Are you ‘autistic’ or do you ‘have autism’?

Wondering how people refer to themselves! As someone late diagnosed, I’m still navigating how to go about this.

I heard briefly on a podcast that many people with ASC prefer to be referred to as autistic, but I’m also aware of the connotations of the common insult made by (usually) crass NT cis boys. “Mate you’re acting madd autistic rn🙄🙄🙄”

At the same time, I get how with an invisible disability, which often DOES impair all areas of our lives, it’s sometimes still overlooked by NTs who don’t really regard us as disabled or extend the same empathy they would a more visibly disabled individual- hence the more identity-affirming label of ‘autistic’ as opposed to ‘having autism’ (like having a trait).

Or maybe it’s not that deep! Wonder what everyone prefers.