r/HighSupportNeedAutism Jan 11 '24

Mod Post Welcome to r/HighSupportNeedAutism!

14 Upvotes

Welcome to HighSupportNeedAutism!

This is a community for diagnosed autistic people who are professionally recognized as having moderate to high support needs (level 2 and 3). Low support needs autistic people, people without professional confirmation of their support needs, and non-autistic people are welcome to read about the experiences of higher support needs individuals, but they should limit posting. This is a safe space for MSN/HSN autistics to talk about our experiences and struggles, share about our interests, and more.

More specific information about who this community is for and why is included below. Please let a mod know if you’re still unsure if you belong here or what ways are appropriate for you to interact here. We’re always happy to provide more information and help!

This is a community for individuals who have been professionally diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and who have been told by a qualified professional that they have higher support needs autism. We have unique experiences, and it's helpful for us to have a community where we can be with others who share our experiences. Some of these experiences are because we have higher support needs, some are because we're professionally diagnosed, and some are because we're professionally diagnosed with higher support needs.

"Higher support needs" includes those who are professionally diagnosed with level 2 or level 3 autism spectrum disorder; require substantial support or very substantial support; have moderate or high support needs; have moderate or severe autism; or are moderate or low functioning. This also includes individuals who have different support needs between their social communication and restricted repetitive behavior domains (e.g., level 1 social and level 2 RRB). Individuals who live in autism-specific group homes or supported living as adults (or who have been told this is where they will live when they become adults), who have co-occurring moderate/severe/profound intellectual disability, or who are permanently non-verbal or minimally verbal or who are full-time AAC users have historically been considered "low functioning" and so are automatically considered higher support needs for the purpose of this sub.

If you have not been professionally diagnosed with higher support needs autism by a qualified professional and would not be historically considered low functioning, please respect that this space is not for you. You're welcome to read posts and subscribe to the sub. You're also welcome to share your experiences on posts where you're specifically invited to do so. However, do not create new posts that are not questions about higher support needs autism, and do not share your experiences uninvited. Additionally, only ask questions that directly benefit someone with higher support needs autism (e.g., advice on services for an autistic child). Other questions should be posted to r/AskSpicyAutism/.

To know if you have higher support needs autism, please ask your diagnostician or check your diagnostic report. If you are professionally diagnosed with autism but your report is unclear and you cannot ask your diagnostician, you can ask a qualified therapist or another autism service provider. If all of the qualified professionals that you have seen agree that you have level 1 autism or low support needs, please respect that you are a guest here. (Of note: being told that you have Asperger's or "high functioning autism" does not mean that you have low support needs; these diagnoses are based on language and IQ, and individuals with them may have any level of support needs.)

Support needs can change over long periods of time. If you were professionally diagnosed with higher support needs autism as a child or adolescent, you're welcome to participate here even if you now need less support. Similarly, if you were previously diagnosed with level 1 autism or low support needs but are now professionally recognized as requiring substantial support for your autism, you're welcome to participate here. That said, please be reasonable about "professional recognition"; for example, if you were diagnosed with level 1 autism two months ago by an expert in adult diagnosis but your therapist who does not specialize in autism says you could be level 2, please trust the expert that you are level 1 and have low support needs. The exception is for individuals who were diagnosed years or decades ago but have had significantly worsened functioning, who were diagnosed as children or teens and then failed to develop the skills needed to transition well into adulthood, or who are otherwise no longer considered low support needs. Again, this determination should always be made with the help of a qualified professional.

Support needs in this context are autism-specific. If you have low support needs autism but severe ADHD, many comorbid mental health conditions, or a physical disability, you are a guest here.

Please [read the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/HighSupportNeedAutism/comments/192t7hh/rules_of_rhighsupportneedautism/) and make sure that you understand them. If anything is unclear or confusing about the rules, please ask, and we will do our best to clarify.

[Here is a guide to which user flair to select.](https://www.reddit.com/r/HighSupportNeedAutism/about/wiki/index/userflairs/)

[Here is a guide to what each post flair is for.](https://www.reddit.com/r/HighSupportNeedAutism/about/wiki/index/postflairs/)

Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below or make an introduction post. We look forward to getting to know you!


r/HighSupportNeedAutism Jan 09 '24

Mod Post Rules of r/HighSupportNeedAutism

31 Upvotes

These are the rules for HighSupportNeedAutism. We created these rules to keep this subreddit safe and healthy. Please read the rules and make sure that you understand them. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment. If anything is unclear or confusing about the rules, please ask, and we will do our best to clarify.

