What do you thing? High functioning autism

[Nathansmommy1]

Do you think that too much is expected out of children who are high functioning, that we are shown how to try and make them nt and they are expected to fit in and try and keep up to other nt children?

Hugely! High functioning autism just means that those around that person experience their autism mildly. I think kids with asd are pushed to conform and mask. It often seems to result in mental health issues.

People hear the words 'High Functioning' and expect to meet a child (or adult) who is maybe a little bit quirky but otherwise they expect to treat them exactly the same as NT children.

My dd is adult now and we still encounter these types of non-understanding from people everywhere. They assume because someone looks fine then they are fine when in reality nothing could be further from the truth.

Expect to hear this phrase more times than you can count 'Of course s/he can do it, s/he only needs to try harder'.

Diagnostic process explained here on the NAS website www.autism.org.uk/about/diagnosis/children.aspx
The characteristics of autism vary from one person to another, but in order for a diagnosis to be made, a person will usually be assessed as having had persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests since early childhood, to the extent that these "limit and impair everyday functioning

Somehow the bit I've put in bold seems to sail past most people that are supposed to be helping our kids.