“Autism spectrum disorder spiked 175% among people in the U.S. from 2.3 per 1,000 in 2011 to 6.3 per 1,000 in 2022, researchers found. Diagnosis rates climbed at a faster rate among adults in their mid-20s to mid-30s in that period, according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open.”
I am split on this. I feel like my autism isn’t a disability. Sometimes my autistic traits can be. Neurotypicals also have mental traits that can hold them back. Mine have names like executive function disorder, but neurotypicals can exhibit many of my traits (not all) and not be as stigmatized. So I’m of the opinion that autism itself isn’t a disability, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have disabilities that stem from it.