Is autism a disability?

In my current opinion, the answer is both yes and no.

Here's why.

I'll start by defining what a disability is.

Generally speaking, a disability is a condition that impairs or substantially limits a person's ability to do at least one major life activity.

For example, if a condition limits a person's ability to work, that makes it a disability.

And based on everything we know about autism through psychology, neuroscience, biology, even philosophy, autism meets those criteria.

And this is clearly shown in the way the diagnostic criteria are written.

The DSM explicitly states that autism impairs a person's ability to do important life activities (without support).

HOWEVER...

If you really think about what makes something a disability... impairment is at the core of it.

But what if that impairment is removed? Would the person still be disabled? I would argue not.

In other words, if a person has an impairment, but it can be removed (let's say with assistive technology or other supports)... that would result in them having everything they need to exist. Fully. Functionally.

Even if that looks different than it does for everyone else. If they have no impairments and can accomplish everything they need in life, they are no longer disabled.

Which means that being disabled is a state that can change based on a person's circumstances.

In other words... disability is not a fixed state. It's variable.

Now, with autism, autistic brain wiring creates challenges that most of us can't overcome without support.

Which means that most of us are, in fact, disabled.

But not necessarily all of us. Which is why some autistic people don't feel disabled by their autism. Because their autism isn't disabling for them.

This also means that for those of us who are disabled by our autism, we won't necessarily be disabled indefinitely (though some of us will, which is important to keep in mind).

But that because we don't have the right support now, we are, in fact, disabled.

So is autism a disability? Yes and no.