Opinions on the levels of ASD?

Hello, I was wondering about the different levels of autism and what autistic people think about them. I’ve noticed there’s a bit of a split in the community but there’s a majority of people who think the levels are confusing and often inaccurate. However some people find them useful for accessing support. I personally feel like it’s a fault within other people (not necessarily specific individuals but society) that autistic people need a diagnosis of level 2 or 3 asd to access the support they need. All autistic people deserve and should be able to access the support they need, but the levels can determine/aid with that, and level 1 autistics can find it harder to access support if their autism is seen as “milder”. What are your thoughts? 

Parents
  • Hi and welcome to the community.

    As you might know, severity levels are only given for diagnoses that are made under the DSM diagnostic manual (rather than under the ICD manual).

    In defining the criteria for those levels, the DSM also explains that autistic people who have better overall skills (relative to others) might struggle with different or even greater psychosocial challenges. 

    It states that the levels should not be used for determining anyone's eligibility for / access to services, and that this can only be assessed / developed at an individual level, based on each autistic person's personal priorities and goals. 

    If anyone who has been assessed under the DSM experiences any issues in accessing services due to their level, then they should make the service provider aware that the levels should not be used in that way.

  • good to know that it states that they shouldn't be used for determining eligibility for services, that may be helpful

Reply Children
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