Autism levels, your comments part 2

[@gmlpc7132]

I watch a lot of autism content online and see many creators. All of them have useful contributions and insights but I do find it hard to empathise with many of them because they seem so much more able than me. That certainly doesn't mean that those people don't have struggles or are not autistic but they can seem "out of reach". We need to accept that the span of ability among autists are very wide, as indeed it is for every disability. For example there can be very wide differences among those with physical disabilities such as mobility problems. Some people will be able to walk unaided but only for short distances, others occasionally need a stick or walking frame, others need these full-time, some need wheelchairs occasionally, other need them all the time. Some cannot walk at all but can stand but some cannot stand at all. All of these people are physically disabled and need help and consideration but clearly some have far greater mobility challenges than others. On the other hand one of the problems of those who are less obviously physically disabled is that more people doubt they are disabled at all. For example the person who only sometimes uses a wheelchair is much more likely to be accused of "faking" their disability. This has some parallels with autism where those individuals with classic autism whose difficulties are very obvious may be treated much more supportively than those autists who are highly verbal. As autism is largely an "invisible" disability almost all autistic people have faced unfair accusations that they aren't really disabled and are just "choosing to be different".

[@docbrown.]

I can relate to your video, I often struggle to relate to others who say they're on the autism spectrum or have ADHD, especially when they seem to have successful careers and many friends. As someone with autism and dyslexia, I find it incredibly hard to make a friend fit in anywhere find a part time job , and I often feel more connected to those who face more significant challenges, even though I consider myself to be on the mild to moderate end of the spectrum. It feels a bit unfair to say, but while I'm glad there's more public awareness, I worry that autism might be watered down into something less meaningful, especially when those at the very mild end of the spectrum are so politically active. I just can't relate to them as much.

[@BipolarCourage]

Thanks for mentioning my comment. Here in NZ, both/either DSM-IV & DSM-5 are used, hence the PDD-NOS is valid (although I see it as a useless diagnosis). I had more significant issues in childhood such as mutism & not going out to play with other children. Clinicians said this could be also explained by a social anxiety disorder diagnosis.

[@chrstopherblighton-sande2981]

I think that was part of the problem with the older diagnostic labels (even though they were useful in many ways) as they did seem to overlap a bit and the same person might be diagnosed as autistic, asperger's, pdd-nos if assessed by different clinicians or at different times in their lives. It strikes me that you would have been diagnosed as a child if you were in school today, so I guess like others have mentioned, the diagnosis of Atypical Autism was given to you to emphasise the severity of your difficulties, that a diagnosis of Asperger's might have downplayed/obscured somehow. You mentioned the 'Active but odd' category, I myself definitely fit the 'Passive' category, as I wouldn't seek out interaction but would respond if someone else initiated the interaction. However when I was a toddler up until about the age of 5 I was more aloof especially with my peers who I just wouldn't interact with at all. As you've been attending groups for a while, I was wondering have you noticed any change in them over the years? Were there more significantly affected people before and less so now, or has that remained much the same.

[@Tony-jo2cq]

I only have ADHD I'm not autistic but I have many friends who are. I would definitely be your friend if I knew you. Not to mention the fact that your incredibly beautiful.