#level 1 autism

[yellowyarn]

i always see sensory avoidant autistic people talking about how their favourite foods are all plain carbs but where are the sensory seeking autistics who live on garlic and spicy foods? the ones who will eat a straight lemon and hate buttered noodles.

[willtheweirdrat]

Shoutout to people with "weird" special interests. Shoutout to people who can't make a job out of their special interests. Shoutout to people who are seen as "unproductive" because of them. Shoutout to people that are "too old/young/anything" for their special interests.

You and your sp/ins matter, and you deserve to spend as much time as you please with them, despite them not being "useful". Time spent with a special interest isn't waisted time.

[stal3bread]

I think that special interests are actually a disabling part of autism

I'm tired of people (allistic and autistic) saying that it's bad that special interests are 'pathologised' because passions are good. This is because that comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of what a special interest is. Special interests are not just things you like a lot, they are 'highly fixated interests abnormal in intensity or focus'. For me (and pretty much everyone with autism I've asked about it), this means that special interests are basically your whole life. For me, my special interest is ASD. I think about autism all the time. It's the only thing I find interesting, and every thought I have can be linked to autism in some way. This is pretty disabling to me because it makes it way harder to talk about and do stuff that isn't related to my special interest.

It makes making friends really hard because, on top of my social challenges, I also don't know how to talk about anything other than my special interest, and I will bring the conversation back to my special interest if I feel comfortable around someone, and just not talk to someone if I don't feel comfortable around them. It also makes doing the things I need to do in life (such as doing work for uni, taking care of myself, cleaning my living space, etc) so much harder because my brain doesn't think it's interesting in the slightest and therefore I have absolutely no motivation to do them.

Maybe my special interests are more extreme than other people's. I wasn't diagnosed with a level, I just got a diagnosis of ASD, but I'm probably on the higher end of level 1, possibly on the lower end of level 2 but I can't really figure that out for myself. However, the ASD diagnostic criteria in both the ICD-11 and DSM-V state that your traits of autism must be causing 'clinically significant impairment' (i.e. they must be disabling) for you to qualify for an ASD diagnosis.

[neurotypicalabusesurvivor]

Accept your child with autism or you will be forced to accept a child with autism and DID, cluster B personality disorder and/or PTSD.

The choice is your.

[r4incl0uds]

Honestly I am so glad to see this in an article - this is my specific presentation of autism and I have never ever ever seen it acknowledged anywhere. The DSM-5 literally has separate level categories for social skills and behavioural issues, but no one ever seems to talk about the people who are Level 1 in one factor but Level 2 in another, and therefore don't fit into the clear-cut level system. I've had a lot of difficulty relating to other autistic people because of this - my social/communication skills are good and I can live independently to a degree (to my knowledge), but I have bad self-injurious behaviours, severe meltdowns, PICA-like behaviour, and a near total inability to mask - like I hear a lot of people talking about masking in autism and I really cannot relate to it at all as I have never really done that (Everyone except me and my dad instantly knew something was off, and as a result I got bullied extremely badly as a child. Should have been diagnosed a lot earlier than I was but dad was against it so I only got diagnosed when it was almost too late. I did try to mask but I completely failed and was still bullied and rejected, so I gave up. Now I very rarely have social interactions with anyone who isn't already in my circle). So I feel unable to relate to any one level of autism, and I've never seen anything about "in-betweeners" before today. I felt like I didn't fit into the autism community. So an article like this, mentioning even a sentence about the "in-betweeners", is EXACTLY what I wanted and needed to see. Lovely stuff, wish there was more. Anyone else with this same issue out there?

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

autism levels, few “often get wrong” points need highlight again

[transcript: autism levels, few “often get wrong” points need highlight again]

^ masterpost by birdofmay for more basic stuff no able explain rn, like “what are levels” “how determine levels”

autism levels about how much support you need for autism specific symptoms—specifically, two autism criteria, social communication & restrictive repetitive.

not how much you feel like you struggle

levels compare you to all autistics. not allistic neurotypical nondisabled people.

level 1 mean “need support.” level 1 can struggle. unsupported burnt out level 1 can struggle a lot. unfortunately level 1 can be miserable in life.

not able finish school, not able drive, not able keep job, need help cant live independent—none of that automatic level 2 & 3. none of that automatic mean not level 1. know many people who level 1 who all that. level 2&3 people tend more common be those thing because autism symptoms cause very big struggle. but autism levels not actual about any of that.

