It's important to remind everyone on #AutismAwarenessDay that labels such as high/low functioning, support needs, speaking, masking, etc are not helpful. These things are not static. Treating them as if they are is ableist.
Every #ActuallyAutistic person can experience variations in support needs, functioning, masking, speaking, and any other label which outsiders may see as permanent. What & how one is today isn't necessarily what one will be tomorrow. Life changes us. None of that is permanent.
Just because today I am verbal and appear to be "high functioning" to you doesn't mean that I will be so next week, or even a minute from now. While you may see me as a "success" and "well adjusted" now, next month I may be in an institution, catatonic and non-verbal.
Perhaps today I am "living unmasked" but tomorrow that can be different, depending on MANY THINGS. That being said, I may not be. We are all different. Each #autistic person has their own brain and their own life. NOTHING IS PERMANENT. Lose the labels.
But to that end, this is MY take. I DO NOT speak for all autistic people, just like no one autistic person speaks for another. Our experiences are different AND shared. Respect that & if you want to learn ONE thing during #AutismAcceptanceWeek it's that we are all unique.
@actuallyautistic