This post will go over the rules as well as include a plain language summary of each rule.

1.Center higher support needs autistics.

This sub is for professionally diagnosed higher support needs autistics. We and our needs should be centered at all times. Supporters and questioning individuals are welcome to read posts. They can ask respectful questions that directly benefit higher support needs autistic people in their life. They may also respond to posts where they have been invited to do so. They may not post about their own experiences uninvited (including saying "I relate to that") or ask general questions.

This rule means that this subreddit is for diagnosed moderate to high support needs autistic individuals. This includes people who have been professionally diagnosed with level 2 or 3 autism spectrum disorder. It also includes people who have been told by their autism doctor or therapist that they have moderate to high autism support needs. This is to include people who live in a country that does not use levels, who were diagnosed before levels were used, or who were not given a level when diagnosed. The Welcome post has more information about who this sub is meant for (link will soon be added once the post is up).

Some people may not know their level or their support needs. They are still welcome to read posts and subscribe to the subreddit. Supporters of people with moderate and high support needs (MSN/HSN) are welcome to make posts if the post is meant to directly help their loved one with MSN/HSN autism. An example of a post that is okay for a supporter to make would be "How can I help my HSN child to cope with change?". It is not okay to vent about how difficult it is to take care of MSN/HSN individuals. It is not okay to ask general questions about what it is like to have higher support needs. General questions should be asked at [r/AskSpicyAutism](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskSpicyAutism/). This is not a general support group for loved ones of MSN/HSN autistics. The primary focus of this subreddit is MSN/HSN autistics. If you are a supporter making a post, think about if this post is prioritizing and putting MSN/HSN autistics in focus.

Low support needs autistics, level 1 autistics, autistics who do not know their support needs level, autistics who are suspecting higher support needs but have not been diagnosed as high support needs and non-autistic people are not allowed to talk about their experiences uninvited. They must be specifically asked by a MSN/HSN individual, like if a post asks for people without MSN/HSN autism to also share their experiences. Don't derail posts with comments such as "I relate to this and I'm low support needs". Low support needs autistics and non-autistics are welcome to comment supportive things on posts. For example, if a MSN/HSN autistic makes a post about their special interest, it's okay to comment something along the lines of "That's interesting, thank you for sharing". They can also say something supportive on a vent post. It is also okay to give advice or link to resources. However, if a MSN/HSN autistic asks for LSN autistics or non-autistics to stop, respect their boundaries.

This rule exists to make sure this subreddit’s focus is MSN/HSN autistics. We deserve a space that is only for us. If you want a space where MSN/HSN autistics and people who are low support needs, have unknown support needs, or are not autistic can interact more, please go to [r/SpicyAutism](https://www.reddit.com/r/SpicyAutism) instead.

2.Be honest about your diagnosis.

Be honest and transparent about your diagnostic status. If you are not professionally diagnosed with autism, do not imply that you are. If you are not professionally recognized as having higher autism support needs, do not imply that you are. If you are not professionally recognized as having lower autism support needs, do not imply that you are. (For example, if you were given a historical Asperger's diagnosis, do not assume that you must have level 1 ASD.) Use the correct user flair.

This rule means that you should be honest about what your diagnosis is. If you haven't been diagnosed as having autism or higher support needs, don't say that you are. Don't select a flair that says you are higher support needs than you have been diagnosed with. For example, if you are diagnosed with level 1 autism or low support needs autism, you must say this in your flair. If you are non-autistic, you must say this in your flair. If you haven't been diagnosed as having low support needs autism, don't claim to have LSN autism and don't select a flair that claims you are low support needs. For example, if you are diagnosed with Asperger’s, that is your diagnosis. If you do not like the term Asperger’s, you can select the flair “Autistic, unknown support needs.” Do not assume that you are low, moderate, or high support needs unless a qualified professional has told you that you are. The flair should reflect what you have been diagnosed with.

If you don't know how to select or edit a flair or if you need help with editing it, you can ask a mod who can edit it for you. You can message the mods or comment on this post and a moderator will get back to you when they are available.

If you have not been diagnosed with autism but suspect that you have it or have self-diagnosed with autism, select the "Suspecting autism" flair. If you have been diagnosed with autism and suspect that you have higher support needs but have not been told that you have MSN/HSN by a qualified professional, select the "Suspecting higher support needs" flair. If none of the flairs are a good fit, you can write your own. If you have not been diagnosed with MSN/HSN autism, be mindful to not speak over diagnosed MSN/HSN autistics in this subreddit.

