I’ve heard people say it too. Though often I hear people will claim that it’s only a disability in the social social sense. Like the fact that I have stims that Im not in control of, I’ve injured myself involuntarily, they claim that’s a social problem.
True, much of the disability is a social problem-and I’m all for the world changing so I’m not considered so disabled. I definitely agree with that, I do my best to do that everyday at work where I set up and autism friendly space for my students. But there are many problems many autistic people face in addition to the social prejudice, though not all. I’m so tired of those less disabled using their privilege to tell other autistics that their disabilities are just social issues, or shamming parents of such kids. I have a student who can’t speak due to her autism. Yes she communicates electronically, we have lots of accommodations for her, but she does in fact wish it was easier for her to speak, she wants to be able to talk, and had to go through a lot of grief accepting that she won’t be able to speak like others. Yet I hear so many people saying that autism is just a social disability and there’s nothing wrong with the fact she can’t speak. In some level it is comforting she can accept that about herself. But she’s told me she does wish it was easier for her to speak and she could talk more and with less effort.