This article considers whether Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA)necessarily leads to disability or whether AS/HFA simply leads to“difference.” It concludes that the term “difference” in relation toAS/HFA is a more neutral, value-free, and fairer description than terms such as“impairment,” “deficiency,” or “disability”; that theterm “disability” only applies to the lower functioning cases of autism; but that theterm “disability” may need to be retained for AS/HFA as long as the legalframework provides financial and other support only for individuals with a disability. Twomodels are summarized which attempt to define in what way individuals with AS/HFA are“different”: the central coherence model, and the folk psychology–folkphysics model. The challenge for research is to test the value of such models and to preciselycharacterize the differences in cognitive style.