#askingautistics

I have seen people defining the LSN, MSN, and HSN support need labels differently in the Autistic community and broader disability community. Today, I'd like to make a poll about 3 possible definitions.

It's a long post, but I'd really appreciate your poll vote!

Why it Matters

Lack of clear definitions can confuse people, leading to issues like stress and imposter syndrome. If we can reach a stronger consensus, we can reduce this confusion and stress.

I see different people endorsing different definitions. I've fixated and stressed over it. If we can reach a stronger consensus, maybe we can stress less.

Defining Acronyms

Some of you will know this and some won't, so let's explain.

Here's what the labels mean:

LSN = low(er) support needs relative to other autistics/disabled people

MSN = medium support needs

HSN = high support needs

Some definitions use activities of daily living (ADLs). There are 2 types of ADLs, instrumental and basic.

iADLs = stuff like cooking, shopping, managing doctor appointments, transportation, etc. (often learned around teen years)

bADLs = 6 things: bathing, dressing, eating, moving around (e.g. getting up, going to a different room), grooming/hygiene, and toileting (often learned in toddler/childhood years)

Some needs, like the need for supervision, are not covered by ADLs.

3 Possible Definitions

Now that we know our acronyms, let's cover our definitions:

Strict ADL definition: LSNs need help with iADLs only, MSNs need some bADL help, and HSNs need help with every single bADL (i.e., if you can get around the house without someone helping you sit/walk/roll, you're not an HSN)

Looser ADL definition: LSNs need help with some iADLs, MSNs need help with most/all iADLs and few/no bADLs, and HSNs need major bADL help

Holistic definition: LSNs can live independently perhaps with some support, MSNs need a caregiver or support worker for health/safety, and HSNs need intense daily support

For example, imagine someone who can do few iADLs but all bADLs, while also needing 24/7 supervision for safety. Under the strict definition, this person would be an LSN. Under the loose one, they'd be MSN. Under the holistic one, they'd be HSN.

Now, I'll ask your opinions and whether you're autistic or disabled.

My hope is to reach as many people as possible and create a respectful, helpful discussion.

Please:

If you comment, be kind and respectful of others (even if they disagree with you or you don't like the poll)

Consider sharing so we can get more votes

Two Microphones - I Invented the #AskingAutistics Tag. Here's why: We needed a tag that would allow our allies and those who were still unsure of their Autistic Identities to chime in and ask questions.

Yesterday, I spoke about the recent history of the #ActuallyAutistic tag and what that tag meant to me as a late-diagnosed Autistic person eight years ago (when there wasn’t a wealth of Autistic Bloggers and educators online yet). I also spoke about how self-identified Autistic People were always included within the #ActuallyAutistic community because some people were unsure about that. If you…

I recently learned that in some cultures when you're asked, "How are you?" The social expectation is to reply, "I'm fine" regardless if you are actually fine.

If you reply with a negative, like "yeah, I nose is clogged" or "I have a headache but gotta work" or "my debt is due", it is taken that you are subtlety dumping your problems to them; or telling them it's their fault; or asking for help (or money).

So here are the questions:

Is this how it is in your culture?

Which culture/country? (If you are comfortable sharing.)

As an NT, can you elaborate more on why it is so (or not so)?

As an ND, any experiences/stories you can share about this social 'rule' if it exists in your culture?

Any other information, insights, stories you want to share? (Could be related or partly, or maybe another example.)

i have to write to say what i mean. i really really do. but the automatic responses just keep happening no matter how stressful they are & its getting to the point of being pretty upsetting...

meanwhile most of the people i know can either say what they mean or its difficult to impossible to say much (and yeah its not just one or the other i know, im talking about something that is an always thing for me), at least it seems that way from what i know about them & no one has the same, taking back half the things they say in a panic because they came out wrong or werent what i was trying to say

and sometimes it happens with typing too! if a completely nonverbal headmate like fell or iryn fronts we will still type but its the same, strung together half-nonsense that would probably give you one right idea of what i'm thinking about and a million wrong ones

i wanna introduce y’all to my latest squishmallow friend and show y’all how i stim with her!! it is admittedly a little awkward to stim while on camera, but this is genuinely how i stim with this plushie ever since i got her last week!

she’s looking for a name, so if you have good ideas for names for a water dragon, please share (((\[^o^]/))) my current list of name ideas: Nessie, Aquaria, and Lagoon.

bugs keep getting into our house and freaking me out, and this plushie has been a really important comfort stim for me in that regard. i tend to do the “beep beep” vocal stim both when i’m super excited or super distressed. how about y’all -- when do you vocal stim? when do you stim with plushies?

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DO NOT INTERACT IF you’re doing so for k.i.nk / s.ex.ual reasons, or if you’re a map or whatever the heck; if you’re transphobic or nonbinaryphobic or anti-any group in the LGBTAQ+ community; if you’re a white supremacist or basically if you’re bigoted against any oppressed group. Anyone else can feel free to reblog or comment with their stims or name suggestions!

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