Published on 12, July, 2020
We often get posts on the form asking for advice with autistic children. And I can't help but notice the requests overwhelmingly relate to low functioning autistic children. As someone who is quite high functioning and had a very disrupted and turbulent childhood I can guarantee you it's not because high functioning autistic children don't have just as many issues. Nore is it that high functioning autistic children are particularly rare. We recently had a discussion on this point in another thread and figures I dug up indicated around 40%+ of autistic children being diagnosed these days are of average or above average intelligence.
So the question I'm asking is this. Why don't those parents come looking for help? Is it because the main stream schooling and support systems are so much better at supporting high functioning children? I doubt it. Is it because they tend to think of their child’s behaviour as 'naughty' not 'autistic?' Is it maybe they don't accept or agree with their child’s diagnosis? What do you think it is?
More to the point:
Edit ps: For the simplification of this entire discussion and to avoid a long drawnout arguments over semantics. Instead of high functioning we shall say high IQ meaning an IQ of 85+ and instead of low functioning we will say low IQ meaning an IQ less than 85. As measured on a standard clinically approved IQ test.
Ausomely Autistic said:There is no such thing as ‘low functioning’, please do not use functioning labels
Riz said:i was just diagnosed as having high functioning autism
This is a good example of why I think that this is problematic.
We are being told here that we shouldn't use the terminology of an official medical diagnosis.
More than that, we are being told that it doesn't exist.
I actually prefer to make my own mind up but this type of discourse concerns me a great deal and is unusual for this forum.
This is why I think we need to start a movement where we do away with being assigned levels and functioning labels by the assessor but keep the terminology and just let us autistic people say what support we feel we need instead, so if someone feels their levels vary they can say to their employers/carers "I haven't slept very well in days so I'm level 2 this week, here are a few things I could use more accomodations/help with" if that is helpful to them for example.
Couldn't agree more! We are the experts on our own autistic experiences and needs!