mild autism vs moderate autism

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Yar, that's likely true, but why? Why slap that label on someone? Why wouldn't the agency responsible just assess the person's needs as an individual and complete their care plan off that assessment? That used to be how it was done in disabilities.
And I agree - some of the brightest people have come to the conclusion that all IQ tests prove is that you're good or bad at taking IQ tests. Plus, as you pointed out, some autistics with very high IQ have very low functional abilities.
With something like autism that seems by its very nature to defy being shoved into little boxes to tick, I suppose I question the wisdom of such a simplistic system.

That's a great comic, thanks for posting it!

Ezra, I appreciate the insight you gave here... but also when you say some of these things- it makes me think that- either I have no idea what I'm talking about- OR I am "more autistic" than I think I am- I can never tell!

Partly because- of what I quoted. I NEVER tell people I'm autistic, but they can almost always tell (they just don't know autism)! I have people ask me "what the f**k is wrong with you exactly?" & I hear people whisper about how I can't do things without help and they don't understand why or what my issue is point blank. and well I'm not diagnosed "officially" yet I have been unofficially...
Also, I can't drive- why, I'm not sure... but I can't.
Also, I guess I've gotten lucky with jobs because I have been hired for jobs, and then ... I can't do the jobs (they are jobs that are easy for NTs apparently but don't pertain to any Special interest I have & are all about executive functioning and planning/organizational skills) and then people adapt to me or take on my work out of pity OR they modify the jobs for me... but that's usually a short term thing. And the jobs are already very..... specific- like organize the desk files, and I like systemizing things, but this was a hell unto its own @_____@ anyway, just makes me think.

I'm moderate level 2. Ganondox's list sounds about right. I'm not completely independent, I don't need 24/7 care -- but I do need some assistance, just not all the time.

I do very well on my ADL's as an adult, but I did have delayed toilet training as a child. I speak very well, though typically formal/professor-like, and sometimes it takes me awhile to gather thoughts or else look someone in the eye when speaking on more complex topics (my husband informed me yesterday that I have a tendency to look away or downward when speaking to him). I lose the ability to speak when excited; I will stutter and repeat the same phrase over and over again when flustered, or else make happy swan-like squeaky noises and clap like a seal when extremely happy (husband thinks this is the cutest thing ever). I am self-injurious only when very angry (unless you count mouth and nail chewing stims self-injurious; husband hates the mouth-chewing stim and reminds me to "stop mutilating myself").

I can get by without too much support most days, provided the environment is (and remains) baseline and stress-free. Small changes to routine are OK (e.g., if I find out I must do something at 4 o'clock instead of 5 o'clock, that's no problem at all) -- but if my car's GPS were to go out, if a major disagreement were to occur between me and someone else, or if an emergency situation were to happen, I'd have a fit. I can also get a little more agitated than a typical person if, say, the wash machine quarters get stuck, if I can't get the lock combination open, or if a computer template changes or disappears. Also, if what I'm cooking takes more than about five steps, and there's no recipe, there will be a mess or an injury somewhere along the line, lol.

I can control stims and sensory issues in public. Except loud noises. I will always at least raise eyes and slightly jump at those, or else make a tiny squeal.

Employment and human interaction are the greatest deficits, and prevent me from being just a "mild" case. In my case, I've been almost arrested three times and fired from (or else lost) a total of eight different jobs because of consequences resulting from either completely misreading social cues, or else having meltdowns. I'm quiet because I'm very slow at processing my surroundings and what other people are trying to communicate. I take most sarcastic humor literally and usually have to be told that something was a joke because I wasn't sure. Worse yet, I've burned many bridges and lost many friends over displaying rude and tactless social behavior to others. I'm not able to live alone independently and have always required the assistance of either my parents or my husband to help me cope with the more pragmatic and social aspects of life.

Finally, I housekeep well, and husband thinks I'll be able to manage one child.

^^^
This!!

That comic actually had good information in it that I didn't know (at least didn't explicitly know) myself. Thanks very much for posting it!!

I think it really depends on the Moderately Autistic person. Some can live on their own independently, Some may need a little support along the way.

I agree that you have to take it on a "case-by-case" basis.

I agree. As you know I'm also level 2 and your description is pretty accurate for what I experience.

The level you are with regards to the definition refers to how much support you need rather in order to live, rather than how disabled you are.

As i believe someone has mentioned above, the difference between high and low functioning, again is IQ.

What i personally find frustrating is that normal people including some health professionals find it hard to consider someone who has a average or above average IQ as disabled.

I guess traditionally disabled referred to people who have obvious outward signs of disability. Examples: blind, deaf, mute etc. and notable intellectual difficulties (i.e. IQ below 75).

When it comes to high functioning autism, a person can still suffer disability due to the symptoms that you do not need support for.

But because the person may look normal, may be fairly articulate or in some cases even more articulate to the average person,

due to the neurological dysfunction that you suffer, and damage to the various parts of the brain (such as the parts that deal with stress hormones, sensory information, short term memory, communication) the person with high functioning autism is still disabled and in some cases, their disability has more impact on their life than some of the lower functioning people (although this is perhaps rare, again. every one judged on their own individual circumstance and presentation of symptoms. no assumptions made).

personally having to live on the same planet as many of the power mongers in control of the world
is a bigger burden than any disability.

I'm Level 2 moderate autism.

Actually, it is not impossible. My intelligence is gifted and I tested level three for Autism severity. I can also pass for an nt in some circumstances. I drive, I live alone in my own home, I work part time, I do lots of sports, I pay bills, I care for my house myself, I even help take care of other people, I am very verbal most of the time and very eloquent, I lobby on capital hill for Autistic issues, I travel alone, I am even married but we live apart, but I still tested Autism level three because I am very often so severely affected when I struggle that my Autistic struggles can actually be life threatening. So you don't actually have to be eligible for 24/7 care to be severe. You can be like me and be very severe but still look like a level one from outward first glance.

Well put.

I agree here and this sounds accurate. That is if there are no comorbids that are more severe.



This here. It could be due to anxiety or seizures or being psychically disabled where you need a care taker, maybe a severe learning disability, Bipolar. Some people forget that people with mild AS or mild autism can have other disorders that are not mild.

I have comorbids that make me severely multiply disabled.

How does one define independently? I live on my own , but would struggle without assistance/support.