The support needs in this context are autism specific. Someone could have low support needs autism but need a high level of support for ADHD. This place is for people with moderate or high support needs autism only, not for people with overall moderate to high support needs that include other comorbid disorders.

3.Do not ask us to diagnose you or tell you your level.

Do not ask us if you have autism or if you have higher support needs. Only a professional can tell you that. Similarly, do not ask if symptoms or experiences make someone higher support needs.

This rule means that no one is allowed to make posts or comments asking if they or someone else has autism or what level someone is. This rule is to prevent this subreddit being flooded with posts like "What level am I?", "These are my experiences, does it sound like I have higher support needs?", or "I was diagnosed with low support needs but I think I have high support needs". People online are not able to diagnose someone with autism or tell them what level they are. It's something only a professional can assess.

4.Do not invalidate professional diagnoses or support needs.

Do not doubt someone else's professional diagnosis or support needs. Unless there is concrete evidence that someone is knowingly lying, trust that people's doctors have their reasons for the determinations that they make. Likewise, do not question or invalidate other diagnoses or specifiers, including "non-verbal," "intellectually disabled", or comorbid diagnoses.

This rule means that it's not okay to question or argue about what someone's diagnosis or support needs are. This also includes someone's verbal ability (semiverbal, nonverbal, etc.) and intellectual disability or other comorbid disorders. As an example, it is not okay to argue that someone is not actually nonverbal because they can type. Unless there is evidence that proves that someone is lying about their support needs, don't question them. If you have reason to believe someone is lying about their support needs and have evidence of it, do not call them out publicly and instead message the mods.

It is okay to talk about someone’s diagnosis if they ask for help understanding why they were given it. For example, if someone wants help understanding why they were diagnosed with intellectual disability, it is okay to talk with them about that. If someone asks if they might have been misdiagnosed, it is okay to suggest that they get reassessed by another doctor. Otherwise, do not bring up the topic. Only qualified professionals can determine someone’s diagnosis.

5.Do not debate self-diagnosis.

This is not a space to debate self-diagnosis. Suspecting that one has autism or has higher support needs is a different experience from being professionally diagnosed. It is not invalidating to recognize these differences. There are other subs for individuals who are not professionally diagnosed. [r/SpicyAutism](https://www.reddit.com/r/SpicyAutism/) welcomes non-professionally diagnosed autistic individuals who suspect that they have higher support needs. Both subs can co-exist and fulfill similar but distinct purposes.

This space is for diagnosed MSN/HSN autistics. Someone suspecting that they have autism or higher support needs is going to have a different experience than someone with diagnosed MSN/HSN autism. That does not make either experience invalid or lesser. It is okay to have different spaces for people with different experiences. There are other spaces where undiagnosed and suspecting higher support needs people are welcome, such as [r/SpicyAutism](https://www.reddit.com/r/SpicyAutism/). This subreddit is not a place to argue about self-diagnosis. Arguments about self-diagnosis are upsetting for many MSN/HSN autistic people and derail the focus of the sub.

6.Autism is a disability.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability. Whether you feel personally disabled by autism is not helpful to discuss in a sub where the focus is on more severely disabled individuals. Additionally, the Social Model of Disability and the Medical Model can and should co-exist; individuals can be and are disabled by impairments inherent to their autism, and they can have this disability worsened by poor societal treatment and lack of accommodation.

Do not argue that autism is not a disability. People in this space are all moderately to severely disabled by their autism. Do not invalidate these struggles. Don't argue that autism is only a disability because of society. The social model of disability (that society is what makes autism a disability) and the medical model (that autism in itself is a disability) can both have valid points. Autism is a disability, but living in a society not made for autistic people can also make it more difficult to live with.

7.Be kind and respectful.

Do not use hate speech, deliberately antagonize others, or discriminate against or insult any group of people. This space welcomes LGBTQIA+ people, racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, women, and people of all ages and abilities. Slurs will not be tolerated, including the r-slur. Keep all discussions and disagreements civil and on topic. It is okay to ask sincere questions. It is not okay to imply negative things about others, deny their experiences, or harass anyone.

Be kind, respectful, and patient when interacting in this subreddit. This is a space where most people have moderate to high support needs autism. Many people here need more understanding. They might say things that are very blunt or might seem rude or angry. They might also ask questions that seem obvious. That does not mean they are trying to be mean or to argue. Do not try to start arguments. It's not okay to use slurs or derogatory words. Don't attack others or invalidate their experiences. This space welcomes LGBTQIA+ people, racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, women, and people of different ages and abilities.

