#moderate support needs | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

spooksforsammy · 7 months

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Everyone love autism until the person needs someone to remind them or help do things like bathe, change clothes, and use the bathroom.

Everyone love autism until they need to be told what to do in social interactions and still can’t do it correctly.

Everyone love autism until they can’t communicate in the way you deem appropriate. Until they need other ways to communicate because they can’t verbally do it. They love autism until they can’t communicate even if they have aac. until they have NO (no) ways to communicate because they don’t understand they can.

Everyone loves autism until they can’t sit down and stop moving. Until they grunt or moan or make random sounds. Love until moves around and not even realize that their moving.

Everyone loves the idea of autism until it’s not level one low support needs. And not fair that high support needs, medium support needs, level 3, level 2 autistics get so much hate for things can’t help. They should still be loved!

#speech4amy #actually autistic #disabled poc #disability #neurodivergent #autism #neurodiversity #medium support needs #moderate support needs #actually autism #actual autistic #high support needs

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autismaccount · 8 days

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I've reached 35 responses! They're very interesting, but the sample size is still small, and I don't think it's at all representative of the Tumblr autism community. If I can't reach at least 100 responses, I don't think I'll be able to analyze Tumblr community views on support needs in depth. I'll still post descriptive statistics for the overall sample, but I won't have the statistical power to do anything else.

I'd really appreciate if everyone could help by taking the survey and reblogging this post to their followers!

As a reminder, the survey is meant to understand how people use support needs labels. For example, what makes someone low support needs and not moderate support needs? The survey also helps show what the community is like in general in terms of demographics and experiences!

A summary of the current survey results are under the Read More. Again, especially if a community that you're in is under-represented, please help by spreading the survey link! I'd especially love to hear from more people AMAB, racial/ethnic minorities, people who are not yet diagnosed or were diagnosed as adults, and higher support needs individuals!

Age: Most participants are young; 60% are under age 25%, and 20% are under 18.

Gender: Over half of the sample is AFAB nonbinary, almost 1/3 is trans men, and almost all of the remainder (14%) is cis women. Only 2 people who are AMAB have taken the survey.

Race/Ethnicity: Non-Hispanic White people are very over-represented, making up 82% of the sample.

Diagnosis: 57% are professionally diagnosed, 20% are informally or soft-diagnosed, and 14% are seeking a diagnosis. Only 9% are neither diagnosed nor seeking a diagnosis.

The most common diagnoses are ASD with no level (33%), level 1 ASD (25%), and "mild autism" (13%).

16% were diagnosed before age 8, 24% between ages 9 and 15, 32% between ages 16 and 18, 12% between ages 19 and 25, and 16% over age 25.

Autism Support Needs: The most common self-identified support needs label is "low-moderate" (43%), followed by low (23%) and moderate (14%). Most would benefit from but do not need weekly support (31%), only need accommodations and mental health support (17%), or rarely need any support (6%).

Autism Symptoms: On a severity scale of 0 (not applicable) to 3 (severe), the average is 1.7 overall, 1.8 socially, and 1.7 for restricted-repetitive behaviors. The most severe symptom is sensory issues (2.1), and the least severe are nonverbal communication and stimming (both 1.5).

83% are fully verbal, and 97% have no intellectual disability.

38% can mask well enough to seem "off" but not necessarily autistic. 21% can't mask well or for long.

Most experience shutdowns (94%), difficulties with interoception (80%), meltdowns (71%), alexithymia (71%), echolalia (69%), and autistic mutism (66%). Very few experience psychosis (14%) or catatonia (11%).

Self-Diagnosis: 20% think it's always fine to self-diagnose autism, 29% think it's almost always fine, 31% think it's only okay if an assessment is inaccessible, 71% think it needs to be done carefully, and 11% think it's okay to suspect but not self-diagnose.

15% think it's always fine to self-diagnose autism DSM-5 levels (including if the person has been told they don't have autism), 15% think it's fine as long as autism hasn't been ruled out, 21% think it's almost always fine, 18% think it's only okay if an assessment is inaccessible, 36% think it needs to be done carefully, and 36% think it's okay to suspect but not self-diagnose.

26% think it's always fine to self-diagnose autism support needs labels (including if the person has been told they don't have autism), 29% think it's fine as long as autism hasn't been ruled out, 37% think it's almost always fine, 29% think it's only okay if an assessment is inaccessible, 43% think it needs to be done carefully, and 6% think it's okay to suspect but not self-diagnose.

