Published on 12, July, 2020
One thing I've always struggled with since being on this forum and understanding more about autism, is the fact that levels are no longer used.
I understand the idea of the spectrum and that we can all shoot off at angles and pick up where something affects us deeply.
However, levels were to do with the amount of support required, so how much a person's functionality is impacted by autism.
Level 1, 'Asperger's Syndrome', 'high functioning' were for people who had what was then termed as 'mild' autism.
I realise that 'mild' probably isn't appropriate for us.
However, there are threads on this forum relating to a 'solution' for autism and 'acceptance'.
I can answer for myself and my own struggles but I feel sometimes that the people who are without speech (some of whom I think are actually on this forum, from reading profiles), who cannot live independently without support, are not taken into account.
This is a reason why I actually find it quite hard to answer these questions, because I see myself as 'level 1', high functioning and I can't answer for people whose lives are so very deeply impacted by their autism and their carers.
This is an interesting discussion. When my son was diagnosed we were told that they now only use ASD but previously some were told they had a PDA profile.
I can see limitations, for example where do you draw the line. I would be described as level 1 but I do not see myself as having Asperger's as I see that being people who are a lot more intelligent than me and can have discussions about things I could not understand.
On the other hand I do see some guidance would be helpful. My son tries to be like his peers but struggles with a lot of things and I think when he is an adult he will find it difficult to be independent but would not been seen by most people that way, unless they knew him well.
If Asperger’s always means high intelligence then it rules me out too. So now I’m very confused! What the hell am I?