on "having" autism

Yesterday, I was listening to a podcast by Doctor Mike about transgender healthcare. It's excellent, and I highly recommend it. But at one point, they're talking about the relationship between being autistic and being transgender. And the psychiatrist (who counsels transgender youth) uses the phrase person with autism ... I think this is supposed to be a thoughtful way of talking about people, of being people-first rather than diagnosis-first. But iiiiii don't like it. I don't like this perspective that autism is some kind of disease, that is some illness you "have". I prefer to think of it as, moreso, a different way of being. I've heard (my view) described as the "social model of autism", and the more traditional understanding as the "medical model of autism". ... My best friends all think I'm autistic. My therapists haven't. I think its reasonably likely. I love spending time with friends. I can be quite social. But when I'm having my alone time, I like it to be largely…