Beyond Labels: Embracing Individual Support Needs in Autism

TL;DR: You might recognise that autism support works best when it’s personalised rather than based on broad “functioning labels.” Every autistic person has unique strengths and challenges that can vary across different environments and situations. By understanding individual support requirements instead of using potentially harmful terms like “high functioning” or “low functioning,” we can better appreciate autistic experiences and provide meaningful support that helps people thrive on their own terms.

Understanding the Autism Spectrum’s Beautiful Complexity

Autism isn’t a linear spectrum with “mild” at one end and “severe” at the other - it’s more like a constellation of traits that combine uniquely in each person. Each autistic individual experiences the world through their own distinct lens, with their own blend of strengths, challenges, perceptions and needs.

For too long, we’ve attempted to categorise these differences using simplistic terms like “high functioning autism” and “low functioning autism.” This approach is rather like trying to describe a complex piece of music using only the words “loud” or “quiet”—it fundamentally misses the depth, nuance and richness of autistic experiences.

These labels can be particularly problematic because they often prioritise what’s visible to outside observers rather than reflecting the lived experience of the person themselves. Someone labelled “high functioning” might be struggling immensely with invisible challenges like sensory overload, anxiety or executive function difficulties. Meanwhile, someone deemed “low functioning” might have profound abilities, insights and intelligence that aren’t being recognised or nurtured.

Understanding Individual Support Needs

What truly matters isn’t a functioning label, but understanding what specific support each person needs to flourish. These needs are as unique as fingerprints - different for each individual and often changing across contexts.

Some autistic people might need support with communication - perhaps using alternative communication methods, having written instructions, or being given extra time to process information. Others might benefit from help navigating social interactions, like understanding unwritten social rules or managing the energy demands of socialising.

Many autistic people thrive with educational accommodations that work with their learning style rather than against it. This might include visual supports, special interests-based learning, or adjustments to sensory environments. Others might require assistance with daily living activities, emotional regulation, or managing transitions between activities.

The beauty of focusing on specific support needs is that it acknowledges these needs can fluctuate over time and across different environments. Someone might need minimal support in a quiet, familiar setting but require significant assistance in a noisy, unpredictable one. Support needs might increase during periods of stress or life transitions, and decrease during times of stability or in environments designed with neurodivergent minds in consideration.

Why Functioning Labels Fall Short

Attempting to place autistic people into “high” or “low” functioning categories creates more problems than it solves. It’s like trying to judge a person’s overall health solely by their blood pressure reading - it simply doesn’t capture the complete picture.

These functioning labels can be particularly harmful because they create expectations that don’t align with reality. A person labelled “high functioning” might be denied support they desperately need because they “seem fine” or can “mask” their difficulties in certain contexts. Conversely, someone deemed “low functioning” might never be given opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities or make their own choices.

The truth is far more nuanced. An autistic person might:

Excel at complex mathematics but struggle with preparing a simple meal
Write beautiful poetry but find it impossible to make a phone call
Have encyclopaedic knowledge of their special interest but need help managing everyday emotions
Speak eloquently in some situations but become non-verbal when overwhelmed
Be completely independent in familiar routines but need substantial support with unexpected changes

None of these combinations of strengths and challenges fits neatly into a simplistic “functioning level.” Each represents a unique human experience that deserves to be understood on its own terms.

The Transformative Power of a Support Needs Approach

When we shift our focus from labels to individual support needs, something remarkable happens. We begin to see the whole person - not just a category or diagnosis.

This approach acknowledges that an autistic person might need significant support in some areas while being entirely independent in others. It recognises that support needs can fluctuate with circumstances - increasing during times of stress or in challenging environments, and decreasing in comfortable, familiar settings.

By understanding specific support needs, we can provide help that actually works. Rather than offering standardised “autism interventions,” we can tailor support to address the particular challenges each person faces. This might mean:

Providing visual schedules for someone who struggles with time management
Creating quiet spaces for someone with sensory sensitivities
Teaching specific social skills to someone who finds social interactions challenging
Offering alternative communication methods for someone who processes language differently
Adapting environments to reduce unnecessary demands and increase accessibility

Most importantly, focusing on support needs rather than functioning labels preserves dignity and respect. It acknowledges that needing support in some areas doesn’t diminish a person’s value, agency or capabilities in others. It recognises that autism isn’t something to be “fixed,” but rather a different way of experiencing and interacting with the world - one that sometimes needs accommodation and understanding.

Embracing a More Nuanced Understanding

When we move beyond simplistic labels, we create space for a more authentic understanding of autistic experiences. We recognise that:

Support needs exist on multiple dimensions (communication, sensory, executive function, emotional regulation, etc.)
These needs can vary independently of each other
Needs can change based on environment, stress levels, and life circumstances
Someone can need substantial support in one area while being completely independent in another
The goal of support should be to enhance wellbeing and self-determination, not to make someone appear “less autistic”

This nuanced understanding allows us to appreciate the full humanity of autistic people. It helps us see beyond surface-level behaviours to understand the underlying reasons someone might be struggling in a particular situation. And it empowers us to provide targeted, effective support that genuinely improves quality of life.

Practical Steps Towards a Support-Based Approach

If you’re a parent, professional, or friend of an autistic person - or if you’re autistic yourself - here are some ways to embrace this more helpful approach:

Ask specific questions about support needs rather than focusing on “functioning level”
Recognise strengths alongside challenges - everyone has both
Understand that needs fluctuate across different environments and situations
Listen to autistic perspectives about what kinds of support are actually helpful
Avoid making assumptions based on how someone appears in a single context
Provide support without judgment or expectations about “independence”
Celebrate progress without tying it to reduced support needs - sometimes more support leads to better outcomes

By embracing this more nuanced approach, we create a world where autistic people can be appreciated for who they are, supported in the ways they need, and empowered to live their lives on their own terms.

The journey beyond labels isn’t always straightforward, but it leads to a more compassionate, effective and respectful way of understanding autism - one that honours the beautiful diversity of human minds and experiences.