Is Asperger ’ s Your Superpower?

Do you think maybe you have some of the characteristics of people with autism? Did your score on the Autism Quiz on this site suggest that you might be autistic? Has someone suggested that your behaviors are a little or a lot unusual might be “spectrumy”? Are you worried that having autism can be stigmatizing or that it makes you crazy? Not so fast. Get the facts. People with autism with average to high intelligence but who have difficulty with social skills used to be diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (named after the pediatrician who first characterized the condition in the 1940s). In the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), Asperger’s was merged and renamed, to be one form of the new “autism spectrum disorders” (ASD). But the term “Asperger’s” persists among many people who have called themselves “Aspies” for years. Why? Because, they feel that Aspergers emphasizes their positive attributes. Because it gives legitimacy to their less disabling form of autism and is therefore a route to getting services they need. It gives some of them a feeling of community and positive self-esteem. And it’s just plain easier to say than “I have autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability and needing Level 1 services.” For that reason alone, “Aspie” is probably not going to go out of the vocabulary of those who identify with it. Having autism as part of your make-up can be a gift, but to discover the positives req...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Aspergers Autism Books Asperger’s Syndrome Autism Spectrum neurotypical Source Type: blogs