Hello Neurodivergent friends! I’ve been asked to describe the levels of Autism for the 21st century (post 2013). Descriptions like “high functioning” and “Aspergers” are no longer used. In fact, most of us wouldn’t want to use the word Aspergers once we found out who that guy was…So, here goes.
Autism levels (Levels 1, 2, and 3) are diagnostic classifications used by healthcare professionals to define the amount of daily support an individual needs. These levels, established in the DSM-5, are categorized across two main areas: social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors. [1, 2, 3]
Level 1: Requiring Support
- Characteristics: Individuals have noticeable social communication challenges without support but can generally speak in full sentences. They may struggle with conversational back-and-forth, making friends, and adapting to changes in routine.
- Support Needs: Requires some support to thrive in social or work environments and manage the stress of new situations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Level 2: Requiring Substantial Support [1, 2]
- Characteristics: Social communication deficits are pronounced, even with support in place. Individuals may speak in shorter sentences, have restricted conversational interests, and exhibit obvious repetitive behaviors. [1, 2]
- Support Needs: Requires substantial, frequent support to function daily, cope with routine changes, and manage intense sensory sensitivities. [1, 2]
Level 3: Requiring Very Substantial Support [1, 2]
- Characteristics: Characterized by severe challenges in verbal and nonverbal communication that severely limit interactions. Individuals may use very few words or rely on alternative communication methods. Repetitive behaviors and extreme inflexibility severely impact daily functioning. [1]
- Support Needs: Requires constant, very substantial support and assistance with basic daily living skills, self-care, and personal safety. [1]
Important Context to Keep in Mind:
- Support Needs are Dynamic: Autism levels are not permanent labels or measures of a person’s worth. An individual’s support needs can fluctuate based on environment, life transitions, and burnout. [1, 2]
- Terminology Shift: Older classifications like “Asperger’s syndrome” or “high/low functioning” are no longer official medical diagnoses and have been consolidated into the broader “Autism Spectrum Disorder” (ASD) umbrella. [1, 2]
Neurodivergent Nurses 
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