The problem with Functioning Labels
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- Опубліковано 17 вер 2020
- The problem with functioning labels, and why you need to stop using them.
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We should start asking NTs "yeh but what level of NT are you? Are you like... the stupid kind or the really clever kind?" And see what they say
This also works with the 'you don't look autistic' comments. Reply 'you don't look normal (but I don't judge you on that basis).'
Omg taste of there own medicine😂
High functioning and low functioning labels were created to help foster understanding. Unfortunately they do the opposite. I work with the autism community and find these labels do not help to explain a person strengths and challenges. I try to use language that explains the person needs and not their functioning labels for example let's take a autistic young man. We will call him Nate. Nate has limited expressive language and uses a communication device. He is an excellent drummer and plays in a local band. It may hard for him to communicate verbally, but he communicates a lot through his device and his music. This is just one example of diversity. Let's take another example, there is a woman we will call her Wendy. Wendy has lots of autistic friends, loves to sing and travels all over the world with her Husband. Wendy has lost many jobs in the past because she struggles to follow a schedule and gets very down on herself when she makes mistakes. Her needs are different then Jerry but she still needs support just in a different way.
@@gypsyfreedom9 was that reply to the wrong comment? I'm not really sure how it relates to my comment... no worries if it is.... if it was replying to my comment, can you please explain the relevance to my (or the following) comments? I understand functioning labels are useless and being phased out...
@@gypsyfreedom9 No, they were created by the Third Reich to determine who went to the extermination camps and who went to the labor camps
My struggles: social situations, communicating, I’m really quiet/won’t speak up
My strengths: Academic ability, memory
I have a crazy good long term memory generally not useful things though
You presented this so well and so clearly. Everyone needs to see this. Thank you for this! x
I HATE it when people use functioning labels, it makes me REALLY uncomfortable!!!!
Hi Chloe, I have Autism and Tourrettes Syndrome. I love your videos, at first I tried to ignore my autism and now I have accepted it.
@@TheAutisticEducator at first no, now I've learned to live with it provided no one calls me rude things because of it.
@@queenmeowmeow0983 I'm talking about the medical model that insists we "have" Autism when we really are just Autistic. It is an important part of who we are.
@@TheAutisticEducator I thought it was easier to say that than think of how to say I have Tourrettes Syndrome in a different way. I understand you, I just don't know how else to put both.
@@queenmeowmeow0983 Tourrettes is a different kettle of fish and is difficult to say wanting bot you have it, as, I guess, the impacts are more severe and harder to live with. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I've only taught s few Tourettes kids.
@@TheAutisticEducator I just find it difficult to think of the words.
I was sat here thinking "it's like a soundboard.... we should start using that..." and then you said it hahaha
This video is so informative, I learnt a lot !! I think you’re right about the labels being invalidating and the way you explained it made me realise that while there is more understanding in society, people still believe that autistic people should be grouped together and they think that we all have exactly the same characteristics, when in reality we are all just as unique as they are!!
thank you so much for the video, i’ve been watching your videos for a while now and they always make me feel happy and loved. i hope you have an awesome day :)💗
I also loved when you related it to the colour palette and at the end mentioned the rainbow, that made me extra happy, rainbows are amazing :)
Great video Chloe! Think the problem with labels, in general, is that people will have a natural assumption about that person based on that label. Even when we say "Oh I'm an autistic person" then that naturally goes into assumptions. If people take the person to understand people and see what people can do instead of what people can't do, then the world would be more palatable.
Wow, I honestly never saw it this way until this video. It makes perfect sense. I have been labeling myself as High Functioning all this time, but you're absolutely right, it unnecessarily divides the Autistic community, and values certain strengths greater than others (speech for example). I now regret having had this mindset. I understood "low functioning" to mean mentally challenged (which is another problematic phrase in the general lexicon)
But that is simply not true, everyone on the spectrum has strengths and weaknesses. Non-verbal doesn't mean you are a baby and should be treated as such. And just because someone is verbal, doesn't mean they dont need accommodations
This is why awareness is important. Thank you so much for this video and opening up my mind!
