Is there discrimination within the spectrum?

By Desiree Kaur

When the government or any entities launch something that will benefit the special needs communities, I always applaud the efforts. I strongly believe that good intentions need to be applauded despite many keyboard warriors and nay sayers in today’s world. I would like to think, that I choose to spot that rainbow of hope, no matter how far down the horizon it is.

Picture source: Project Haans’ IG Story,

However, the headline of this article from yesterday, “More rehab centres soon for persons with high-functioning autism, says Rina” did not sit well with me at all. I screen captured it and posted it on Project Haans’ stories on Facebook and Instagram. To may surprise, I got a number of responses and messages in my inbox agreeing with my statement – Why only “high-functioning”. Not very inclusive is it?

Before I continue, penning down my opinion on this, I would like to preface that, my intention is not to put down or trivialise the efforts by our Social Welfare Department or Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM). Perhaps, they do have the best interest of the community at heart and this is all they can afford to do within the constraints of whatever constraints they face.

Autism is a spectrum. Most advocates and people who talk about autism, repeat this till we are quite blue in the face. It is because, we cannot say it enough. It is a spectrum. Another common phrase: If you have met one person with autism, then you have only met one person with autism. Please remember this because this will never stop being true. There are 2 main points I would like to highlight in response to the announcement on more rehab centres for those with high-functioning autism.

Picture source: Verywell / Cindy Chung

Firstly, let’s remind ourselves about the 3 levels which the DSM-5 categorises autism. The image above explains the 3 levels in terms of the amount of support a person requires. “High functioning” usually refers to those who fall within level 1. Compare the amount of support needed to someone in Level 3. So, my question is, why is there more options for those who require less support? This is my devil’s advocate question because common sense dictates to me that those who require more support “should” get more support therefore be given more options. Having said that, I am all for everyone getting equal amounts of access to support.

Secondly, before the announcement and decision was made to only cater to the “high-functioning” community, did the decision makers realise that functioning labels can be offensive to the community and that “high-functioning” does not mean less autistic or less struggles. Everyone who has autism has challenges and struggle in various facets of life, so why make that distinction by only offering it to one part of the community? Is there now discrimination within the spectrum?

So, are we really serious about inclusion?

If the answer is yes, then why are there big announcements like this creating rifts within the community itself? To me, this is a can of worms and a recipe for disharmony within the community. It will prompt parents, caregivers and autistic individuals to start comparing when comparison can be the root of misunderstandings. Imagine a family that has 2 children with autism, and 1 qualifies as “high-functioning”. How would a parent explain this to the sibling who does not get the services offered by JKM at the community centre? Also remember that people with autism (verbal or not) understand what is happening around them.

Is there now discrimination within the spectrum? I have heard this phrase many times, ‘“oh it’s not so bad if they are high-functioning”. No, please stop doing this! Please stop trivialising what people experience. I can’t speak from an autistic perspective, but there are more and more self-advocates out there sharing their experiences. I urge all those in a decision making capacities, and who can affect real change towards inclusion, please engage the community. By this I mean those who are neurodiverse, not just the caregivers and practitioners.

Please be inclusive yourselves as we all push towards the greater good for coming generations. Please also make considerations before making sweeping statements and big announcements. Consider the impact it will have on the community. Do not do things just to check a box and say it’s done or to get media coverage. Be responsible and accountable for the decisions made.