I sympathize with this point of view but I disagree. I’m not sure if I’m ADHD, but I’m autistic. I’ve been diagnosed as ADHD in the past, I’m just not sure how useful it is as a diagnosis for me. I have enormous problems with focus and executive functioning. For large portions of my life I’ve been seriously disabled, unable to work or support myself. There are times where I’m unable to talk. And I still don’t see autism as inherently dysfunctional.

If you put me in a village in Europe 5000 years ago, I’d be fine. I’d be better than fine. I’d be the guy in the hunting part who could smell the fresh scat from 50 yards away. I’d be the guy who could remember all the fucking barks and plants and mushrooms that are good for what ails ya. I’d be the guy who knew the story of every god and goddess and why they’re important. Most social situations would involve people I knew very well or people in the same culture, where I could depend on knowing the rules of the culture.

The modern world is full of random noise and stifling bureaucracy. I love being autistic. But it’s awful, truly awful to have this nervous system in this society. The endless stress breaks you down day after day, year after year, and system teaches you to see yourself as inherently broken, when it’s the system that has broken you.

Maybe you’re disabled, but maybe it’s the system that did it to you.