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X-the-Komujin t1_j633nyt wrote

Reply to comment by james_bond_junior in Boarding school ignored teen’s sickness complaints before she died, ex-staff say by ninjascotsman

It's a spectrum and no single case is alike, but many neurotypicals don't understand the spectrum so I define it as that. The truth is the spectrum isn't a "line of intelligence" rather it is how severely the autism affects a certain person's capabilities.

I have seen those terms used as insults, but I disregard that when speaking in an objective manner.

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LizbetCastle t1_j6464y2 wrote

Just by the way you write about others and your own experience, I can see that you’ve done a ton of self work and have a lot of compassion, I’m sorry that it came at the price of what sounds like PTSD. I hope someday you can get the support you would like, because someone with your gifts could make a huge difference in the world.

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james_bond_junior t1_j67tj5e wrote

Since the “light” and “severe” adjectives don’t have a medical basis, they are based on how the autistic person makes them feel and hasn’t got to do with what the autistic person is actually going through in that moment or during other parts of their life. Someone could struggle to take basic care of themselves at home and be going through intense anxiety in the moment which will cause a non-verbal shutdown later, but someone they are speaking to could be surprised they are autistic and claim it must be “light autism”. If they interacted with that same person during the shut down, it might be “mild” or “severe”.

Having said that, I can understand how that language could help to get certain ideas across to people who don’t understand autism.

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