Chloe, I so LOVED what you said about, "an individual basis" and "colors of a rainbow":)!! I am not Autistic, but I do have learning disabilities. A Psychologist that I had to talk with years ago put a label on me telling me, "[My low I.Q.] is who [I am]!. Now, when this Psychologist said this she was putting a label on me, which invalidates me as being a Person to God, my Family as much as my Boyfriend and others in our World. So, if people looked at each other as "individuals" and as each one of us is important to our Society as "colors of a rainbow", then prejudices against Autism and Learning Disabilities will fall off like leaves in the Fall with their rainbow colors:)!!!
I was called stupid and dumb all my life I felt like that but now I am happy being me we are all different and you sound like a brilliant sweet amazing soul to me!!!I found myself threw nature and crystals and animals 💙I can't do a real job because it's to confusing and stressful so I make art and healing jewelry 🤗
@@arohalight3670 Thank you:)!! You are so sweet:)!! I wish you well with your wonderful art and healing jewelry business:)!!!!
@@wantingoneangel8976 thank you thank you thank you !keep shining that bright amazing sunshine soul🔅🔅🔅👍💖💖💖💖🙏🌼
I just stumbled across you a few weeks ago and I’ve watched all your videos now. My son is suspected to have autism. So I appreciate all the information. Thankyou so much Chloe
good evening, ma'am! i have two things:
1. you are freaking awesome and i hope you're having a fun time in
2. you should check out the game 'Horse World Online'! its dope and as a fellow autistic bro with a special interest of horses i am absolutely addicted. i should go outside more..
I love your rainbow shirt 🌈👕😊 Another problem I have with being labeled as high-functioning is it makes it sound like I am mostly working, but partially broken. I am a fully-functioning Autistic woman and proud of it 😊
Yess!! Thank you for making this video. I've been talking about this because I'm struggling so hard just because people see me as "normal" and high functioning and expect me to act as such. I've been diagnosed with bipolar and I can only get treatment for that because it's "more serious" even though I only have episodes when taking meds (and the treatment is more meds, so no treatment) and autism affects my day to day life.
Ikr my brother is autistic . He is in middle school but he learns on an 1st - 2nd grade level. And
guess what! He is called "low functioning " bc of that . Like what the heck! The only reason it's like that is that he can't take in that much information all at once and be expected to remember all that stuff. Do u think he doesn't care?!?!! He does! He tries his hardest! And he does amazing in school! That's like punishing some one for failing a test they didn't get to study for bc they had brain damage!!!!
Your shirt is sooo pretty!!! Im absolutely obsessed with rainbows!! 🌈
I Adore the colour palette example! It’s perfect.
❤️🧡💛 daily reminder that you are not defined by your strengths and struggles 💚💙💜
Totally agree. I like the direction in which your recent videos are going. Very informative and educational.
Instead of using labels we should just say what we mean, instead of low functioning say “struggles a lot w communication” or maybe “does not know how to do x activity”
It’s a lot easier to understand as we all have different things we can’t do and also have certain strengths.
Great video Chloe! Keep up the great work! 🙌🏻☀️
i love the color palette analogy!
Have you done a video on the puzzle piece issue? I really want to see you adress that
The what now?
The puzzle piece (an autism symbol) There is love and hate for this symbol. I don't agree with it. I love the rainbow infinity symbol for autism. Diversity.
