The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Turns 35 Today. Is Autism a Disability? Is ADHD a Disability? Let’s Find Out!
A neurodiversity affirming therapist in Bethesda, MD explains how Autism and ADHD can be both disability and identity.
We’ll talk separately about Autism and ADHD, though many people are diagnosed with both. We’ll also discuss why the ADA is so important for neurodivergent Americans.
Is Autism a Disability?
Yes, autism is recognized as a disability—but that’s not the whole story. Who determines whether Autism is a disability? Why? And how? Let’s start with the current state of things.
1. Medical & Legal Systems Describe Autism as a Developmental Disability
U.S. Federal Law (including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act) classifies autism as a developmental disability.
This legal definition can grant access to
Special education services such as an IEP or 504 plan.
Workplace accommodations like the right to wear headphones, work remotely, or turn off flourescent lighting in a workspace.
Disability benefits in cases where a person’s Autism affects his/her/their ability to perform activities of daily living (such as getting dressed, self feeding, using the toilet, communicating, attending school, or attaining/maintaining employment)
Protection from discrimination.
In 2025 the connection between disability and support is less clear. The US Department of Health and Human Services maintains that Autism is a disability, while the executive branch of the US Government is fighting to remove some of the protections that the current legal definition provides.
2. The Social Model of Disability: Disability is a Mismatch Between Ability and Society
Many disabled self-advocates use the social model of disability, which says that people are disabled not by their bodies or brains, but by a world that isn’t built to include them. From this view, autistic people are disabled because society doesn’t accommodate their sensory needs, communication styles, or ways of thinking. It can be hard to imagine a world built equally for autistic and non-autistic people because we’ve never had one. But true inclusivity means exactly that.
3. Autistic Self-Advocates and Communities Sometimes Call Autism a Disability, While Also Calling it an Identity
Organizations like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) affirm that Autism is both a disability and a valid identity. The Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (aane.org) views autism as a “neurotype:” one aspect of a person’s identity, while also leaving room to discuss support needs that autistic people may have. From this point of view, claiming disability as part of one’s identity can be empowering, not shameful—it helps fight for access and rights. As neurodiversity affirming therapists, we do tend to look at it that way.
Some people, however, believe that calling Autism a disability is disempowering and limits the full inclusion of Autistic people in society.
Who Says Autism Isn’t a Disability?
1. Some Parents, Professionals, or Public Figures
Some people prefer to avoid the word “disability” and prefer terms like “difference,” “disorder,” or “condition” when describing the challenges Autism can create in someone’s life. Some may prefer not to talk about the challenges at all, but to focus on strengths and abilities. Typically these stances reflect concern that “disability” sounds negative or stigmatizing.
Fear of stigma is not unfounded. Stigma can be a real barrier to participation in society for Autistic people, particularly when someone assumes they can’t do a particular job or activity because of their Autism. It’s important to remember that each person with Autism (Autistic person) is a person, with their own individual strengths and challenges. The word Autism or the word disabled does not tell us what the person can or can not do.
2. Some Autistic (or otherwise Neurospicy, Neurosparkly, Neuroexceptional) People
Remember, we discussed to importance of self identification in our post about support. Some Autistic people prefer not to identify as disabled, especially if they don’t experience their autism as limiting or have faced ableism and want to define autism solely as a neurotype. These views are valid—identity is personal.
So... Is It Helpful to Call Autism Both an Identity and a Disability? Yes.
For many people, it’s powerful and accurate to do both. Autism can be
A disability — requiring support, accommodations, and advocacy
A neurological identity — shaping how someone experiences the world AND
A community — shared language, culture, pride, and history
Calling autism a disability helps secure rights and services. Calling autism an identity helps build pride, belonging, and self-understanding. You don’t have to choose one or the other. For example, you can say:
“I’m autistic. It’s part of my identity. And yes, it’s also a disability in a society that isn’t set up for people like me.”
