Saying "high functioning" and "low functioning" is offensive to a lot of people in the autism community. I understand how this may be overlooked at times, but to someone who it autistic, they are just autistic. Saying a person is "high functioning" or "doesn't look autistic" are both rude. It can be dismissive to the person. Saying "low functioning" is also offensive. I think this is more self- explanatory. It sounds like you are saying the person isn't capable of anything, which also is not the case. A better way to talk about autism is to discuss the autistic person's needs or to just call them autistic. You can refer to how much assistance they may need in their every day life instead of saying "high functioning" and "low functioning"
I have been told I am "high functioning" several times. I have had people tell me it's easier on me because I am "high functioning." I also hear that other people with autism struggle more than me because I am "high functioning." As an autistic person, people help me less because I seem capable. Just because someone can fake something, it does not mean it's easy for them. I struggle so much every day and it's overlooked by people because I am "high functioning." Literally just today I had several people at my house (that I knew) and had so much internal anxiety that I was stressed out. I tend to zone people out when I feel like that, so I didn't even hear someone talk to me because of it. I went back into my room because I got overstimulated after an hour. I can still hear them talking and have to wear noise cancelling headphones to make this post because I cannot focus with all the noise. I have recently had people invite me out to group activities to see fireworks and I can't go because I know it would be my first time meeting them and I'd look rude because I have to wear noise cancelling headphones to look at fireworks (the noise triggers me). These are not things that people see, so people assume I am functioning fine. Every time someone calls me "high functioning" or says "you're old enough to understand" it hurts my feelings. I am not as capable as I come off. I am just good at masking.
I posted this picture because it makes good points about why "high functioning" is inaccurate. The first point talks about nonspeaking episodes. There are autistic people who seem fine, but freeze in social situations. Personally, this tends to happen to me on phone calls with doctors. I always have my mom with me to call them because I know when they ask my symptoms I freeze because I realize I can't explain it right. Instead of trying to explain it badly I just stare at her and she has to talk to me and help me. This has also happened on phone calls with colleges when they ask how they can help me. I do not believe it is this difficult for most people to discuss their symptoms with their doctor. Sometimes during arguments (usually in relationships) I get so overwhelmed that I forget what to say and just sit in silence. I also tend to get quieter in big group scenarios. When you say someone is "high functioning" you are dismissing all their problems. To that person, you are saying they are more capable than other autistic people, when that is not always the case.
The second point is that "high functioning" autistics can still have meltdowns. This is so important. When I was younger I ran away all the time. My mom had to take down my door one time to watch what I was doing. When she took down my door, I jumped out the window. I used to get mad at her all the time and yell. I broke so many phones throwing them as I was growing up. I lose my mind every time I go through a break up to the point that it isn't normal. I used to get mad at my mom in car rides and would try to jump out of a moving car. I am about to be 22 years old and in the past year tried to jump out of a moving car twice out of anger. All of these things used to happen all the time. As I got older, they did happen less, but they did not stop. It is not normal for an adult to try to jump out of a moving car because they are upset. The people who say I am "high functioning" are the people who don't realize all of this is happening behind the masking. Most of these things were not due to me wanting attention or just being a pain in the ass. I was scared, nervous, and overstimulated. I was diagnosed late, so I know no one really understood, but I was still autistic. I still get meltdowns. I still get scared, nervous, and overstimulated. These things regularly make my life a challenge. Everyone who is autistic has these struggles. It is a spectrum because some people have less moments or less intense experiences. Being "high functioning" or "low functioning" has nothing to do with the spectrum.
The picture also talks about being unable to perform self care tasks. I do not struggle with this as much as the other things, but a lot of autistic people can't. Growing up, I never wanted to shower because it was uncomfortable for me. I struggle with shaving because it is exhausting. I also cannot tighten my bra straps because I get uncomfortable. There are autistic people who struggle with other things like washing their hands or their face. This is usually due to sensory problems with washing. I also suffer from depression, so sometimes I just struggle to get out of bed, which leads to me not being clean for a couple of days. It is common for autism and depression to co-exist, so this could also happen to other individuals, but it is not due to autism. Self care tasks may not come to autistic people as easily as those who are neurotypical.
"Low functioning" autistic people struggle with all of these too. The people who get called "low functioning" are usually the minimally verbal or nonverbal autistics. These are the people who were in special education classrooms growing up or still play with their toys as an adult. These may also be the people who stim more in public. The autistic people who get called "low functioning" are the more obvious autistic people. A personal who is minimally verbal or nonverbal can still be smart. Not being able to speak does not mean you do not understand. They just communicate differently. I get so excited when I get to play with Legos still as an adult. I still bring stuffed animals if I am staying the night somewhere. The "low functioning" people may have stim toys that they need with them all day every day. This may make them seem "low functioning" because they are playing with toys at an older age, but it is just comforting for autistic people to stim. This has nothing to do with intelligence. Autistic people who were places in special education struggle more to understand, but they are still capable of doing things. It may take longer, but it is not impossible. I was never placed in these classrooms, but I knew I struggled more than my peers in school. Stimming also does not make someone more or less autistic. There are different types of stims. Stims are repetitive body movements or noises. People may not even realize they are doing them. Most autistic people do this. I make noises all the time and when I get excited or nervous I make a lot of hand movements. I fidget a lot when I am in public. These things do not make a person "low functioning." They just mean the person is autistic.
Please get "high functioning" and "low functioning" out of your vocabulary. They are both offensive. They are both dismissing the struggles of autistic people who need help. It is important to understand that autism is a lot more than what it may seem like on the outside. A lot of people with autism are also good at masking, so they get overlooked. Every person with autism is struggling. We all feel different at times. It is not easy for anyone with a disability to function. Instead of saying "high functioning" and "low functioning" try explaining accommodations they need or what they struggle with. If you don't need to talk about their needs, then just call them autistic. I think some people don't want to say the word "autistic" because they think it's offensive. To most people with autism it is not offensive. It is a part of being autistic. I would rather be called autistic than "high functioning." I would feel like people understand me better. I hope this gives a better understanding of what an autistic person has to struggle with.
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