Reading more, in education there is a clear divide between a learning difficulty and disability. One comes under education and one comes under health. It appears once they leave education it all comes under the umbrella of disability.
Condition. ..disorder...disability.
Semantics.
It has the potential to be a disabilty within the meaning of the disability discrimination act and the equality act which is all that matters here.... I get that some autistic spectrum people may not consider themselves disabled (just as some deaf or mobility impaired people don't), but thats pretty irrelevant here as these people wouldnt try to claim protection under the DDA or EA anyway
The equality act 2010 (Mainland UK only , not NI) defines disabled as " if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities."