Earlier quoted context omitted.
Autism is not a mental illness. I am not mentally ill. I was born with a disability which causes social impairments and a host of other symptoms. Being Autistic is beyond my control, and is untreatable other than just trying my damndest to “pass” as neurotypical whereever and however I can. I find it incredibly insulting and damaging to label me as mentally ill.
The modern discussion whether it's a mental illness or not is just tiptoeing around the issue for non-medical concerns. Mental illness doesn't mean "crazy person", there's a huge number of such cases, and half the population or more is affected by one or more (20% on any given year). There's nothing insulting or damaging to call someone as mentally ill (except for types who think it means "crazy person" or some such)…
Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits
#91There is no “modern discussion” around if autism is a mental illness. It is settled scientific consensus that Autism is a cognitive disability and NOT a mental illness. This “modern discussion” you speak of consists of a single commenter on Hacker News making an unsubstantiated arm-chair assertion that Autism is a mental illness. I’m sorry to bust your bubble, but you are not important enough to overturn settled scientific understanding and consensus with a single comment on a web forum. Now, I want you to understand that no matter how you classify different disabilities and afflictions inside your mind, when you speak such mistruths you influence and affwct the world views of others. Other people are going to read or listen to your comments and they are going to begin to conflate Autism with mental illness. They are going to loop me in with folks who can be treated with medication, or with psycho therapy. They are going to wonder if I’m going to exhibit symptoms of mental illnesses since I am autistic. They are going to wonder if I am depressed, or have anger or personality issues. They are going to wonder if I am a danger to them, and in turn, that mentality is going to cause direct harm and danger to me and other people on the spectrum. It will deprive us of opportunities. It will lessen our ability to make social bonds, in which we already struggle. Your words have power, and in this case I find it disappointing that rather than use your words to benefit others you have chosen, through arrogance, to engage in half-truths and misunderstanding at the detriment of myself and others. Please, consider if it’s more important for you to put forth an opinion that is actively harmful to others, or to approach your discussions and opinions in a more empathetic way.