I Have Asperger's

This blog post in NO WAY is intended to offend anyone.  If I have said something that is offensive, please accept my apologies.  This is my point of view only.

Sometimes, people on the Autism Spectrum are referred to as "low functioning" or "high functioning".  I've been asked many times by others "what does 'high functioning' mean?"  Great question!  I don't think anyone really knows the definition to this one, because it's sort of like asking "what is 'normal'?  At the same time, why do the different levels of the spectrum seem so obvious to some people?  Are the levels actually different?  Maybe they're not fully understood.

If I had to answer this question, "what is 'high functioning'?", my best way of describing it would be (and I still feel that this definition needs more to it):

A person on the spectrum who can better find ways to cope with the world around them.

Now, this DOES NOT mean that the person is any less AFFECTED by the world.  Everything is just as difficult, but instead of having a meltdown because a sound is too loud, they have learned to cover their ears, use ear plugs, headphones, or some other way of COPING with the issue.  What seems to be even more difficult, is that the person is not as noticeably in distress.  So now, they are not only in distress, but people around them don't even know it. 

I'm not at all trying to say that someone who is "high functioning" is any worse off than someone who is "low functioning".  I am merely trying to express what I feel is the difference that people are seeing which has led to the different levels.  Everyone on the spectrum has their own struggles, and everyone has their own achievements.