8.This is not a political sub.

Political posts that are not focused on autism are not allowed. What is considered "political" may need to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Personal identities or experiences are not inherently political, and people may want support for sincere reactions to news. However, this is not a space for debate, and personal reactions may be marginalizing or harmful to those with other identities, experiences, or views. At all times, respect for others should guide you.

This is not a space to discuss politics unless it involves autism specifically. People's identities and experiences are not political by themselves. For example, it is not political for someone who is LGBT to talk about their same-sex spouse. MSN/HSN autistics might also want support for scary political news. For example, a HSN autistic woman might say that she is afraid that she will be assaulted and then be unable to get an abortion if she becomes pregnant. However, people can disagree about politics. Two people can both be upset by opposite statements about politics. For example, two people might see news about a new economic bill, and one person might be very upset about it and the other person might be very happy about it. It is okay to have emotions about things that affect you, but you cannot disrespect other people’s feelings or experiences. Sometimes, emotions about a topic might be hurtful to marginalized people who are more directly affected. Sometimes, what is helpful for one community might be harmful for another community. Posts or comments may need to be removed for this reason.

9.Cite reliable sources for factual claims.

Be mindful that your experiences may not generalize. Cite your sources for any factual claims. Do not make unsourced claims about autism, its presentation, statistics, history, other disorders, or similar. Sources must actually support the claim being made. Sources must be reliable; social media claims are not valid sources. This is a pro-science space.

This rule is to prevent misinformation. If you say something as if it is a fact, provide a credible source for it. Don't use social media content as a source. Avoid generalizing statements, like "all level 3s have no functional language". Reliable sources would be things like research and studies done by professionals. Websites by professional organizations are also usually good sources. Sometimes, something that looks like a professional source might actually be wrong. Some people try to trick others into believing misinformation. If you accidentally use a source like that, the mods will let you know. Personal experiences are not able to be used as a source for facts.

10.Respect professional definitions for terms.

Try to use the standard definitions of terms; for example, "non-verbal" is a common clinical specifier for individuals who cannot speak, not a temporary state that speaking autistics can experience. Understand that some professionals use terms differently; do not harass someone because their doctor uses a term in a way that you disagree with.

Try to make sure you use professional definitions for autism terms. It is okay to be unsure about what word to use. Questions about terminology that are asked in good faith are welcome. Don't argue with other people for using a word differently. Some professionals may use words in a different way. If you think someone is using a term in a way that might be harmful, let the mods know.

11.Do not make blanket claims about privilege related to diagnosis.

Diagnosis or the age at which someone was diagnosed may or may not reflect the severity of their symptoms or their privileges. People who were diagnosed early may have more severe symptoms that made them easily detected. People who were diagnosed late or cannot be diagnosed may be underprivileged (e.g., live in an area with no autism specialists). Keep discussions on this topic respectful, and do not assume either group is always better off.

Don't make broad statements that people who are diagnosed are privileged. This includes saying that all early-diagnosed people are privileged for being diagnosed early in life. It also includes saying that all late-diagnosed people are privileged for not being diagnosed early in life. Be respectful when talking about diagnosis and privilege. Don't assume early- or late-diagnosed people have it easier or better off than the other.

12.Do not deny that lower support needs autistics also have needs and struggles.

Individuals with lower support needs autism, who are questioning autism, who have uncertain support needs, or who have other disabilities also have very real struggles. Do not invalidate anyone or imply that their needs and struggles do not matter. Someone with lower support needs autism can still have extremely difficult life struggles because of other disabilities or aspects of their identity or circumstances. People can have high needs for reasons that are not autism.

Just because some autistic people have less support needs than you does not mean that they have no support needs. Don't invalidate low support needs/higher functioning autistic people's support needs. Remember that autism is not the only thing that can make someone’s life difficult. People without autism can also struggle because of other disabilities, because of being marginalized, or because of their environment.

13.Don't brigade other subreddits or harass their users.

You can mention or calmly discuss other subreddits and users. You cannot harass other subreddits or users. You can never direct or encourage others to interact with other users or subreddits in a way that could be interpreted as harassment, interfering with the voting system, or otherwise disrupting communities. When in doubt, don't mention specific subreddits or users. Censor names in negative screenshots. Do not complain or brag about being banned in another community.

It's not okay to harass another subreddit or other users. It is also not okay to ask or encourage other people to harass anyone. Don't complain or talk about how proud you are that you've been banned in other subreddits. If you are posting a screenshot in a negative context, make sure you cover any names. (If you don’t know how to do this, ask a mod for help.) You also cannot direct people to vote on threads from other subreddits. For example, you cannot hint that people should downvote a thread. You also cannot ask people to downvote a user’s post. Do not misuse the “report” feature.

