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Please GET RID of functioning labels!!!

Hope

Okay, I need to rant. Today I felt CryYell after an ignorant Neurotypical told me that I am 'really high-functioning'. This person, athough not an expert, does work with people who have autism. She does not know me that well, so what does she mean by this? I look, for want of a better word, normal, very normal in fact. There are no outward signs of disability; I have a University degree, I am eloquent and can speak clearly, and do not exhibit any concerning behaviour when I am out in public (note - if I am highly stressed, I can put myself in danger, but most of the time I do not display any strange behaviour). Yes my traits not immediately obvious, but my life is severely impacted by my traits: I cannot organise my life without parental support; I have OCD;dyscalculia; anxiety. Now, on there own, these traits might not be that significant, but when combined, they prevent me from working and living a full and varied life - is there anything high-functioning about this?!!! This label trivialises my difficulties and is incredibly patronising. Has anyone else here experienced  anguish upon hearing this term? Has anyone else been described as 'high-functioning', while disagreeing that the term applies to them? And is not 'low functioning' equally problematic?

 

Parents

  • I experience more anguish when I hear the term Asperger's because, at first sight, it sounds like a completely different disorder. With the term High Functioning Autism, you can get the message right away that autism has different levels. I hate the term Asperger's so much that every time someone calls me an Aspergerian, I start losing my *** and I assure him/her that I have AUTISM and not assburgers.

    I'm somewhat ****** up in the head anyway. I mean, I hate the idea of spending time with family; I'm incredibly selfish; I want to be alone all the time; I'm horny all the time; and I'm dumb as a bag of rocks. All I pretty much do is go on the Internet and play video games, and I have no life outside of that which is sad when I think about it, but I love knowing that every day might be the same. I don't have to worry about what torturous change could happen to me because I am free, and thus brings me happiness.

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  • I experience more anguish when I hear the term Asperger's because, at first sight, it sounds like a completely different disorder. With the term High Functioning Autism, you can get the message right away that autism has different levels. I hate the term Asperger's so much that every time someone calls me an Aspergerian, I start losing my *** and I assure him/her that I have AUTISM and not assburgers.

    I'm somewhat ****** up in the head anyway. I mean, I hate the idea of spending time with family; I'm incredibly selfish; I want to be alone all the time; I'm horny all the time; and I'm dumb as a bag of rocks. All I pretty much do is go on the Internet and play video games, and I have no life outside of that which is sad when I think about it, but I love knowing that every day might be the same. I don't have to worry about what torturous change could happen to me because I am free, and thus brings me happiness.

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