Published on 12, July, 2020
You know I am not want to quibble about language I would normally say you should use whatever terminology most quickly and accurately conveys what you’re trying to say regardless of whether it’s politically correct. Autistic person or person with autism it makes very little difference to me. High functioning or low functioning yeah I think we all understand what that means now. But there is one terminology that I am seeing but I am not a fan of.
people who say that this person is profoundly autistic or very autistic or severely autistic. Because they’re not talking about the core symptoms of autism being more serious the lack of social skills the special interest are repetitive behaviours. They’re talking about intellectual handicap. As if people who have an intellectual disability are somehow more autistic than people who do not. and the logical extension of this is that they are more deserving of sympathy and help and special accommodations. and these intellectually disabled autistic people are the true autistic people the profoundly autistic people and the ones you have to take seriously not like these high functioning autistic people. they don’t really need help. at least that is a subtext which is conveyed.
I mean no one says “he is so profoundly autistic he kept me talking about quantum physics for an hour even though I tried to change the subject multiple times and then tried to follow me in to the ladies loo to keep talking to me about quantum physics.”
no one says, “he is so severally autistic he thought a good icebreaker would be the group discussing what sex toys we have.” Even though this would be the proper use of the term.
no when they say profoundly autistic they mean “he’s 26 and has a mental age of 12.” I really wish we could stop people and I guess by people I mostly mean parents from using this terminology.
As ever language is difficult and evolving, and provoking to some sensibilities.
Profound or severe to me means being at the higher end of the autism scale irrespective of intellectual abilities - thus unable to speak, less able to cope with society etc. - although with autism often being comorbid with intellectual disability it is inevitable that they become synonymous.
I really hate the way some people expect a diagnosis to go with a look. Some people may exhibit signs as with, say, Tourettes syndrome, or a hearing aid for deafness, but otherwise do they look different?
And yes, I quite often look at people "swanning" along and wonder how hard they are working behind the scenes. I know a number of people who have invisible conditions and/or significant caring responsibilities, autism being just one of them, who seemingly cope well, but truth be known are struggling.