@@AdrianColley the puzzle piece has often been used to symbolise autism but it's very controversial in the autism community
I appreciate this so much I've always been so confused why i don't fit into these categories this is helpful because it's so confusing to me thank you
I AM SO HAPPY YOU MAKE VIDEOS WND SPEAK ON THIS BC I WQS SCROLLING THROUGH VIDEOS WND JUST WASNT HAPPY WITH THE VIDEOS I SEEN AND THEN YOU SPEAK ON THIS THANKYOU SO MUCH LOVE
I have adhd and am self diagnosed as autistic bcuz i can’t get an official diagnosis now. And used to say i’m “high functioning” because Could talk really early and knew things beyond my age as a kid and was a good student and don’t have much sensory issues and can cope pretty well with change. But my social skills always sucked and i wasn’t shy i was just awkwkard like didn’t know how to Interact and i’d mimic things ppl say on tv and come across as dramatic inappropriate and strange especially that i used to create certain obsessions over tv characters and i’d become them like mimicking and talking like them or i’d be talking 24/7 about what i was interested or compulsively bragging about whatever toys clothes i have. To this day i copy ppl around me and lowkey still act like my fav tv characters. And my motor skills always sucked can’t Roller skate was always the last one in my PE class and u can show me 1000 times how u do origami and still have no idea. Except for drawing and doing makeup where i am good at i suck at most practical skills.Been volunteering to so called “low functioning autistic kid” and we was supposed to teach them how to do origami and handmade decorations. Those kids were geniuses at that while i sat and played with paper to look like i do something
Do you think that there should be some specific labels for people who have certain co-morbid conditions? I find annoying having to say I have ADHD and am autistic, because people always focus on one or the other, instead of both together. I wish, in that case, that there was a recognised terms for both together
They need to create names for a person who has multiple disorders. I have autism and think that would be better. Then if a person feels like they want to know more they can ask what you have specifficly and go into more detail from there
For autism and ADHD I recently learned the term (after picking up the ADHD diagnosis recently to add to asd) is AuDHD.
nice video, another problem with functioning lables apart from all of the issues you point out there is also the too often ignored foact that people can have more than one disability for example i am Autistic, Dyspraxic and Epileptic, plus at least one other disability and of course funtioning lables ignore this.
Exactly. Most people labelled ‘low functioning’ have additional health issues, disabilities and are non speaking. None of those things are ‘autism’ per se. Of course I don’t have the same issues as my family friend, she has Downs syndrome as well and that comes with a stack of health problems! But a meltdown I can relate to.
Instead of labels it’s now different levels of the spectrum with different traits that some will have but others don’t
For example one may have sensory challenges that lead to overwhelming stress that can lead to meltdowns others on the spectrum may not have that trait but that doesn’t mean they have a different one each person on the spectrum is going to have something different from one another
Yes
This was the best way I have EVER heard it put, thank you
This is very supportive💓
YESSS! Only speaking facts 💖💖💖
Hey
I'm 17 and I've just been diagnosed with autism if I'm being honest I'm still in denial about it cause my family have been saying I "Don't look autistic" or "your to old to be diagnosed with autism" any advice?
probably find some autistic led groups on facebook, find some autistic friends if you have not already would be my best advice. That way you might be able to find some info to educate you family
Maybe a better way to visualize a person's strengths and weaknesses is to consider it like this: A newborn baby is the nucleus of a person. Think of this nucleus as a golf ball and on the surface of the golf ball, we see that it's covered with what look like the heads of pins. The head of each pin represents some potential skill, characteristic, etc.
As we grow from newborn, or perhaps even earlier, we begin to develop a given skill, this is represented by a lengthening of the pin, pushing the head of the pin outward, away from the surface of the golf ball.
Some skills, we may never develop and so that respective "pin" head remains tight against the surface of the ball. For other skills, we may develop very rapidly and to an extent that is much greater than is typical among the population at large. So, the head of the corresponding pin will be pushed very far from the surface of the ball.
So, every person at any given time, is defined by the length of the pins radiating outward from the surface of the golf ball. Some of us, will have a very little variation in the length of the various pins representing various skills. These people are not autistic. They're generally described as "well rounded".
Autistics and other neurodivergent people will often have some of their skills as not majorly developed and also frequently have others that are over-developed. So, there is great variation in the length of pins radiating outward from the surface of the ball.
Now, this golf ball with pins radiating outward from the surface, resides on the ground. The closer the ball is to the ground, the more difficult life is for the person represented. So, we'd like to position our golf ball such that the long pins are facing the ground, to keep us as far from the ground as possible. Unfortunately, life is like a wind that blows the golf ball this way and that. We don't always have the ability to steer ourselves in such a way to avoid the short pins facing downward.