14.No spam.

This rule means it is not okay to post spam content. Content unrelated to MSN/HSN autistics will be removed. Do not keep posting the same comment or post over and over. Do not post advertisements.

15.Note that posts may be removed or users warned at mod discretion.

Not every problem easily fits into a list. The mods may need to act on issues that are not addressed here. Use your best judgment, and we'll give you the benefit of doubt that anything else that needs action was meant in good faith.

This rule means that it's not possible for the mods to think about every single possibility when it comes to posts or comments that break the rules. There may be something that is not covered in the rules that still needs to be removed. If needed, moderators will review things on an individual basis. We will not be mad at anyone if they accidentally say something that needs to be removed. We understand that sometimes it can be hard to know what’s okay.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 30m ago

Weekly Check-in Wednesday Weekly Check-in Wednesday - How's your week going?

Upvotes

This is a scheduled weekly post every Wednesday, that gives diagnosed higher support needs autistic people a space to talk about how their week is going.

Some question prompts:

How's your week been so far? Good, bad, in-between?

Is there anything you are excited about or looking forward to doing this week?


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 1d ago

TW: medical, Want to let people know

9 Upvotes

I have been very sick from both ends and had to be in hospital overnight for dehydration. They told me to eat jello and chicken broth. So that is all I have been eating for days.

Then I had a diarrhea that was completely red and I thought I was dying but then I realized it was the cherry jello.

So I just wanted to tell other people (specially since the lettuce diarrhea that is happening) that to not be scared if they see red because it might be food dye!!!


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 1d ago

Looking for Advice autistic 16 year old seeking help and support in an environment that won't

6 Upvotes

i'm 16 with level 2 autism and combined presentation ADHD, i have a special interest in psychology.

I've been violent in the past during meltdowns in which my mom would just call the police on me. She said there was something wrong with me and that i was a terrible person. Now she wants to kick me out the second i turn 18 and move in with her boyfriend, i don't have good feelings about him because she told her he'd be shot and killed for walking in the safest parts of detroit with her, her response is to leave and go back to his house to drink and have sex.

It scares me a lot, she said she feels like he doesn't want to get married either, maybe it's all my fault because the one time he came over i got overstimulated and locked myself in my room to cry. When i cry i cry really loud so it probably annoyed both of them. I cant regulate my emotions and i have no idea how to get a job because every time i submit an application i get scared for how ill be treated and what would happen if i got overstimulated at work, i feel like accommodations don't work, maybe its because my mom never accommodates to me?

Ive been in 5 mental hospitals and each time my mental health gets a little worse, I don't know what to do because if my mom knew i was suicidal or harming myself she'd fight with the nurses to send me there. One time she was yelling at them to send me because she "couldn't deal with my behavior", at the same time i saw another woman crying because she was sad her daughter was getting sent to one. I really dont understand why my mom has such an uncaring attitude towards me, and I don't understand my own feelings or actions i go immediately into fight or flight. When i was 14 i overdosed and was in the ICU for it, i didn't want to burden everyone and it seemed like the only way out. Yesterday she told me she doesn't want to talk to me or be around me anymore so i feel like i should just die so she's happier with her boyfriend.

Since my special interest is in psychology i know what accommodations would work for me, and i tried to tell her i was overstimulated but she said "you're overstimulating me" (she doesn't have autism), I constantly feel like the butt end of a terrible joke that is living in a neurotypical environment.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 2d ago

Hello for everyone

5 Upvotes

What the first think you did when you find out you autism


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 4d ago

Special Interest Saturday Special Interest Saturday - Share your special interest!

3 Upvotes

This is a weekly scheduled post every Saturday, giving diagnosed higher support needs autistic people the opportunity to talk about their special interests.

Feel free to share in the comments about your current or past special interests! Fun facts, info-dumps, and pictures are all welcome.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 7d ago

Weekly Check-in Wednesday Weekly Check-in Wednesday - How's your week going?

5 Upvotes

This is a scheduled weekly post every Wednesday, that gives diagnosed higher support needs autistic people a space to talk about how their week is going.

Some question prompts:

How's your week been so far? Good, bad, in-between?

Is there anything you are excited about or looking forward to doing this week?


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 9d ago

How do we talk about sensory experiences? PhD Research

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

My name is Nerea Muñoz, and I am a PhD researcher in Cognitive Linguistics at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain).

