Autism was understood to have three levels, giving rise to the popular culture of imposing function labels on Autistic people. Neurotypicals like to categorize people in the spectrum as “High-functioning Person”, “Low-Functioning Person” or “Medium Functioning”. However, later it was discovered that Autism is more of a “Spectrum” rather than a linear continuum. But even though people know that it is a spectrum, functional labelings haven’t been dropped.
One might not realize it but this is a very harmful and inaccurate way of portraying people in the spectrum. These labels imply that someone is “more autistic” or “more able” than the other, which is not true. Just because an autistic person achieves higher grades in class doesn’t make them “less autistic” or “high functioning”. There are many factors that make up the autistic being. Do not let visible factors determine the degree of autism in a person because that will be inaccurate. Just because their autism is invisible doesn’t make them mildly autistic. It means that they can mask their autistic nature better in the society.
Moreover, stop referring to autistic people as “low functioning” because of their stimming, harmless repetitive behavior, limited speech or frequent meltdowns. Especially in front of them. You may think that they will not be able to comprehend, but they can and it is a harmful way of degrading a person. We can do better than being uneducated ableists.
Let us condemn this use of language and degradation of the people in the Spectrum. Remember that they just differently function; how neurotypicals function is nothing but society’s social constructs. If you have confusions or questions, do not hesitate to contact us. Start the discussion today. Please, let us stop this labeling habit, NOW.