If we have a very large geographical area of the golf ball with very short pins, if that side ends up facing downward, we may become stuck like a tortoise on it's back.
Given this model for representing a person, it should be clear, that there is little value in assigning a label in a futile attempt to say something useful about a given person. If each person is a collection of ten thousand pin lengths, it's simply madness to try to summarize a person by labeling them as to their "level of function".
B.
Hey Chloe! I remember watching this before and completely agreeing, but now my belief is a lot more nuanced. I made a video myself addressing why it’s best to allow everyone to use whatever label they want. We can’t say it’s all problematic because we are hurting autistic people when we say that.
Where have your videos gone? I think people should describe themselves how they like but allistic people shouldn't be labeling any of us. That being said functioning labels can be harmful
This makes sense since I am high functioning and people think that I can do anything when I struggle in a lot of things.
Once again Chloe you are amazing! Keep on being you! You are absolutely an ambassador for the Autistic community. 💜💙💚❤🧡💛
❤️❤️❤️
I just discovered your videos you are so adorable 😍
Unrelated but your aesthetic is literally so cute I want those flower crowns LOL
Hello, i am also autistic im from the UK i got sent your video from a friend of mine, and i have subscribed to your channel. Keep up with your awesome content x
The colour palette is such a beautiful way to describe it. I am neurotypical and your videos are extremely useful in understanding the neurodivergent experience. Thank you.
It's more of a 3-D constellation in my mind. Nicely done!
♥️
this is how i feel
I have no idea how old you are...it actually doesn't really matter. You understand and articulate not only autism but you touch on valid and important parts of it that society doesn't consider, for example the term low functioning and high functioning being terms coined by people who are not autistic to determine a person's ability to blend into what has been defined as "normal behavior" also the nonverbal way someone communicates is degraded by a group of people who don't understand it. These are pivotal and eye opening examples you spoke on that need to be addressed in our society. I believe the most brilliant and life changing individuals who have the most beautiful minds are those on the spectrum. Nobody speaks about the spectr as being non linear it makes perfect sense I don't understand how this has been ignored by the theraputic community? I have no doubt you will be instrumental in changing the way the world views and thinks about people on the spectrum as well as women with ADHD. Thank you I truly believe you are going to change my life
Well done! Exactly!!!! I never believed in all the labels, autism is autism.
No doubt there induvial understanding or differences, and to be more technical or precise is good however established general terms or labels still stand correct.
I tend to think of it as a location within a three dimensional sphere where north and south hemispheres are black and white and east and west hemispheres consist of the color spectrum O_O
Hi! I was just wondering if you know anything thing about if ADHD falls on a spectrum as well. I’ve heard a lot of people say it does but I was wondering your thoughts on this. Thank you for the informative video!!
There are two important factors to consider: the type of traits/ symptoms a person has and how intense the traits/ symptoms are. With that in mind one could consider ADHD on a spectrum but on a different one from Autism.
I think you are so cool, i have got my wife into your video on tiktok ,i'm going through testing for autism
Getting serious Bjork vibes from your thumbnail pic!
Case by case. Yeeeeeeesss
Love this, I agree functioning levels aren't cool
there is no “more or less” autistic just like there is no “more or less” gay or bi. saying that someone is more/less autistic than someone else is like saying that a bi woman is more gay that other bi women bc she’s dated more women than man. calling someone “high functioning” is like saying that someone is “more white” than another person just bc their skin is lighter. it makes NO sense. i wish that people would treat it as such. every autistic person has different strengths and challenges.
love your posts :) you understand more about ASC (they changed the D to a C , so its no longer a disorder, its a condition :D) than doctors I've seen and was forced to be medicate by... we have spoken before, and yeah I was star struck and not my true self, and because of that I'm not going to say all hail the princess, but that not going to stop me from bowing :)
It's not changed officially everywhere and I think there's nothing wrong with the word disorder. It and the word "condition" are neutral terms.