I am studying how people use language to describe sensory experiences.

Many studies about autism focus on diagnosis or clinical characteristics. My research is different. I want to understand how people describe and explain their sensory experiences in everyday language.

I am looking for English-speaking adults (18 years or older) who are:

  • autistic;
  • synesthetic;
  • both autistic and synesthetic;
  • or non-autistic and non-synesthetic (comparison group).

The study is anonymous. It takes about 10–15 minutes to complete. It may take longer depending on your processing, energy, and writing needs.

The questionnaire includes one short writing task. Short answers are welcome, and there is no need to write more than you are comfortable with.

You will be asked to describe ONE sensory experience that you remember.

You may choose ANY sensory experience that is memorable, usual, or meaningful to you.

For example, you could describe:

  • a sound;
  • a smell;
  • a taste;
  • a texture;
  • something you saw;
  • a change in temperature;
  • movement;
  • pain;
  • or any other sensation that you remember.

There are no right or wrong answers. I am interested in your own experience and the words you choose to describe it.

If you need assistance to complete the questionnaire, that is welcome. However, the answers should describe your own experiences and, whenever possible, use your own words.

Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RWJXRRQ

Contact:
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Ethics approval:
3257-4138-6B57P5A58-7A58

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

If you know someone who may be interested in participating, I would be very grateful if you shared this study with them.

If you would like to receive a summary of the results, please contact me by email. Because this is an ongoing PhD project, the results will be available after the study has been completed.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 11d ago

Special Interest Saturday Special Interest Saturday - Share your special interest!

5 Upvotes

This is a weekly scheduled post every Saturday, giving diagnosed higher support needs autistic people the opportunity to talk about their special interests.

Feel free to share in the comments about your current or past special interests! Fun facts, info-dumps, and pictures are all welcome.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 14d ago

Weekly Check-in Wednesday Weekly Check-in Wednesday - How's your week going?

6 Upvotes

This is a scheduled weekly post every Wednesday, that gives diagnosed higher support needs autistic people a space to talk about how their week is going.

Some question prompts:

How's your week been so far? Good, bad, in-between?

Is there anything you are excited about or looking forward to doing this week?


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 15d ago

Vent Fuck everything

7 Upvotes

Fuck streaming services, fuck the governments, fuck the countries, fuck the borders, fuck Discord, fuck Reddit, fuck YouTube, fuck Apple, fuck Android, fuck Samsung, fuck Windows, fuck Microsoft, fuck Sony, fuck Xbox & Playstation wars, fuck everyone, fuck sleeping, fuck heatwaves & summer, fuck waking up, fuck going to the same place doing the same shit everyday for the rest of your life and most of all fuck the world for putting people with autism down and giving us no choices, I feel so stuck in a system that doesn’t want me where I don’t belong. Life is so difficult I can’t make friends I can’t find friends or people who are not weird (I mean people who just drink and smoke and want to piss away their lives and don’t care about anything, no ambition). I am so so sick of everything I am sick of feeling like I have to do this because someone says so I am sick of having to do things because people say so I am sick of waking up everyday to the same bullshit everyday I am so physically exhausted my body feels like it could just shatter at any point I am so fucking tired I don’t know what’s wrong with me anymore. I am mentally exhausted my visions blurry I’m so stressed I feel like there’s this heavy fucking weight all over my body that is dragging me deep into the ground, I can’t escape.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 17d ago

Question Age of diagnosis, camouflaging and burnout

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm Anvi, a Master's student in Mental Health and Clinical Psychology at London South Bank University, and I'm currently conducting research on autism, camouflaging, and burnout...three things I know many in this community are deeply familiar with. This research is being supervised by Dr Teodorini, a senior lecturer at London South Bank University.

My study is looking at whether the age at which someone receives their autism diagnosis, and their experiences of camouflaging (masking or adjusting autistic traits in social situations), relate to experiences of autistic burnout. It's a topic I feel strongly about, and I hope the findings can contribute to better understanding and support for autistic adults.

You can take part if you: • Are 18 or over • Have a formal autism diagnosis • Do not have an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, or dementia

It is an anonymous online questionnaire and takes around 10 minutes.

Your participation would mean a lot, and every response genuinely helps. The study has been reviewed and approved by the LSBU Division of Psychology Research Ethics Committee.

Survey link: https://lsbupsychology.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cHnqie3Xf5bn542

Feel free to drop any questions in the comments or send me a DM. You can also email me on [email protected].

Thank you so much for your time!


