Published on 12, July, 2020
Diuscssion on a Facebook group:
According to someone, if you're high functioning, you're mild and the terms high functioning (which according a friend who is a GP, means you have speech and the low functioning person doesn't) and low functioning are offensive. She then said she uses mild Autism to describe those of us who are high functioning.
I do find the term "mild Autism" inaccurate and offensive. I may be high functioning, but am certainly not mild. Then there's the low functioning person who in some situations, may be able to cope better than the high functioning person and vice versa.
I have a feeling the same person who said this, also once said that Autism is just a personality difference. I beg to differ.
I was always lead to believe that if you're classed as mild, (any medical condition) you have very few problems / it doesn't require any medical intervention.
I hate it when people say mild Aspergers/autism. I agree there is no such thing. Environment has a huge effect and immediately it becomes adverse, watch that person quickly regress. I also hate the "high-functioning" terminology, because that also implies there are only mild traits and you can function pretty much normally. Just because you don't have an intellectual deficit doesn't mean all your other traits are mild or high-functioning. You can be extremely rigid, prone to melting down frequently, have horrendous sensory issues etc. etc. but be a virtual savant. This is why those with HFA/AS are seen as not really disabled and not in need of support.