AUTISM LABELS DO NOT DEFINE PEOPLE, SUPPORT DOES.

As I was walking through the streets of LinkedIn, I came across a post that stopped me in my tracks, and I couldn’t agree more.

The post said: “Mild autism is a myth.”

Now, clinically, we know autism can be described as mild, moderate, or severe. But here’s the real issue: these descriptions should never be used as labels that define worth or justify discrimination.

“Mild” should not mean “you don’t deserve support.”

“Severe” should not mean “you don’t deserve a voice.”

Autism is not about ranking difficulty. It’s about recognizing that support needs shift, and every person deserves dignity, agency, and accommodation.

High-functioning ≠ No support needs

Low-functioning ≠ No agency

What one person masks at work, another might struggle with openly. Both deserve understanding, both deserve respect.

The moment we divide autistic people into “worthy”and “unworthy,” we reveal not the reality of autism, but the biases of society.

Every autistic person deserves support.

Every autistic person deserves to be seen.

Every autistic person deserves inclusion.

Share this if you believe autism should never be reduced to labels that discriminate.