Figured I may as well discuss this matter since I see it come up a lot - high support needs autistics often say that the talk of lower support needs is framed in such a way as to invalidate them.
Firstly, before I get into this, I think what I've heard is reasonably true, and a conversation around it is needed. I feel that I need to declare this, because I feel these groups aren't communicating (much at all), and while I'm trying my best, its likely that how I'll say things is still bad, and everyone's constantly up in arms about the due and proper virtue signalling.
To be clear, we're considered "Mid support needs". It seems to be the category of folk who are actually clashing with high support needs autistics the most, although we are wondering if the diagnosis may be in error, likely with the original diagnosis that was 'upgraded' to autism and then mid support needs autism being correct instead.
The primary purpose of this post is to bring clarity to what others are trying to go on about, as communication errors are entirely too easy, especially as so many people are using slogans rather than more words, and for many of those cases forgetting and not forgetting is distinguished by at most three words in a larger sentence.
The most commonly upsetting topic, about support levels in the autism diagnosis, has two reasons behind it, which combining frustrates understanding.
The one I suspect will be more relevant to most high-support needs folk is that by placing support needs in the autism diagnosis, one sometimes avoids labeling the overall person's support needs, and sometimes rolls other conditions, deserving of their own labels to target treatment, into the autism diagnosis.
As a consequence of these two factors, many folk at all official autism levels fail to receive the supports that they need.
The other one is - the official boundaries of "Mid support needs" Just Sucks. Its being visibly autistic and sufficiently accommodated.
As a consequence, firstly, it ranges from 'stims with chair texture and otherwise just quirky' all the way to 'significant support needs being handled by family'.
And secondly, its possible to fall below it onto low support needs through a wide variety of measures that have nothing to do with support needs at all, such as having of been traumatized out of displaying overt symptoms, or, if the doctor isn't paying enough attention, or isn't asking the right questions and you stim less than displaying other symptoms, having of developed social skills due to an applicable special interest, such as psychology, or a major aspect of society.
This is getting a little long (and I don't recall how to do read mores), so I'll end it here for now, although I expect to come back to these matters.