Autism + Mental Retardation =/= Diet Coke + Mentos

I don't think people with severe autism are especially likely to have intellectual disability/mental retardation, and more and more research is beginning to confirm this. I think the phrase "autism with mental retardation" is just used as a rhetorical device to capitalize on prejudice against intellectual disabilities to support the idea that verbal and nonverbal autistic people have nothing in common. ASD people should really not fall in line with this sort of prejudice, both because it is wrong and because it limits our ability to advocate for ourselves.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• autism
• mental
• retardation
• intellectual
• disability
• ableism
• asperger's
• neurodiversity
• functioning
• labels

[Kurosakifangurl56]

I have mild to moderate autism and also have a learning disability and intellectual challenges... I disagree with this because it is possible. Some autistics with severe autism do have mental/intellectual challenges. They can't function like you can because some of them have no communication whatsoever. Their brains are wired differently. It depends on severity, really.

[gorramdoll]

@Kurosakifangurl56 that's not what I meant, sorry if it comes off that way.

[Mariotheplumber100]

It's common for severe autists to have mental retardation.

[gorramdoll]

@Mariotheplumber100 you. can't. tell. that.

[drledsabbath]

Autism is a learning disability, not mental or spastic or obsessive compulsive or whatever these fucking assholes on youtube say. Fuck trolls, I'd like to see you all say this shit in real life, dickheads.

[AquariumNerd1]

i have aspergers, and obsessive compulsive disorder. im a high achiever to and will be an engineer.

[Justinfhtube]

@Mariotheplumber100 Well, I knew a guy in High School with severe Autism, and he was in AP Math.

[gorramdoll]

@kingcletusthecatfish well, that's nothing like what I said. if you find my speech difficult to understand would you like me to make a transcript?

[kingcletusthecatfish]

@gorramdoll I AM an ASD person.

I assumed the mentols/soda analogy meant that autism should not be a spectacle for entertainment on youtube.

[gorramdoll]

@kingcletusthecatfish I don't know if you've talked to ASD people before

you get used to it.