I like using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a starting point, for it is a good place to monitor the country's perception of things. They are like the Command Headquarters of medical issues and would be really important in a Zombie Apocalypse, until over-run. They describe ASD as:
"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges."
Next is from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This is their section on severity.
Table 2 Severity levels for autism spectrum disorder
Level 3
"Requiring very substantial support”
Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches
Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 2
"Requiring substantial support”
Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others. For example, a person who speaks simple sentences, whose interaction is limited to narrow special interests, and how has markedly odd nonverbal communication.
Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 1
"Requiring support”
Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful response to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who is able to speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to- and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.
Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hamper independence.
Note that there is no catagory for those who 'Require No Support' I'll call that 'Level 0'.
Anyway, it's important to keep in mind what portion of the ASD population you mean when giving it a title or label. If you mean the entire Spectrum then yes there are certainly people disabled by it to varying degrees. If you work with or are exposed to some Autistic classes or group homes etc, it is very evident. But there are also people, with milder severity, essentially not disabled by it.
"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges."
Next is from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This is their section on severity.
Table 2 Severity levels for autism spectrum disorder
Level 3
"Requiring very substantial support”
Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches
Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 2
"Requiring substantial support”
Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others. For example, a person who speaks simple sentences, whose interaction is limited to narrow special interests, and how has markedly odd nonverbal communication.
Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 1
"Requiring support”
Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful response to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who is able to speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to- and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.
Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hamper independence.
Note that there is no catagory for those who 'Require No Support' I'll call that 'Level 0'.
Anyway, it's important to keep in mind what portion of the ASD population you mean when giving it a title or label. If you mean the entire Spectrum then yes there are certainly people disabled by it to varying degrees. If you work with or are exposed to some Autistic classes or group homes etc, it is very evident. But there are also people, with milder severity, essentially not disabled by it.