"Condition" is distinctly more neutral than"disorder" and while not perfect, it's not 100% saying "defective" which by definition, "disorder" is 100% of the time, and implies it needs to be fixed.
It's fun that you picked gray and green for the colors because those look similar to red/green color blind people
Have u considered doing a stream
I don’t exactly know what you can stream but theres got to be something
Yes!!! Say it louder for the neurotypical people in the back!!! Thank you so much for this video, definitely going to share it with people! 💕
Eloquence.
I got autism
I'm sorry to say we do have a word for "high functioning /low functioning neurotypical" it's called IQ score.
(fyi, is bad joke)
Functioning labels are accurate, but not when regarding "function" as a verb. (example: I was too tired to function. or. I can't function without my coffee).
Labels regarding function as a noun are accurate. (For example: The computer programmer added new functions to his application and increased its efficiency).
The only reason people are offended by functioning labels is ambiguity. Allow me to disambiguate the term function.
Please read this article that I wrote to elaborate:
------------------------------------------------
I define the contents of this message as function {MyCasePresentation}
Just to be clear {MyCasePresentation} is the title of the function. I'll explain the intended application of this function at the end of this message.
A function is a set of tasks that integrate into a single procedure.
Criss Cross Apple sauce for example, is a function.
Instead of individually processing the steps:
1. sit down
2. right leg over left leg
3. left foot on right leg
4. right hand on left foot
5. left hand on right hand
You can instead execute function {CrissCrossAppleSauce} and integrate all 5 tasks into one fluid procedure.
High functioning autistics have a greater ability to develop new functions such as various social scripts.
Social scripts are functions, so one's ability to interact in society is directly dependent on their ability to develop functions (compensatory strategies are functions. In fact all skills are functions.)
Something is only second nature after you've developed a function to integrate the tasks involved.
Intelligence is the main variable to determine functionality. IQ is a measure of one's processing capacity (Total RAM).
Functions are coding symbols that free up RAM by turning multiple tasks into a single procedure. This results in fewer lines of redundant code.
This next paragraph will illustrate the functionality ---> RAM ---> functionality feedback loop:
Having a high IQ means that you have extra RAM to dedicate to developing functions.
Developing functions frees up more of your RAM, having more RAM allows for more functions to be developed, developing more functions frees up more RAM, freeing up more RAM... (and so on)
This feedback loop between available RAM and the development of new functions is what determines ones overall level of functionality.
High functioning autism describes autistics who are capable of developing and sustaining high order cognitive functionality.
Moderately functioning autism describes autistics who are capable of developing and sustaining middle order cognitive functionality.
Low functioning autism describes autistics who are capable of developing and sustaining low order cognitive functionality.
Notice how I use functioning labels to describe what an individual 'is' capable of... I don't use functioning labels in a derogatory way.
To the contrary, functioning labels are highly descriptive and useful tools in understanding and communicating variance in ASD presentations.
So to finish this message:
Do you remember the first paragraph of this message where I defined the message itself as function {MyCasePresentation}.
Well, in the future, if i want to bring up the topic again but don't want to repeat the explanation of my entire argument, I can efficiently say {Mycasepresentation}, and if you've "read the function" you'll understand my argument in the future without reading this whole message again.
Understanding functionality is so important, and political correctness is stifling debate around the issue.
I realized recently that political correctness results in the opposite of its intended effect. There is an alternative to political correctness, which is political politeness. This message for example, is politically polite.
This is to say that political correctness regarding functioning labels is actually serving to marginalize those speaking academically about the functionality of autism.
It also prevents ASD individuals of all levels from learning about the concept of functionality.
Lastly, from observational experience, I've noted that the demographic of people offended by functioning labels only consist of a few level 2 and 3 autistics.
The ones who are shaming those who use functioning labels tend to be high functioning or parents of level 2 or 3 autistic individuals.
Imagine if you met a light skinned black man at a Halloween party and you had a wonderful conversation. You realize you forgot his phone number and want to ask others at the party if they knew his name.
There was also a dark skinned black man at the party wearing the same costume. The only visual difference you noticed was that the man you were talking to had slightly lighter skin tone.
