People with autism often struggle to understand the world around them. They have difficulty processing information, understanding social cues, and reading body language. This can make it difficult for someone with autism to fully integrate into society. To make things even more complicated, there are many different labels used to describe people with autism.
There’s no universal consensus on which label best applies to an individual with autism, so confusion is widespread. Many people prefer functioning labels because they offer more insight into how a person functions in everyday life. But others don’t like those labels at all because they continue to reinforce the idea that people with autism are broken or impaired in some way.
The truth is that everyone sees the world through their own unique lens, and that’s okay. Here are some reasons why many people with autism dislike functioning labels:
They feel like they’re being branded with a scarlet letter.
Many people with autism feel like they’re being branded with a scarlet letter when they’re given a functioning label. This is due to the negative stigma that surrounds many of the labels. People with autism are often misunderstood or mistreated because of their condition, and functioning labels exacerbate that issue. Some of the labels have negative connotations.
For example, the label “low-functioning” has a stigmatized reputation. This can cause people with autism to feel ashamed or embarrassed by the label they’ve been given. Others have negative associations that make them feel excluded from society. The label “high-functioning” has often been used as a derogatory slur against people with autism, so many people prefer not to use it.
They feel like they’re being categorized by their deficits.
Many people with autism dislike functioning labels because they feel like they’re being categorized by their deficits. When someone is given a label, they’re often described in terms of what they can’t do. This can make someone feel like they’re being judged based on their shortcomings.
For example, someone who is low-functioning might be described as “someone who can’t communicate verbally.” People with autism don’t like these labels because they feel like they’re being categorized based on something they can’t control. It’s important to understand that no two people are the same.
A person who is high-functioning does not have a higher IQ than a low-functioning person. Each person with autism has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to focus on those rather than their deficits.
They don’t want to be defined by one characteristic.
People with autism can be quite complex. There are many different traits that might manifest in different ways in each person. When someone is given a functioning label, their defining characteristic is often their level of functionality. This can cause people with autism to feel like their identity is limited to that one characteristic.
Many people with autism prefer to be defined by other attributes like their personality, interests, or passions. They don’t want to be reduced to a single level of functionality, and they don’t want to be treated as if they’re less capable than they actually are.
The labels are oversimplified and vague.
Many functioning labels are oversimplified and vague, which can cause people with autism to dislike them. They’re often defined as “low-functioning” or “high-functioning,” which aren’t very detailed descriptions. A person with autism might be curious about what the label actually means, but they might not be able to get a clear answer.
Some people might refer to their particular level of functionality as a “type,” but it’s important not to use these labels as personality types. Types are simple and clearly defined. Functioning labels are oversimplified and vague, so they don’t offer people with autism much clarity. That can make it difficult for them to understand how society sees them or how to better integrate into it.
People with autism can be quite diverse, so the labels aren’t accurate for everyone.
Some people with autism are able to speak, while others are nonverbal. Some people have average intelligence, while others have an intellectual disability. Some people function well in society, while others have more significant disabilities. The diversity of people with autism can make it difficult to find an accurate functioning label.
There are several functioning labels, but each one only offers a small window into a person’s level of functionality. For example, low-functioning describes people who cannot take care of themselves without assistance. This is a very broad definition, and it doesn’t apply to every person who is given this label.
It can make them feel more isolated from society.
Many people with autism choose to embrace their difference and view their autism as a part of their identity. But many others would prefer to be treated as “normal” or “neurotypical” people. They don’t want to be treated as if they’re different from the general population. They don’t want to be reduced to a functioning label that provides a very limited window into their lives.
Many functioning labels make people with autism feel isolated from society. They want to blend in with their peers, but the functioning labels provide a constant reminder that they’re different.
Conclusion
Functioning labels can be helpful in some situations, but they often cause more confusion than they’re worth. Unfortunately, there isn’t one functioning label that can accurately describe everyone with autism. People with autism are diverse, so it would be impossible to come up with one label that fits everyone. It would be like trying to squish all of humanity into a 10-person tent. Functioning labels are oversimplified and vague, and they often cause more confusion than they’re worth. They’re often used to categorize people based on their deficits, so people with autism might feel like they’re being treated like less capable people. People with autism can be quite diverse, so it would be impossible to come up with one label that fits everyone better autism app.
