Reblog to avoid confusion ☝🏼
[ID: an overview about the 3 autism levels compared to each other. Level One is on the left, Level Two in the middle and Level Three on the right.
Level One: Requiring Support
Strangers may be able to tell I have a disability, or they may think I am just awkward.
I may have difficulty understanding social cues such as body language and tone, or I may have been able to learn these cues with a lot of effort.
I struggle with making and keeping friendships and relationships.
I may have sensory issues and struggle with loud sounds, bright lights, bad textures, etc.
I need to fidget and move around a lot, even when I don’t have surplus energy, or I may feel the need to but have been trained out of acting on it.
I have strong and specific interests; I usually only like one or a few things at a time and these interests last for years.
I may shutdown where I lose the ability to speak.
Changes distress me, but unless I am already having a hard time I can cope if I am given some time to process.
I was most likely in general education with or without an IEP, or had my time split between general and special education.
I may have needed speech or occupational therapy or support services, but likely did not.
I may have had developmental delays, but I also may have hit milestones on time or early.
I have high, normal, or low intelligence.
I can complete all ADLs - e.g. bathing, eating and drinking, getting dressed - by myself or with prompting.
I need support to complete IADLs - e.g. shopping, cooking, budgeting - or I need someone else to do these things for me.
I am able to live independently or with support. I may need someone to help me keep on track.
I may have a flat tone or lack appropriate expression.
My understanding of language is generally sound.
Level Two: Requiring Substantial Support
Strangers are able to tell I have a disability.
I do not understand social cues such as body language and tone. Even with support, I have never been able to learn these. I have difficulty understanding speech,
My social life is extremely limited and I need support to talk to new people.
I have sensory issues and struggle with everyday sounds, lights, textures, etc. I may not be able to control my reaction to sensory input.
I often move repetitively and unusually for no apparent reason.
I have strong and specific interests; I usually only like one thing at a time, it is the only thing I can think about, and this interest lasts for years.
I may have shutdowns where I lose the ability to speak, and I may have meltdowns where it is difficult to control myself and not hurt others.
Changes significantly distress me and may cause shutdowns or meltdowns.
I was most likely in special education,
I have needed speech, behavioural, and occupational therapy and support services from a young age.
I had significant developmental delays and hit all of my milestones late; or I had a significant regression before the age of five.
I have low intelligence, an intellectual impairment, and intellectual disability, or a speech impairment.
I need hand over hand prompting or physical support to complete all or most ADLs - e.g. bathing, eating and drinking, and getting dressed.
I need someone else to complete IADLs - e.g. shopping, cooking, budgeting - for me.
I am able to live with support or I may need to live in residential care. I need a carer to keep me healthy and safe.
I may be fully verbal or speak only in single words or short sentences. I may need to communicate in other ways such as sign or symbol AAC.
I have difficulty with both understanding and speaking language.
Level Three: Requiring Very Substantial Support
My disability is very obvious.
I do not notice social cues and I have difficulty understanding speech, or I can not understand it at all.
I do not have a social life. I am not able to make connections with other people and I am or appear to be unaware of other people, or I lack any interest in other people.
I have extreme sensory issues and even in low sensory environments I meltdown most days from them.
I move repetitively and unusually all of the time without knowing.
I have strong and specific interests; I usually like one or a few things in my lifetime and they are one of the only things I engage with.
I have extreme violent meltdowns where I am unable to control my body. I may sometimes have shutdowns where I appear almost catatonic.
I am not able to cope with change.I have meltdowns and my day is unable to continue.
I was in special education.
I have needed intensive speech, behavioural, occupational, and physical therapy as well as intensive support services from a young age.
I had severe developmental delays, and I may never have hit some milestones such as learning to talk or walk.
I have an intellectual disability or am totally nonverbal.
I need someone to complete all ADLs for me - e.g. bathing, feeding, and dressing me.
I need someone else to complete all IADLs - e.g. shopping, cooking, budgeting - for me, and I am totally unaware these exist.
I need to live in residential care. I need a one-to-one carer at all times.
I can speak only in single words or not at all. I may need to communicate in other ways such as symbol AAC or I may not be able to understand this either.
I likely am not able to read or write.
My understanding of language is poor or nonexistent.