Disability: 71% feel disabled by autism, 17% feel disabled by another condition but not autism, and 11% are unsure.

Comorbidities: The most common mental health comorbidities are anxiety (68%), ADHD (62%), and depression (56%).

The least common mental health disorders are schizophrenia spectrum disorders (0%), bipolar disorders (3%), tic disorders (6%), substance use disorders (6%), personality disorder (9%), and OCD (9%).

The most common physical health comorbidities are gastrointestinal issues (29%), connective tissue disorders (29%), autoimmune disorders (24%), neurological disorders or injuries (24%), and hearing/vision loss (24%). All others are below 20%.

Overall Support Needs: When considering comorbidities, the most common self-identified support needs label is moderate (37%), followed by low-moderate (31%) and low (17%).

#autism #actually autistic #actuallyautistic #level 1 autism #level 2 autism #level 3 autism #low support needs #moderate support needs #medium support needs #high support needs

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0th3rw0rldl1n3ss · 1 year

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So tired of lateral ableism coming from autistics and ADHDers who have symptoms that aren’t severely debilitating. Like just because you don’t need meds or accommodations to function or you can conform well/adapt to NT society to a certain point doesn’t mean other autistics or ADHDers will also be able to?

This post brought to you by a group of people getting frustrated at us for being unable to keep up with a game, us saying “sorry I didn’t take my meds today” and them ALL glaring at me and scoffing about how well they haven’t been on ADHD meds for years. Every single person in the room (there were more than 2 other people). Like ok, good for you, I NEED them to function?? (and even then, I still can’t “pass” as NT.)

We feel so out of place even around other people who are also autistic and/or ADHD. Because so often the other(s) will show just enough traits to seem a bit quirky/odd to NTs, but not get read as visibly ND (except maybe under unusual circumstances, but generally speaking, they can mask effectively enough that NTs wouldn’t perceive them as “having something wrong with them”) but we’re noticeably “slow/r-worded” in a way we’re frequently, under normal, non-extreme circumstances, unable to hide. We’ve heard so many things about how other autistics and ADHDers found other neurodivergent folks and finally felt safe and comfortable after a lifetime of being judged in NT-dominated social circles, and we wish we could relate to that, but honestly we don’t feel any safer with someone just because they’re also autistic/ADHD, because in our experience they’re just as likely to be ableist to us as NTs. Sometimes even worse, because at least NTs can’t say “well *I* can handle (insert task) and I’m autistic/ADHD too so what’s YOUR excuse?”

But yeah. Some of y’all hate to acknowledge that autistics and ADHDers with higher support needs than you exist and you’re quick to throw the rest of us under the bus just because you’re so desperate to make autism and/or ADHD seem more palatable to NTs. Moderate-higher support needs neurodivergents shouldn’t have to beg lower support needs neurodivergents to have solidarity with us.

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mischiefmanifold · 6 months

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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

#autism #actually autistic #low support needs #medium support needs #moderate support needs #level 1 autism #level 2 autism #neurospicy #actually neurodivergent #neurodivergent #neurodivergence #autism spectrum #asd

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strange-nd-creature · 6 months

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Autistic Stigma Axis Chart

This isn’t meant to be taken really seriously, just comparing how different people experience different forms of ableism I guess. Honestly I think most autistic people have dealt with all of these things at some point.

[Image: Axis chart with the horizontal being a scale from high masking to low masking, and the vertical being a scale from high support needs to low support needs. High support needs and high masking reads “told they don’t need accommodations because they look normal.” High support needs and low masking reads “infantilized by neurotypicals 24/7.” Low support needs and high masking reads “anxiety from being expected to be a savant genius.” Low support needs and low masking reads “perceived as allistics who are rude, weird, lazy, etcetera.”]

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heather-elissaaa · 2 months

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Statements about autism that shouldn’t be controversial -

If you do not meet the diagnostic criteria for autism, then you are not autistic

Autism is a disability, not a different ability

Support needs labels are not the same as functioning labels. They are beneficial and often necessary

Parents of autistic individuals are entitled to be a part of our community

It really should be that simple

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the-firefly-jar-system · 8 months

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reminder that this blog supports and loves (/p) people with NPD, HPD, ASPD, AVPD, BPD, psychosis, delusions, schizophrenia, schizospec disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, intrusive thoughts, violent urges, DID/OSDD/UDD, trauma disorders, dissociative disorders, bipolar disorder, level 2/3 autistics, and any other stigmatized disorder or condition!

