Last week I shared on “mild autism”.

The response showed me something powerful: many autistic people and families are tired of being boxed into labels that don’t reflect reality.

So, let’s go a step further.

Instead of “mild, severe, high, or low functioning,” what if we started talking about:

Support needs – What does this person need in order to thrive? 

Accommodations – What changes can be made so they can participate fully? 

Agency – How do we ensure their voice leads their care, not someone else’s assumptions?

Because here’s the truth: 

Functioning labels measure how comfortable others feel around us, not how autism actually works. 

Support needs shift daily. What looks “easy” today may be overwhelming tomorrow. 

 Every autistic person has the right to be heard, supported, and respected. This isn’t just semantics, it’s about access, dignity, and equality. 

If we want systems like the #NDIS (and schools, workplaces, healthcare) to work, they must be built on real needs, not labels. Autism is not about fitting into categories. It’s about creating a world that adapts to people, not the other way around. Let’s stop asking: “Mild or severe?” And start asking: “What support does this person need to thrive today?” 

 Share this if you believe language should open doors, not close them!!!