To me, it feels like it is some sort of desperate attempt to not say ‘autistic’/‘autism’, but I don’t fully understand why. Most people I’ve seen using ‘on the spectrum’ are either actively questioning whether they or someone they are close with are autistic, or think it but don’t care all that much. Personally, I find referring to autism as ‘the spectrum’ a bit offensive, as the only reason I can find to use the term is to forcibly emphasize that whoever is referred to (hereafter: ‘me’, although sometimes I am a spectator) is not like other (higher needs, lower perceived status) autistics. They suggest that they think badly of autism this way, and ungroup me from that group so it’s not insulting (but it is, to the entire group and thus to me, who is, could be argued, also insulted directly). Although I know that basically everyone perceives people unalike themselves as ‘worse’ (human nature sadly) and it isn’t on purpose, it is still very insulting to me. I already knew I was a joke to most people, so please don’t make fun of me for things I have trouble with. Am I wrong about the reason people use the term? Do you agree or disagree and most importantly: why?
I don’t see it as offensive, but English isn’t my first language either.
I don’t think we have a term in Swedish for “on the spectrum” we would instead say NPF, Neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättning / funtionsvariation which means “Neuropsychiatric disability / functional variation”.I do get a little bit annoyed tho when people hesitate or feel uncomfortable to use the word autism, as if it would be a slur. But I understand they don’t want to step on my or anyone else’s toes.
It’s literally in the clinical name.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd
Broadly there’s two important reasons for why it’s called this, when it used to be either Asperger’s or autism.
- Asperger was a Nazi and actively involved in the state sanctioned murder of autistic children.
- Medically it’s a bit dumb. There’s no neat dividing line between people with Asperger’s and people with autism, and giving people that could be diagnosed either way as autistic or having Asperger’s, different diagnoses changed their access to support.
So it’s called a spectrum to recognize that there’s a wide range of symptoms and not everyone presents in the same way or requires the same support.
Using the term ‘on the spectrum’ seems like an attempt at a middle ground for those who may feel uncomfortable with the word autism, straight up. I’d offer this could feel like a safer term for those worried about external reaction to the word autism. Even though that’s what it’s called, sticking to the center may be a way to go to avoid skepticism of NTs. I experienced a lot of this right up to my diagnosis at 57. And now that I’m diagnosed and have been validated, I say ‘autism’ proudly. Because the stigma has to stop.
halfway through responding i talked myself out of my own opinion on this. language changes and i think “on the spectrum” is coming to the end of it’s usefulness. it was helpful for a time but now i only use it at work in the context of “i’m just grasping for language that will make you understand how to communicate with me”.
On the spectrum is a helpful middle ground when exploring the topic though. And it was a very helpful middle ground when every discussion of autism seemed to devolve into clinical diagnosis vs awareness that the medical system in most countries is a dumpster fire. getting my son diagnosed took very little effort. when i looked into it for myself 6 yrs ago, the clinician was helpfully blunt with “look unless you need accomodations dont put yourself through this yet. theres one person in this state who can diagnose in adults and it’s a 2 yr wait list to start the 1 yr $1200 out of pocket process”.
a friend got her offical diagnosis about 6 months ago and the process has by her description, improved and shortened significantly. so i may explore that again. at this point outside work i just use autist/autism, but at work i still use spectrum. I do agree the language is aging out of broad usefullness, but i don’t believe it’s something i’ll be bothered by for a long while still. i get your frustration with it. I think we’re in that be kind and let people use the language they’re comfortable with period for the spectrum. it may die off or it may become elder millenials term for ourselves as aspie has for some genxers who grew up before the spectrum entered the dms5.