autism levels is DSM 5 thing. country no use DSM 5 not get levels. countries use DSM 5, sometimes doctor still not assign levels, because that doctor don’t use levels, or level 1 & just leave out write.

autism level is official diagnosis thing. different from self diagnosing autism itself (which for lsn/level 1/etc have many resources about what it like, community, and like. not life risky), autism level really not same and not recommend self diagnose, to put nicely. because it about amount official support need, & limited info about level 2/3 (yes, even if look like many of us on tumblr, still very few), and because that most people never actual met entire autism spectrum met actual level 3 in person not to mention enough to be good sample size, so most have understanding of autism & autism levels that heavily lean to level 1, wrongly think any struggle w autism mean level 2 or 3. put in plainly, most you all don’t know don’t see enough about higher levels to actual label correctly (this actual include level 2/3 people—although yes personal experience, but that one experience).

many level 2 & 3 diagnose as that because we need the official support. for not die, for physical survive, and/or for basic quality of life. it not fun little label to collect to call self unfortunately

also, i say a lot of level 2/3 i abbreviate put them together because online autism community not often include both. but level 2 & 3 can be quite different quite far not “basic same thing”

autism level describe general average symptom & support needed

autism level can change over entire life, like born level 3 but adult now & level 2 or even 1(rare), or born level 1 & now adult level 2.

autism levels cannot change over hours days or short term in general. cannot “level 1 good day & level 3 bad day.” not even “last (few) month level 3 this (few) month level 1.”

autism levels not same as functioning labels. although can be use in same ableist way people use functioning labels. but fault is ableism. (remind that some people do self ID as low functioning after their diagnose and that okay)

autism level is not perfect and need improve

autism level important & needed especially for many of us who need many support or our autism symptom very big or struggle communicate.

[myrthing]

This is the DUMBEST SHIT I have ever seen, so congratulations! You win a prize and the prize is apparently "myling unwisely picking fights".

AS A LEVEL 1 autistic person I say this unto you: Shut up. Sit down. Listen to higher support autistics. If you're so scared to be seen as disabled that you have to deny how autism is the direct cause of people's disability, there's always just the possibility of masking. I don't like saying that, because I think it's perfectly possible to both be autistic and to not be disabled in any way, but I despise these attempts from fellow low support autistic people to distance the disorder from those who are actually disabled. It stinks of ableism.

ASD isn't a mental illness. It is a developmental disorder. Feel free to explain how homosexuality being seen historically as a mental illness maps onto a developmental disorder that is frequently both intellectually and physically disabling.

Sometimes, there's actually a good reason to have a name for a group of symptoms! Such as the fact it makes it easier to get help.

[mischiefmanifold]

The way many LSN/level 1 autistic people talk about autism is really gross and weird actually

I think many of you forget that autism is an actual disorder and not a personality trait

[borderlinedolly]

Things I Rarely See Talked About

Level 2/Medium Support Need Autistics

Level 3/High Support Need Autistics

Deaf and/or Blind Autistics

BIPOC Autistics

Nonverbal Autistics

Semiverbal Autistics

The Downsides of Getting a Diagnosis

Older People (30+) With Disorders Like DID, ASPD, BPD, Autism, Etc

[yellowyarn]

i love you autistics who don't have special interests

I love you autistics without sensory issues

i love you autistics who are hyposenstive

i love you autistics who are both hypo- and hypersensitive

I love you autistics who hate routine

i love you low empathy autistics

i love you high empathy autistics

I love you autistics with lots of freinds

I love you autistics who are hyper verbal

i love you autistics who make lots of eye contact

i love you autistics who can't mask

i love you autistics who dont know who they aren't behind their mask

i love autistics who are "childish"

i love autistics that have never had a meltdown

i love autistics with catatonia

i love autistics with intellectual disabilities

i love autistics with Anxiety and/or Depression

i love autistics with Psychotic Disorders

i love autistics with Bipolar Disorders

i love autistics with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

i love autistics with truma Disorders

i love autistics with Dissociative Disorders

i love autistics with Eating Disorders

i love autistics with Somatic symptoms Disorders

i love autistics with Sleep Disorders

i love autistics with addictions

i love autistics with Personality Disorders

i loved autistic systems

i love autistics with multiple disabilities

i love autistics that can't work

i love autistics that cant leave their house

I love autistics who can't live alone

i love autistics who use AAC

i love poc autistics

i love people with autism who prefer person first language

i love autistics who use function labels

i love autistics with outdated diagnoses

i love autistics who were/are misdignosied

i love self diagnosed autistics

i love all autistic people

[willtheweirdrat]

Here's to the autistics who are "way too aggressive". Here's to the autistics who get angry easily. Here's to the autistics who are impulsive. Here's to the autistics who have destructive meltdowns. Here's to the autistics who's anger ruins friendships/relationships. Here's to the autistics who can't control their emotions. Here's to the autistics who are bitter and mad. I see you, I love you (platonically), and I hope you have a great day.

