Published on 12, July, 2020
...Autism is a spectrum and everyone is different. What characterises a diagnosis of autism is if it has an impact on ones daily life. I am classed as "high functioning" but currently do not know what this means. Overload as a result from doing less than what someone who is not autistic can do. This means currently bare minimum of activity because intolerance and sensory input cannot be regulated. Working hours are reduced because of the struggle to cope with full time even though preference is to work more. The load is primarily from executive function difficulties which also include the social aspect and sensory. Fatigue on a daily basis which impacts everything. So, when people make throwaway comments like "we're all a bit autistic" or "I think my dog is a bit autistic" (yes, I was present), or labels like "high functioning", or someone gets imposter syndrome thinking they are "not autistic enough", just remember - the difficulties faced - on a daily basis - which many people do not face. I'm not saying no-one else has problems, but they are of a different kind.
I like the modern way of just specifying the support level. Autism is just too complicated to have a single line representing function. You can have an IQ of 190 and may be able to navigate life, but then you can still not know your emotions, be floored by some stimulus, or have been so mistreated in the past that you now have other secondary mental health conditions. So, for me, support level is a good way. (Though people can describe themselves in any way they like, as far as I am concerned. I don't think policing terms is right.)
Throwing this into the mixer. Those who can best make an articulate case why functioning levels are bad, are perversely often those with the best ability to self advocate for the support they need. It's those of us in the vast middle of the spectrum that are least likely to get support in those areas in which we struggle.
I can and do understand about contradictions. These are my best scores on high range IQ tests, and yet due to quite severe EF deficits I struggle when it comes to multistep tasks.
168 verbal
163 verbal
155 verbal
152 verbal
151 non verbal
151 verbal
150 verbal
149 mixed
145 verbal
143 non verbal
142 verbal
140 verbal
138 numerical
Mark (formerly Spikey) said:can change during one's lifetime. It's not fixed per person.
This is a really important point and as Catwoman said below.
I've probably misworded my post in calling it high functioning. It was hopefully to call in the people who I could relate to. That is those who do, to some degree, the stuff allistic people do (like work or have a relationship). The common experience to me seems to be it all comes / has come at a significant cost to one's health.
I'm not making or not making a case for functioning levels. However....
I cannot advocate for myself in formal and informal situations yet i communicate for a living in my job and am very good at it.
We can have quite contradictory experiences within ourselves.
A very good point. The support level thing definition is good, but measuring it well is still a pipe dream.
Also - the other good thing about the 'ideal' of support level, is that it is acknowledged that it can change during one's lifetime. It's not fixed per person.