this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2026

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Autism

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Happy Autistic Pride Day! (en.wiktionary.org)

submitted 4 months ago by m_f@discuss.online to c/autism@lemmy.world

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

on the spectrum phrase 🔊

(autism, idiomatic, informal) Having autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum; autistic.

☞ Today is Autistic Pride Day, which recognizes the importance of pride for people with autism and its role in bringing about positive changes in society for them. It was established in 2005 by the campaigning group Aspies For Freedom on the birthday of the youngest member of the group at the time.

Illustration for on the spectrum

Siena Castellon author of The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide.png

The British autism activist and writer Siena Castellon with her book The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic (2020).

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Word_of_the_day/2026/June_18

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[–] CallMeAl@piefed.zip 10 points 4 months ago (6 children)

Am I the only one who deeply dislikes the phrase "on the spectrum" and the way NTs misuse it? In my experience, most NTs seem to think it means the person being described as some kind of light or partial autism. When it fact "on the spectrum" means exactly the same this clinically as "has autism."

Is it just me? Am I missing something?

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[–] Arcanepotato@crazypeople.online 10 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Lol they take it as degree of disability rather than spectrum of differences because they can't comprehend that anything other than the NT way of being exists.

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[–] CallMeAl@piefed.zip 8 points 4 months ago (1 child)

I sometimes ask "and where are you on the ableism spectrum?" if I'm annoyed by someone enough

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[–] Arcanepotato@crazypeople.online 5 points 4 months ago

That response rules, I'm def going to use it in the future 🫡

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[–] MontyGommo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I didn’t read the thing, and also don’t entirely disagree with you.. but as someone who struggles quite a bit but knows a lot of people who struggle more… I think it’s a reasonable term that helps promote understanding

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[–] CallMeAl@piefed.zip 3 points 4 months ago

My experience ia that it promotes misunderstanding. What am I not seeing that you are?

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[–] ergoplato@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 point 4 months ago

That’s the thing though. It’s ableism telling you that some struggle “more” when, in fact, we all struggle differently on the spectrum. Spectrum of presentations/expressions, not difficulties.

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