[stal3bread]

I know that everyone stims, but I wanted to get a sample size from autistic people specifically. Also, I know there are non-vestibular stims involving other senses (such as hearing or sight) but I'm just talking about vestibular (movement) stims right now.

[the-firefly-jar-system]

feeling particularly upset about lack of ear defender representation rn :/

anyway here’s a cool picture of us in our ear defenders! we take pride in making them look like they belong to us. they are part of our everyday, after all. anyways i’m gonna go replace the rainbow wrap on the top hehe

-ash🌈☁️

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

why are autistics without intellectual disability so quick to distance themselves from those who do?

*unbolded version under the cut*

i see this most often in autistics who are (labeled) level 1/"high functioning"/"aspie" (yes i know the three don't always equal one another yes i know hans asperger nazi). this of course happens with all autistics without intellectual disability (ID) but see most with them.

this is largely rhetorical question.

see so many autistics without ID say things like "i'm autistic not STUPID" and get so offended when someone even imply or genuinely ask if they have ID.

"i'm autistic not [r word]," "i'm autistic but not like those kinds of autistic." all implying they're the "good" kind of autistic that deserve respect and rights and there is group of autistic who are "bad" (read: not palatable enough) who should be bullied and denied rights and locked away and mocked. often these are autistics with ID and autistics who are visibly stereotypically autistic who don't have ability to mask.

understand wanting to correct someone when they think wrong information of you, like you thought i have ID but i actually don't, just like you thought i have depression but i actually don't (just example not personal about me). but often when these autistics say "i'm autistic not STUPID" and variants, they often mean more than that. some autistic people without ID get so offended when people think they have ID. so offended at the idea of being associated with ID. like "how DARE you assume i have ID and are like those people."

so quick to separate self from people with ID. like they have the plague or something.

or. sometimes see autistics without ID talk about an autistic person with ID. talk about an "ugly" (unaccepted, not cute symptom) symptom and say "oh that's not the autism that's ID. autistics don't do that." and act as if there is a clear beginning and end to where the autism ends and where the ID begins. there is not.

or when autistic with ID gets mentioned. everyone focus on the autism and not the ID. or think they can speak about said autistic person with ID's experience just because they themselves are also autistic even though they don't have ID.

or "actually many autistic people have above average intelligence!" which is objectively true but 9/10 times this gets brought up to derail the conversation. yes many autistic people have high IQ (online autism space oversaturated with them), but what is left out is there is nothing wrong with having average IQ or low IQ/intellectual disability.

or. when bring up people w ID and/or autistics with ID, will say "IQ is a inaccurate/racist/colonial/ableist measure" and stuff like that. which is objectively also true! or "don't say you're stupid, you're actually very smart, there are many types of intelligence!" but the issue is when you are bringing these topics up. because yes IQ bad measure, intelligence subjective, BUT ALSO current society have specific types of intelligence they value (and this cannot be denied no matter how much you derail the conversation), AND there is nothing wrong with being "not smart" "stupid" "dumb" "unintelligent" etc. there is nothing wrong with having ID. admit that. why are you (general you) having such a hard time admitting that, to the point you will say everything else before admitting to that?

or say "[r word] is slur towards autistic people so i as an autistic person (without ID) are allowed to reclaim it." when no. r word is not slur towards autistic people. just because it has been used against you doesn't mean it means you. r word is an outdated medical term for intellectual disability, aka mental [r word]. not yours.

many many microaggressions (and macro aggressions tbh too)

autistics with ID are one of the more marginalized more vulnerable autistic population, more likely to be in bad conservatorship, more vulnerable to all kinds of abuse, less autonomy, no privacy, seen as completely incompetent, etc. particularly many have carers and are expected to fully trust and be completely vulnerable to other people and have no personal time no privacy.

autistics with intellectual disability are still autistic. they're not going anywhere.

i say this is rhetorical question because largely know why autistics without ID do this. especially level 1/"high functioning"/"aspie." because think are closest population to nondisabled neurotypical society, on the edge of nondisabled neurotypical society, expected to function well but do not. just "normal-looking" enough to be let in but not normal enough to be truly included, to thrive. many trouble. many trauma. and intelligence is one of the few things many feel proud to have feel positive to have. even feel superior to have. so have internalized ableism towards self but also internalized ableism towards intelligence.

