Label the Need, Not the Person:
Understanding Spiky Profiles in Autism
The language we use to describe Autistic students plays an important role in how we understand them and the supports we provide. Labels like “high functioning” and “low functioning” may seem helpful, but they can oversimplify autism and may not reflect the rich mix of strengths and challenges a person experiences across different environments and over time.
In this Bite, you will learn how the language we use influences our understanding, expectations, and interactions with Autistic students. You will also explore the concept of spiky profiles and why functioning labels do not capture the full picture of a person’s abilities and challenges.
By shifting our focus to strengths and support needs, we can better recognize the individuality of every student and create more meaningful, respectful support.
Key Takeaways
- The language we use about Autistic students shapes how we understand them and the support we provide.
- Labels like “high functioning” and “low functioning” oversimplify autism and can lead to inaccurate assumptions.
- Autistic individuals have spiky profiles, meaning they have different strengths and challenges across areas and environments.
- A student’s strengths and support needs can change depending on context, setting, and over time.
- Instead of labeling students, focus on describing their strengths and specific support needs to better support the whole student.
Resources
- HeyASD: Autism Blog