In this great article, Finn Gardiner helps us understand why labeling someone as “high functioning” or “low functioning” is not accurate and can even be hurtful. He summarizes the article to state that instead, ” we should talk about the specific kinds of support people need.”
“When some doctors thought I had an intellectual disability, one of them said I would never learn anything. I do not have an intellectual disability, but even if I did, I would still be able to learn things. Everyone can learn and pick up new skills over time, whether or not they have an intellectual disability. This is part of why saying “low-functioning” is hurtful.
Also, people’s functioning can change over time. People can need more or less support with daily living skills for several different reasons….”
See the full article here: The Problems with Functioning Labels