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 17d ago

Relationships Partners

7 Upvotes

Those that have partners or have had any in the past, do your partners help out with any aspect of your disability? Or is it always a carer / support worker’s job?

I’ve only recently started dating it’s very new to me and I’m scared because my autism affects me a lot and I feel like it would be impossible not to have to ask for accommodations / help with certain things but at the same time i’m also really scared of being a burden on people if that makes sense 😿


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 18d ago

Special Interest Saturday Special Interest Saturday - Share your special interest!

5 Upvotes

This is a weekly scheduled post every Saturday, giving diagnosed higher support needs autistic people the opportunity to talk about their special interests.

Feel free to share in the comments about your current or past special interests! Fun facts, info-dumps, and pictures are all welcome.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 19d ago

Receive feedback on chrome extension to accommodate for those with Autism

Post image
6 Upvotes

I'm a high schooler and I made a chrome extension recently that freezes and stops animations on sites. A few users commented that they have autism and that my extension was also beneficial. I originally made it for ADHD, and I know less about autism, but also want to accommodate for those who have it.

I did some research earlier and it said that parallax scrolling is an issue, but I feel this is not enough, and I feel I am not seeing the whole picture here, so I want to get some words from people who actually have autism.

The extension is here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/stop-freeze-animations-si/glgdodamgegcnkjphieaaaebnlecklon

Please take down this post if it is not allowed. Thank you for taking your time to read this!


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 21d ago

Weekly Check-in Wednesday Weekly Check-in Wednesday - How's your week going?

6 Upvotes

This is a scheduled weekly post every Wednesday, that gives diagnosed higher support needs autistic people a space to talk about how their week is going.

Some question prompts:

How's your week been so far? Good, bad, in-between?

Is there anything you are excited about or looking forward to doing this week?


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 22d ago

Looking for Advice I need to stop the head hitting, how?

9 Upvotes

This is my second time giving myself a concussion and it seems like this is getting worse as time goes by, any ideas on how i can work on this? The most I've been able to implement in my life is having my caregiver physically protect my head with his hands.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 22d ago

Research Tips for aldult autistic meltdown.

5 Upvotes

Im a type 1 autistic adult. I’ve had meltdowns before but this one is scaring me.

The heatwave screwed up all my routines, Im overstimulated and under stimulated at the same time and eveything is just not how its supposed to be.

The heat lasted so long and i went in survival mode. Usually there is something I can control to mitigate the worst of it but I cant control the weather.

Now its back to normal temperatures Im freaking out. Im low needs. I’ve never been this low functioning. I saw tiktoks about people who could barely get out of bed, that was never something I could relate to. I can usually cover the basics. But today I feel like I cant do anything. I scared. I terrified Im never going to get better.

I know logically its just a reaction to the stress of the last few weeks and of course i also started my period so the hormones probably arent helping.

I just hope to get some perspective, and maybe assurance that this wil pass. And maybe some tips so I at least dont make it worse?

I just dont want to be this scared anymore.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 25d ago

Special Interest Saturday Special Interest Saturday - Share your special interest!

5 Upvotes

This is a weekly scheduled post every Saturday, giving diagnosed higher support needs autistic people the opportunity to talk about their special interests.

Feel free to share in the comments about your current or past special interests! Fun facts, info-dumps, and pictures are all welcome.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 27d ago

Question why people online keep ask fearless if her caregivers know she on reddit or discord?

13 Upvotes

fearless not understand what this means?

they do know and have known


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 27d ago

Looking for Advice Looking for advice and ideas

6 Upvotes

Looking for advice and ideas, cross posting in many places out of desperation. 

My son who is almost 13 is Autistic with high support needs, non verbal, epilepsy, aggitated Catatonia, and severe aggression as a result of the aggitated catatonia.  He has spent the last 3 years in crisis and has just finally received proper diagnosis for the Catatonia and epilepsy in recent months.

He has been inpatient on a medical floor for 5 weeks now receiving treatment via inner muscular injections 5x+ a day and ECT (six sessions in). He has ARFID and frequently makes his way to failure to thrive due to lack of calorie intake. He has an oral aversion and cannot tolerate things in or around his mouth, even things he really likes and wants. This is something he has worked on in OT and speech for 10+ years now.

He is not a candidate for a Gtube or NG tube due to sensory sensitivity and the known reality that he will hurt himself to remove it without a second thought. The same goes for ivs, checking vitals, blood work, dental exams..... he has to be sedated to accomplish any of this in a safe manner. We have discussed clothing options and bands to protect a stomach port but feel it will be  an unlikely success considering his strength and size.