BUT. your trauma or autism still don't justify your ableism. you are still responsible of educating self about ID and unpack ableism about intelligence and ID.

your trauma or autism doesn't justify your ableism you're just ableist

...

unbolded:

i see this most often in autistics who are (labeled) level 1/"high functioning"/"aspie" (yes i know the three don't always equal one another yes i know hans asperger nazi). this of course happens with all autistics without intellectual disability (ID) but see most with them.

this is largely rhetorical question.

see so many autistics without ID say things like "i'm autistic not STUPID" and get so offended when someone even imply or genuinely ask if they have ID.

"i'm autistic not [r word]," "i'm autistic but not like those kinds of autistic." all implying they're the "good" kind of autistic that deserve respect and rights and there is group of autistic who are "bad" (read: not palatable enough) who should be bullied and denied rights and locked away and mocked. often these are autistics with ID and autistics who are visibly stereotypically autistic who don't have ability to mask.

understand wanting to correct someone when they think wrong information of you, like you thought i have ID but i actually don't, just like you thought i have depression but i actually don't. but often when these autistics say "i'm autistic not STUPID" and variants, they often mean more than that. some autistic people without ID get so offended when people think they have ID. so offended at the idea of being associated with ID. like "how DARE you assume i have ID and are like those people."

so quick to separate self from people with ID. like they have the plague or something.

or. sometimes see autistics without ID talk about an autistic person with ID. talk about an "ugly" (unaccepted, not cute symptom) symptom and say "oh that's not the autism that's ID. autistics don't do that." and act as if there is a clear beginning and end to where the autism ends and where the ID begins. there is not.

or when autistic with ID gets mentioned. everyone focus on the autism and not the ID. or think they can speak about said autistic person with ID's experience just because they themselves are also autistic even though they don't have ID.

or "actually many autistic people have above average intelligence!" which is objectively true but 9/10 times this gets brought up to derail the conversation. yes many autistic people have high IQ (online autism space oversaturated with them), but what is left out is there is nothing wrong with having average IQ or low IQ/intellectual disability.

or. when bring up people w ID and/or autistics with ID, will say "IQ is a inaccurate/racist/colonial/ableist measure" and stuff like that. which is objectively also true! or "don't say you're stupid, you're actually very smart, there are many types of intelligence!" but the issue is when you are bringing these topics up. because yes IQ bad measure, intelligence subjective, BUT ALSO current society have specific types of intelligence they value (and this cannot be denied no matter how much you derail the conversation), AND there is nothing wrong with being "not smart" "stupid" "dumb" "unintelligent" etc. there is nothing wrong with having ID. admit that. why are you (general you) having such a hard time admitting that, to the point you will say everything else before admitting to that?

or say "[r word] is slur towards autistic people so i as an autistic person (without ID) are allowed to reclaim it." when no. r word is not slur towards autistic people. just because it has been used against you doesn't mean it means you. r word is an outdated medical term for intellectual disability, aka mental [r word]. not yours.

many many microaggressions (and macro aggressions tbh too)

autistics with ID are one of the more marginalized more vulnerable autistic population, more likely to be in conservatorship, more vulnerable to all kinds of abuse, less autonomy, no privacy, seen as completely incompetent, etc. particularly many have carers and are expected to fully trust and be completely vulnerable to other people and have no personal time no privacy.

autistics with intellectual disability are still autistic. they're not going anywhere.

i say this is rhetorical question because largely know why autistics without ID do this. especially level 1/"high functioning"/"aspie." because think are closest population to nondisabled neurotypical society, on the edge of nondisabled neurotypical society, expected to function well but do not. just "normal-looking" enough to be let in but not normal enough to be truly included, to thrive. many trouble. many trauma. and intelligence is one of the few things many feel proud to have feel positive to have. even feel superior to have. so have internalized ableism towards self but also internalized ableism towards intelligence.

BUT. your trauma or autism still don't justify your ableism. you are still responsible of educating self about ID and unpack ableism about intelligence and ID.

your trauma or autism doesn't justify your ableism you're just ableist

[raineofthedragons]

"Autism is always an invisible disability"

Just say you don't support Level 2 & 3 Autistics and leave.