Is it politically incorrect to describe the man as having lighter skin in order to get his contact info and develop a friendship?
If it is politically incorrect, then that implies that there is something wrong with having light skin. Or something wrong with having dark skin.
In reality, skin color is a feature that could be used for identification purposes. As long as the intention behind the inquiry is benevolent and polite, there is nothing objectively offensive about it in my opinion.
Some low functioning (in context of the word "function" as a noun) autistic individuals function (verb) better in society than some high functioning (context of noun) autistic individuals.
Whether someone someone with ASD is successful in life or not depends heavily on early treatment, support network, accommodations, co morbidities, and other environmental, genetic, and situational variables.
This does not negate the validity of functioning labels when they are understood correctly and labels are used benevolently.
I'm curious about your comment and interested in understanding it. However, hwo would you know for sure how much "ram" does a specific autistic person have? How will you measure it without any bias, differences in communication styles, lack of support or even ground etc? I think that's impossible to measure without falling into the same pirfalls as functioning as a verb does. Moreover, labeling someone as not capable of something can be very easily hurtful - while there are obvious limits to everyone's abilities, something as vague as creating scripts and functions can definitely be improved upon, and saying that someone just can't do it is limiting and infantilizing. Unless, of course, I misunderstand you.
My career (one of my special interests) is in software development.
I understand what they're trying to say.
They don't have a proper understanding of reality.
I can do math in my head many can't do regardless of tools as they don't understand it. I can do many other things at high levels of power.
That doesn't change my nature regarding inertia, which is what self-awareness into a visibly problematic pattern that was clearly causing me practical problems in life, and analysis showed there was no emotional component to it that appears to cause it.
Their idea also doesn't at all account for sensory issues and how they impact performance in life, such as as "simple" as speaking. If you can't sense what your body is doing, your IQ is meaningless. When you have motor planning and coordination issues your IQ also doesn't matter. How many are nonverbal because that simply doesn't connect, but otherwise they're capable of doing various other things? I spent many years in speech therapy and did some amount of occupational therapy, and my handwriting hasn't gotten better since I'd guess about third grade, regardless of my reading/writing and other abilities growing. I can't intellect my way out of neurology that has too many feedback loops that causes noise in the process. I can't intellect my way past the fact I can't smell in a useful manner, which is so hyposensitive that it's come closer than desired to killing me.
I also have audio processing issues as well: if my auditory processing were enough worse, especially combined with my oral dyspraxia or whatever you call it, I'd be reduced to making noise that not even I could understand, and I'd not be able to learn from audio sources very readily. But, surely I'd still have the natural raw IQ I have otherwise, which their mental dump suggests wouldn't exist, otherwise I'd be "high functioning" and could blast past those wiring issues.
I've observed that once I have sufficient sensory load, my functioning capacity drops horribly in all aspects. It was due to issues with kidney stones, inner ear problems (Menieres) and the stress of being laid off, etc. that brought me down towards major problems at 30 that precipitated seeking to understand why I couldn't get past inertia, as it was illogical behavior and didn't seem like an emotional issue causing it.
So, in sufficient conditions, in less than a day, I can go from being able to do what most humans can't do, to being dependent on the help of others around me, which is suboptimal.
This is more data as to why a functioning label is too simplistic and causes more harm than good: nobody is always and reliably at their peak functional capacity.
@@strictnonconformist7369 ah, thank you so much for sharing! I can't believe I didn't think about any of this. logic-ing is hard lol
@@bryce4395 I make my living using logic to track down problems in complex software and the systems they run in, where context makes a HUGE difference!
And a human brain regardless of its architecture is certainly that.
@@strictnonconformist7369 that's amazing!
Maybe we should be using “Mask” ratings to get a GENERAL feel of where someone is at. So, someone who can totally fake being a NT gets a Mask10 rating. Maybe someone can say, “Yeah, I’m a Mask10 most of the time, but I can be a Mask 5 from time to time.”
I am about a 5 I reckon can be less if I am having a bad day and am struggling
Nearly first
Yeah :(