Being “on the spectrum” has nothing to do with level of functioning. Even intellectual giftedness is in some places considered a disorder.
The labels describe that we are different from the norm, which means that at least we will struggle to fit in on a social development level and may often find ourselves disadvantaged in a world not build for us.
We still call those disabilities, regardless of provable cognitive improvements but it’s all relative. There is an overrepresentation of “people on the spectrum” working in science.
Yup. It’s a spectrum for those of us who process and understand faster and more easily than everyone else. But then we have to slow down and explain it 4 different ways until the ‘neurotypicals’ understand.
I was thought to be ADHD, but no, I'm autistic (Aspie in particular), and maybe showing signs of PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance).