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.
There is a LOT of discussion out there about labels and bringing them back.
The Pro: those who need more immediate help can get access
The Con: We begin to properly identify others complexities and "co-morbidities" or added disabilities rather than assign Autism a label of Disabled. Autism is a different way of thinking and perceiving. Just like NeuroTypical, one can have added difficulties. Being highly sensory or having a hyper-focused brain, the ability to specialise and using language different should be matters of biodiversity NOT a disability.
But for now, I agree, as others do, a better system might aid the current model.
That's a good question.
Maybe it is different in NI.
I'm in England and I believe only ASD is used.
It seems that in some of the US levels are used too.
I'm just on my way out so won't be able to join in for a while but any clarification from someone would be good.
I did read some info on this site too and it appears that ASD is being used much more, because it appears to be deemed more appropriate.
I've also had discussion on this forum with other members about the levels -v- the spectrum.
Hi Debbie. Do you mean ‘no longer used’ even in diagnosis circles? Because I was definitely assigned Level One (formerly Asperger’s) in Jan 2022. Did they since abandon levels entirely? Or do you just mean that in the forum we don’t put levels in our profiles and that sort of thing?