I've stopped saying I 'have autism' - for me, being autistic is brilliant, not a burden | Nick Ransom

I want the language I use to describe myself to celebrate all the things my neurological difference has given me

Nick Ransom is a journalist and founder of the Neurodiverse Media Community

I don't see being autistic as having" a disorder. Instead, I look at it as a very positive thing. From a young age, it has helped me direct a laser-like focus on achieving my goals. My obsessive mindset and lack of real motivation to socialise accelerated my career in a way that would not have been possible if I had other interests. Achieving my ambitions would have been so much harder if I had not been autistic.

But there is an increasing tendency to use language that demonises this neurological difference. Phrases such as Nick has autism" or Nick's autism" make me cringe as they suggest an ailment that controls and burdens, which feeds into a narrative of struggle, disability and a lack of agency.

Nick Ransom is a journalist and founder of the Neurodiverse Media Community

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