We have worked with a medistraw during the time we have been here and been unsuccessful.  In the past we have hidden meds in drinks at home but it is very undependable especially with meds he cant miss doses of and needs multiples in a day.

He does not eat anything with a utensil and he doesnt eat anything that we can easily hide meds or med sprinkles in. On top of that, messing with his food is a dangerous game that leads to further ARFID complications.

Patches are a no go, they cause extreme sensory issues and disregulation. He is also hyper mobile and will remove them from anywhere on his back. 

They cannot send us home with IM shots plus he is at around 300 shots in the time he has been here. He is bruised and sore. On top of that he has a CK level of over 1000 from the catatonia and I imagine his muscles were already pretty dang sore from the rigidity before the shots even started.

The only thing keeping him from going home is finding a way to get meds of some form in him. We have talked to a compounding pharmacy and are still working on that option to see if they can formulate an option for him that could be considered. 

Open to any ideas that could help us and his medical team brainstorm.....  He cant be the only high support needs kiddo who has such a huge struggle with medication.  His care team at Motts is great but honestly I feel like we are all grasping at straws for any ideas. We just want him to be okay and to be able to go home as a family.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 28d ago

Weekly Check-in Wednesday Weekly Check-in Wednesday - How's your week going?

3 Upvotes

This is a scheduled weekly post every Wednesday, that gives diagnosed higher support needs autistic people a space to talk about how their week is going.

Some question prompts:

How's your week been so far? Good, bad, in-between?

Is there anything you are excited about or looking forward to doing this week?


r/HighSupportNeedAutism 28d ago

Looking for Advice how to manage yourself while supporting someone with autism?

6 Upvotes

I live with my best friend (medium to high support autistic) and I love having him as family; I love him. He's like the brother I never had. When I bought this apartment, I did so thinking of him and his struggles with employment and renting. I knew from the get-go that I wanted to be able to provide a roof and some support.

For some time, the situation drifted into a place I was very much not comfortable with: I became his primary caregiver, and I didn't sign up for that. We had some problems and tension arising from that because he'd take issue with how I did most things without recognizing that if done improperly, it was because of how exhausted I was taking care of him and his pets (two dogs), or I just did things differently than him, and this didn't mean they were wrong

The caregiving situation has improved, and I've been way better at setting and communicating my boundaries (plus his boyfriend helps out a lot), but the constant criticism hasn't. While I don't do nearly as much around the house anymore, I still don't like feeling like I'm being surveilled all the time whenever I am doing something. Plus, the drain from the last year of conflict has led me to make more legitimate mistakes. I've communicated plenty of times that I need time to recover, that I just need time, and he's even recognized that as the weeks go, I have gotten better. But yesterday he gave me an ultimatum: either get better faster (I literally can't, I'm using all the energy I have left) or he'll move out. This isn't really an option because I don't want him to struggle with housing again, and I don't want him to take the pets with him because I love them too.

In his message, he made many assumptions about my therapeutic process, which makes me uncomfortable, and he kept focusing on, "Yes, you've improved, but it's still bad." And I know; I'm sorry, I'm doing my best, and chastising me for it isn't going to help. He said he's tired and doesn't really want to talk about things anymore, which I actually understand. I'm tired too, and I don't even know what else there is to say. We're both tired and doing our best. End?

What do I even do?

I just need someone who understands. Most people don't; they just say 'he's being a dick' and that I should let him go, but I don't think that's really reflective of the situation. A long time ago, I came to the conclusion that anyone who loves me will take issue with him because of how much I do for him and how little recognition I get. And this is true—most of my friends and family don't like that, so I don't even talk to them about him anymore. I am okay with things, mostly; I just need time to improve, rest, and recover. Even he recognizes that I have improved, so I really don't know what I'm doing wrong or why he keeps getting angrier at me and feeling worse.


r/HighSupportNeedAutism Jun 21 '26

Question Who do you think would employ me im 16 female and completely mute and moderate autism?

14 Upvotes

I want to have a job where im payed im completely mute so im not sure what are peoples experiences with being employed as a higher needs teenager especially if you have a speech impairment?

I am very likeable and bubbly and friendly so im not anti social and i would probably make good friends with whoever works there and be taken care of well but i dont know who would hire a mute what sort of jobs could i look for?

I dont want to do supported employment/work for disabled peoplebecause the only options where i live you aren't payed🙄i want to be payed for labour

Even if you dont know much i would appreciate any information because no one is helping me with this bc people dont think i could have a job 😔😔