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Different levels?

andi

Hi 

I’m confused by these levels, I’m assuming they are relatively new…

I guess generally I’m a level 1 but I feel like I cross the line into level 2 but I’m so confused Sweat smile I heavily mask but people still notice that I have differences to what is considered “normal” 

im moving into to own home for the first time where I’ll be living on my own (which I’ve never done before so I am so so nervous but I am excited too) I guess ill see what level  fit into when I move? 

does anything really define the levels or do you only fit into one? 

  • in reply to andi

         

    You didn't offend me.  I'd prefer the old terminology was still used myself, and the fact there has to be these subsections of ASD to cover some but not all in-part shows why it was not wise (in my opinion) to call everyone Autistic in the first place. 

    Nobody polled those with Autism before making the change, did they ?

    That said.  I think these levels (above) are broad enough to be a general guide for categorising individuals in terms of the help they may require.  Even if some may be 1/2 or 2/3.   As I said before, I feel they are for the benefit of social care professionals, not for those with ASD.  

  • in reply to Bananatropics26

    Gosh I’m sorry to hear that. Hope you can find some support to help you. 

    I’m very lucky that I’ve signed up to get some support when I do move (my family are moving around the same time to a different area and so I’m up here on my own) to help with the transition. I’ve been in supported living before and I struggled then but moving with my family isn’t an option. I’m not fully myself around them (and they don’t believe I’m correctly diagnosed even though I was diagnosed through a specialist) and I’m in the middle of studies so it’s not an option and one of my younger family members (still an adult) is moving with them and he is just an awful awful person. 

  • in reply to overwhelmed & underwhelmed ( O & U )

    I got diagnosed before the levels were a common thing, where it was still called Asperger’s, HFA ect. Rather than using autism as an overall umbrella diagnosis. 

    this is kind of why I asked the question these 3 levels don’t seem to take into account that people’s needs are changing day to day depending on circumstances. As it’s autism awareness month I’ve just been seeing everywhere. It just led to my thought going to places that’s all.

    i didn’t mean to offend anyone if i did 

  • You can be all levels at once or level 1 and level 2 or solely one or the other. It isn't clearly defined as autism as defined medically is very socially constructed and defined by what you see. It changes nothing is concrete and set in stone. I got moved into my own flat 8 months ago and my life has went down the toilet ever since. Drinking alcohol etc. 

  • The levels are defined around the amount of support you require (minimal, substantial, very substantial) 

    If someone has assessed you as able to move into your own home you'd be generally level 1, excepting some supported living arrangements. 

    I tend to think these levels are there more for assessment purposes, for those who allot care packages and the like - rather than those who are in receipt of anything to try to interpret.  I am being a touch cynical though. 

    I guess if your new home wasn't supported living, and you'd been assessed as level 2, then it would be unsuitable for you - so there's a method here.  

    Going right off at a tangent - I feel we all (in the ASD community) require some support sometimes, but wouldn't necessarily meet the criteria even for level 1.  What level would some of us then be?   This is why I don't like categorising people in this way.  In some respects it seems to invalidate their ASD in a way.  

    Having said this - many of us have tried getting even minimal support, and find it just isn't there when needed.  


    I think your question actually opens up more questions - and I guess people can be borderline, by these definitions.