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v01dg0th · 2 years

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I hear a lot about the autistic tendency towards honesty and authenticity, but what where are the other autistics who had their honesty and authenticity repeatedly and/or severely punished early on, and now feel conditioned to be inauthentic and insincere in social situations as a mask? It’s not that everything I say to others is an outright lie, but almost everything I say is very carefully tailored to be as watered-down, vague, inoffensive, passive and palatable as possible. It’s like I have such an intense, irreparable lack of understanding for what is expected/acceptable in every given social situation that I have to overcompensate by obsessively policing my own words and being myself and saying my genuine thoughts/feelings/opinions as little as possible.

It’s like knowing you’re supposed to color in a coloring page, knowing from experience you’ll be punished if you don’t, but not being able to see where the lines are drawn, so you color in as little of the page as possible in hopes that maybe you’ll be able to stay in the lines and avoid punishment, even if your art (or in reality- your self worth, ability to connect to others, etc) suffers as a result.

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sleepiebunie · 5 months

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Autistic Near headcanons

rester is his caretaker

brushing his teeth is very overstimulating so he can’t brush his teeth without rester’s help

he needs help bathing, he becomes easily distracted in the bath with his toys and he forgets about washing himself, so growing up and as an adult rester washes him as he plays with his bath toys

he struggles with his bathroom cues

he stims with all of his toys and likes lining them up

he’s a slime enjoyer and attempts to make it from time to time, his favorite kind is cloud slime

he hates cooked vegetables

cannot drive and will never drive

rester does his taxes for him, he struggles with filling papers out on his own

he stims with scents so he enjoys sweet scented body washes and scented toys/stuffed animals

he wears noise cancellation headphones

he likes to sit in a lot of odd positions

worlds #1 potato hater

he dislikes wearing pants but he has to when he’s working around other people so he makes sure that they’re a specific fabric that he can stand wearing (either his current white pants or something soft and fluffy)

#death note #nate river #near death note #autism #level 2 autism #moderate support needs #autistic headcanon #near fictive

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spooksforsammy · 4 months

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One reason don’t joke about autism is because don’t want be seen as joke.

Not funny not able regulate emotions. Not funny having difficulties with social interaction. Not funny need people already know around help socialize and make new friends. Not funny that at current age still need supervision going places.

Not funny that put life in danger because low environment awareness and sense of danger. Not funny know possibility never able live alone. Or go college. Or even walk to park that barely 5 minutes away from house.

It’s not funny that small things have me breaking down, crying, yelling, hitting myself and others. It’s not funny that a small change of plans will ruin my whole mood. Not funny that make random faces, don’t notice am making them, and get yelled at for face.

Not saying don’t have good autism traits. But if joke about good ones, others won’t take my bad one’s seriously.

#speech4amy #actually autistic #disabled poc #disability #neurodivergent #autism #neurodiversity #personalamy #medium support needs #moderate support needs #actually autism #actual autistic

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silentdreamystars · 1 year

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I don’t hate having autism. I just hate the meltdowns, the mental and physical health issues, the regression, burnout, catatonia, communication challenges, sensory issues, the isolation, the way people view me. I love being autistic and I also really fucking hate it. I wish I was normal sometimes.

#moderate support needs #level 2 autism #aacuser #autistic catatonia #autistic burnout #autistic regression

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whovianblogger · 4 months

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so, i was diagnosed a few years ago, but never bothered telling my family due to their "you're normal!" mentality.

the other day, i was going on a rant to my aunt about how much i having to get used to summer breaks in university and how i’d prefer to just study year round with short breaks throughout the year, because of the consistency

my aunt looks at me and says "i think you might be autistic". the second i agree with her and said "oh, no yeah i know" she laughs right in my face and says "nah, you're normal!"

????? still very confused by that interaction. does being autistic mean i can't be aware i have autism?

#autism #autistic #actually autistic #neurodivergent #autism spectrum disorder #disabled #disability #developmental disability #asd #level 2 autistic #level 2 autism #moderate support needs #neurospicy #tumblr #nerd

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angeldelights-blog · 6 months

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Im Autistic

I was diagnosed as Autistic just over a year ago now. I have moderate support needs but I wasn't diagnosed until I was an adult.

I was also given help at school but they just weren't sure why I needed the help. My parents made adjustments for everyday life like cutting out my tags in clothes, having a list of safe food, taking me out at more quite times so I didn't get overwhelmed.

I do a lot of the "sterotypical" traits of Autism but I feel that late diagnosed Autistic people who have moderate or high support needs aren't spoken about often and I guess this is my way of saying how I feel.

