, it's ONE factor. It doesn't mean you're not human like everyone else. It is a mental disorder and it is painful to live with. I haven't been able to hug my own mother for 17 years and I can't even eat in the same room as my family. It is something I want to overcome. YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR MOST AUTISTS. I AM NOT MY AUTISM. It prevents me from being my best me! You're crazy if you think others want to be defined by their painfull illnesses.

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  • dimwitted

    I don't think it's meant with malice.

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    • You're right they don't. Like I stated before, they legit think it's a compliment, but it's actually very hurtful. But if you let them know, they are so dense it goes right over their heads. People see sorry for us and I just don't understand why.

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