What is "high-functioning?"

Here’s a positive one that was completely unexpected but so wonderful:

“But if she suffers all of these consequences for pushing herself to do all of these things, to the point where she can’t eat, can’t get out of bed, can’t take care of herself, how is that high-functioning?”

-My father, attending an autism awareness session with my psychologist.  Amazing, and exactly the opposite of what I had braced myself for.  (My psychologist’s answer was simply, “it’s not.”  Also amazing, but I expect that from her.)

“She has autism, but she’s very high-functioning.”

Not just high-functioning, but very high-functioning!  I’m really moving up in the world!  This was shortly after she had read something I had written about having been hospitalized repeatedly throughout my adolescence and young adulthood, sent to an institution because it was clear that I could not live on my own (later released to my parents care for a couple of months until they told me to move out), and having never been able to make it through college despite having a high IQ.

Meanwhile, I come home in the evenings and cry or have meltdowns; I’m only eating two oranges and a bowl of oatmeal a day because anything else would be too complicated; I’m in trouble with all kinds of agencies for forgetting to pay things; and my Internet search history is filled with things like “supported living for adults with autism” because I have never been able to be independent successfully, and this time isn’t any different.

My sister’s explanation:  ”I forget you have it!  You’re not weird.  I don’t FORGET other people have it.”

Several times, I’ve seen and heard statements that “low-functioning” people wear diapers.  However, most presumed “low-functioning” people whom I’ve known did not wear diapers.  I am incontinent.  

[you’re awesome, thank you for submitting so much—ed.]

http://nostereotypeshere.blogspot.com/2011/12/functioning-labels-and-meaning.html

Signal boosting this!  It’s spot-on!

“You are probably the most high-funct- “

“NO.”

This from people who once said I would always be mentally retarded and could never function.  Why say the opposite?  Because I was saying I qualify for disability benefits.

New facebook friend-request: Hi! It’s always nice to meet other aspies!

Me: I’m not an aspie.

Her: Oh, well there’s nothing wrong with that [seriously? SERIOUSLY?]  Can I ask what your functioning level is?

Me: Um, cycling between high-functioning and low-functioning, I guess?  Because I can’t sustain “high-functioning”?

Her: What you’re describing is definitely high-functioning.

I met someone for coffee and he said “You’re the highest-functioning out of all the high-functioning autistics I’ve met.”

All he had seen me do at that point was buy coffee.

It feels weird to type this into the submit box, but you don’t have an ask on here, so here goes.

I love this blog. I just happened to find it one day when some series of Wikipedia articles led me to the word “high-functioning”, and I looked up what exactly that means, because I had never really been sure.

You make a very good point through your posts.

That’s basically it. Bye!

If you say anything going against what the majority says about developmental disabilities, then you are seen as “too high-functioning” for your words to be valid.