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.
I would say that ASD lvl 1, represents those autists that have the minimum impact on functioning, and maximum sparing of intellect and language abilities. That’s not a firm statement its the product of my best dead-reckoning..:)
DeSpereaux said:sparing of intellect and language abilities
I don't think it's so much a matter of sparing these, as it is that these can be part of our spiky profile and being at either end of a bell curve. It seems that ND people are more likely than the general population to either have learning difficulties or to be a mensa level genius; are more likely to be either dyslexic or hyperlexic, non-verbal or talking too much (whether the ADHD chatterbox thing or the overwhelming urge to infodump).
I know where you’re coming from, as one can certainly reach peaks of competency, such as with procedural learning. I am concerned the cost to the one’s self-image and public-image, by being referred to as being unique and peerless and matchless in one’s anomalous character. My consideration is that being special, in one’s own awareness and in others’ awareness, can lead to a poorer quality of life.
I think that autistic individuals are less-equipped handle the expectation and isolation of being on the fringe. Due to their well documented social impairments, it is not surprising that so many of us experience psychological trauma, and experience alienation by our peers. I think that this is one of the greatest issues in autism.