Check out "The Practical Aspie"

Lisa – If you’re going to continue to use “high” and “low” when describing people with autism, I think it’s essential to always use the word “functioning” along with it, otherwise you risk moving away from a generally understood description toward a value judgement. I’d personally prefer describing a person as one who needs “more” or “less” intensive supports. I think it puts the person not disorder first and is a lot more neutral.

The site is actually called The ‘Pragmatic’ Aspie, not ‘practical’.
Why not just write “learn more about life with asperger’s”? High and low just confuse people. People can make that judgement for themselves.

Look – it’s raining! Oh – did I use the wrong word? Perhaps I should have been careful and said “it’s drizzling,” “it’s showering” or “it’s pouring.” Or maybe “pouring” gives the wrong impression.

You all know perfectly well what I’m talking about. If I say “low functioning,” people get angry because a person can function well but have poor speech. If I say “high end,” people get angry because it implies better or worse. If I say “severe” and “mild” someone else will get pissed.

This post said “look, here’s a cool site,” and you want to fight about it.

Fine.

So far as I can tell, there is nothing I can say about autism that will not get someone’s knickers in a twist. Feel free to enjoy the twist, and try to enjoy the day as well.

You should be careful. You are a professional writer, so I know you understand that words and language do matter. You have a pretty visible soapbox that ought to represent the full breadth of the issues facing the autism community in the most descriptive way possible. That’s why I find your apparent irritation a bit troubling.

Although my young adult son does not have a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, I appreciate that many who do vehemently object to being characterized as people with autism who are “high functioning”. Many view themselves as “differently abled” not mildly disabled. If that’s someone’s view, it’s absolutely OK with me and I can see their point. So too, the notion that some like my son (who have far from typical academic skills and expressive language challenges) should be labled “low functioning” seems dismissive of the many skills he and others bring to the table. The concept of “high” and “low” has got to go.

I was at a recent conference where Dr. Peter Gerhardt of OAR stated that he had totally abandoned that language in favor of describing people who need “more” or “less” in the way of specific supports. I like that. It’s a lot more accurate.

Anyhow, please think about ditching the “high” “low” stuff. It’s irritating and far from accurate.

Lisa, thanks for the post. I typically check out your offerings and learn a new tip or sometimes just feel like I’m not so alone as the single parent of a child with an autism spectrum diagnosis. As we try to navigate life I’ve used high functioning and low functioning in trying to put into words what I think other people can relate to. I’ve also been chewed out for using high functioning and low functioning by sensitive parents. I find that I use the terms to give people who are less familiar with autism spectrum disorders and not familiar with my son, a point of reference for trying to understand him. Unfortunately, our society still has the image of Dustin Hoffman obsessing over People’s Court and counting cards in Vegas for the word autism.

As awareness grows, this will change but the important thing is that people are interested enough in learning more and not needing the point of reference/label anymore. And when the Asperger’s label goes away, we’ll be starting over with what’s become somewhat familiar to the general public no longer being used.

Words do have the power to hurt, but as I teach my son who is bullied by mean people using words, they only have the power we give them as individuals.

“What I personally appreciate about the blog is the lack of drama that all-too-often permeates all things autism-related.” One, Liane Holliday Willey is an autism consultant and also has AS. Her writing style is very different on the site that is much the same as this about dot com. And talk about drama, I get frustrated when comments are often termed ‘nitpicking’ (direct attack and name-calling), and ‘fighting’ about the sited link. The problem isn’t the site itself. It’s how it was presented. Weather phenomenon is a little different than functioning levels of medical conditions and that of individuals. Lisa is in a position where she is suppose to be accurate and one would expect correct medical terms used.

Definiton of nitpicking: n.
Minute, trivial, unnecessary, and unjustified criticism or faultfinding.

“Name-calling” is not included nor implied in the definition nor was my comment worded as a “direct attack” (i.e. directed at any particular person) since I did say “all the” nitpicking that goes on and many different comments and commenters seem to me to be preoccupied with finding minute, trivial and largely unnecessary and unjustified criticisms about what other people write… whether the even slightly ambiguous language is found in the original blogs or subsequently within other comments.

The general gist of this blog post by Lisa is really just here’s a link to another blog. Although the author at featured link makes some generalizations herself, I thought many of her blog posts contain some very useful advice of some important topics. Thanks Lisa for providing the link.

Accept the fact that what might be unimportant to you may be quite important to other’s and you have the right to express your opinion of the issues brought up by others, but you have no right to stomp all over other’s who comment and belittle them by calling them nitpickers, period. It’s ‘That’ drama between commenters that’s totally uncalled for and that is never stopped by this blogger, so that drama will never end.

I’m amazed at all of the research that is finally being done on all the levels of autism. It is so wonderful and e.nlightening when someone who has a serious condition is willing to share and educate the rest of us about that condition.

Hey, Lisa. I think you’re doing a great job and you are on the side of we who are on the Spectrum. Just ignore the “nitpickers” and keep up the good work – try and get names right – it is a good link. People are more important than labels, you recognise that, those who take you to task appear not to.