My assessment was confusing in the end, level 1 because I speak well but high support needs so basically in the middle. I need a lot of help in my dad to day life. I can't make phone calls without a meltdown but I was assigned a person to help but I can't afford them. Hospitals are funny if you email them even when you explain and having physical disabilities it's a battle to get both needs met. I speak well but most of my childhood I only spoke to my dad and mum about my special interest of communism, sociology and psychology... oh and cats! I still have a special interest in all of these including cats!

I have aggressive meltdowns, I have hurt before and I can't control them. I can't give eye contact and struggle when meeting new people. I need support. I do have a partner and he helps me all the time, he's amazing and supportive and helps me with my dad to day life.

I do stim but I am being taught to redirect my stimming to less harmful behaviours but finding fidget toys that feel right is hard

I use headphones as im sensitive to sound and always have been. This is a huge struggle for me.

I have around 100 squishmallows and soft toys but I wish I could have more but they cost a lot of money and being disabled you don't have a lot of spare money!

The soft toys I love! They feel so good on my skin, so soft and they make me happy.

I also happy flap as I call it, my partner says he knows when I'm happy because that's what I do and I don't even realise I'm doing it because it just happens.

I was bullied so much at school I have PTSD from it... I needed help with my maths as I have dyscalculia and I struggled in making friends so I was put in a group on how to make friends.

It's complex being diagnosed as an adult with higher support needs, not realising that all these people were already doing things in the background so I don't struggle as much.

I feel like I don't fully understand myself and I wish I could hide who I am at times. I wish I wasn't so obvious or didn't shutdown so people think I'm rude. I wish my headphones weren't seen as rude or that in childish to need communication cards or fidget toys. I wish I was seen as normal but I also understand the burden masking can cause for others. My only mask is a shutdown. .

So this is my experience as a late diagnosed moderate support needs adult and I think I'll post more as it was nice to get it all out...

#autism #high support needs #moderate support needs #late diagnosed autistic #dyscalculia #support needs #autistic adult

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sevspins · 18 days

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I am not able to mask very well or at all really.

as a moderate support needs autistic person i have never been able to mask my autism well, people don’t meet me and just think i’m “weird” but aren’t sure what it is, i get asked if i’m autistic outright, i get asked what disability i have…sometimes in a mean way and sometimes in a genuine way.

It is hard not being able to mask, I wish there was more representation for people who are unable to mask, who cannot put on a face and pretend. I really try to but i don’t know why I can’t? Why is it so blatantly obvious to people?

Does anyone relate?

#masking #level 2 autistic #lvl 2 autism #higher support needs #moderate support needs #unable to mask #actually autistic #autism #autistic community #disabled #actually semiverbal #semiverbal

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chocoboparty · 1 month

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think people lack understanding of just how disabling thing like executive dysfunction can be. often compare to procrastination but don’t know if same thing. not choosing to do something later or putting off. physically can’t move physically can’t do thing. hurts very difficult make me have crying fit or meltdown or hit head because make me feel stupid and lazy. got in trouble because couldn’t do demands couldn’t just clean room when told to without direct instruction where to start just left to sit and waste time unable to start.

need someone to be there almost for every step to be able. that’s why okay at work because explain what to do with visual and just given other task when done. cleaning you have to give self next task and starting to feel impossible some days. so difficult. wrote down directions in order didn’t work. next week fiancé going to try to be speaking to me often during clean. make me feel like idiot to need to be told to do something but also sometime unable to do something because it demand (PDA). mom told it was lazy or just can’t do anything and now horrified of asking help. sometime feel like hand over hand instruction help get me started but feel ashamed about needing it

#🐥talking #🎧autisms #just want to be able to do things on my own #but can’t don’t know if will able #am okay when others need help but if I need help it’s bad #actually autistic #medium support needs #moderate support needs #actually adhd #executive dysfunction #pathological demand avoidance

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eddybear-owo · 3 months

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"There are many great things abiut autism" yeah, FOR YOU.

I nearly only got the bad parts of autism but i'm still too "normal" for me to have been diagnosed as a child, so yeah, for you it is, for me it is the passion for projects at MOST that is good from my autism. Y'know, that passion that neurotypicals have too.

(This isn't to discredit anyone's opinions on their disability, but using "autism is" and saying something that is entirely subjective makes some autistics like me feel so left out from the community..)

#autism #asd #moderate support needs #moderate autism #actually autistic #actually disabled #disability

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