Whether someone calls autism a disability, a difference, or an identity, the most respectful approach is to listen to how each individual describes themselves—and support the language they choose. There’s power in claiming disability. There’s power in claiming identity. And there’s room for both.
Now, let’s talk about ADHD.
Is ADHD a Disability? A neurodiversity affirming therapist in Bethesda, MD explains.
ADHD, like autism, sits at the intersection of disability, identity, and difference, and how we talk about it really matters.
Let’s break this down in a way that’s clear, nuanced, and inclusive. Yes, ADHD is recognized as a disability—but not everyone experiences it the same way or chooses to call it that. Some say ADHD is a disability. And some do not.
Who Says ADHD Is a Disability?
1. Medical & Legal Systems Include ADHD as a Neurodevelopmental Disorder
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is officially recognized as a neurodevelopmental disorder by:
The American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5)
The World Health Organization (ICD-11)
In the U.S., ADHD qualifies as a disability under:
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
IDEA (for some students in K-12 education)
This recognition is what sometimes makes it possible to get:
Accommodations at school or work
Extended time on tests
Disability protections under the law
2. Disability Rights Advocates & ADHD Self-Advocates Agree
Many people with ADHD say “Yes, this is a disability—because it affects how I function in a world built for non-ADHD brains.” This aligns with the social model of disability. ADHD itself isn’t inherently a problem, but society creates barriers by not accommodating ADHD needs (like task-switching, rest breaks, sensory input, executive dysfunction).
Who Says ADHD Isn’t a Disability?
1. Some Professionals or Educators May Not Agree that ADHD is a Disability
People with ADHD all share the experience of having a teacher or loved one downplay ADHD as just “quirky” or “not trying hard enough.” Others frame it as a behavioral problem or learning challenge—but might not see that as a disability. Typically when that happens we want to fight back and explain the ways in which ADHD does make our lives hard. But not always.
2. Some People with ADHD Don’t Want to Be Called Disabled
We might reject the label “disabled” for many reasons. First, there are far cooler labels. We can be neurospicy, neuroexceptional, neurosparkly, and so much more. These labels reflect an understanding of ADHD as more of a difference or gift. We might just like that better, or have worries about the stigma tied to disability. We might also have learned to mask or compensate and don’t feel disabled. And that’s okay. Like with autism, there’s no one right way to identify.
So… Is It Helpful to Call ADHD Both an Identity and a Disability? Yes.
ADHD can be:
A disability, when it affects your ability to complete tasks, organize, focus, or manage emotions in everyday life.
An identity, when it shapes how you think, create, communicate, and connect.
A community, where shared experiences and strengths are recognized and valued.
Claiming both can be empowering:
“I have ADHD. It’s part of how my brain works. It creates challenges in a society not built for me—and yes, that makes it a disability. vAnd it’s also part of who I am.”
Why Our Language About ADHD Matters: A Neurodiversity Affirming Perspective
Calling ADHD a disability can:
Help people access the support they need
Normalize accommodations and reduce shame
Affirm that struggles are real, not personal failings
Calling ADHD an identity can:
Build self-acceptance and pride
Highlight the unique strengths of ADHD brains (like creativity, passion, resilience)
Connect people to others with similar experiences
You don’t have to choose one or the other. ADHD can be both—or neither—depending on how you understand it.
ADHD isn’t “just a quirk,” and it isn’t “just a deficit.” It’s a neurotype—a valid way of being.
For some, it’s disabling. For others, it’s defining. For many, it’s both. What’s most important is letting people self-define, and supporting them in getting what they need to thrive.
Protect the ADA! Build a Neurodiversity Affirming America.
The Americans with Disabilities Act helps people with Autism, ADHD, and many other conditions to function at school, in the workplace, and in the community. And when people with disabilities are truly included in our society, we benefit from their knowledge and expertise. It isn’t just about accommodation, but about innovation.
