Category: S

  • Support Needs (Low and High)

    Support needs describe the level of help someone requires in daily life. “Low support needs” means needing occasional or situational help. “High support needs” means needing consistent or intensive support.

    These terms are preferred over labels like “high‑functioning” or “low‑functioning,” which can be harmful. They recognise that support can fluctuate depending on environment, health, stress, or available resources — it’s not a fixed measure of ability or independence.

    Importantly, support needs are not related to intelligence or worth. A person may have strong intellectual or verbal skills and still require significant support with executive function, sensory regulation, or self-care. The aim of describing support needs is to identify what helps a person thrive, not to rank or categorise them.

    A brief history

    The language of “support needs” grew in autistic advocacy as a replacement for “high‑functioning” and “low‑functioning” labels, which were seen as harmful and misleading. The shift emphasises that needs vary across contexts and time, rather than being fixed traits.

  • Savant

    Savant is a clinical term historically used to describe people with developmental differences who show exceptional ability in a particular area, such as memory, music, art, or mathematics.

    While some individuals do have remarkable specialised skills, the term is controversial because it has often been used to stereotype autistic people — implying that they are either geniuses or lacking, rather than recognising the full diversity of autistic experience.

    Many autistic advocates and researchers now prefer to describe specific abilities or interests without using the label savant, to avoid reinforcing these narrow or sensationalised views.

  • Shutdown

    A shutdown is an involuntary response to overwhelming stress, sensory input, or demands. Unlike a meltdown, which is outward and intense, a shutdown is inward: a person may go quiet, stop moving, or find it hard to speak or act. Shutdowns are protective — the brain and body conserve energy when everything feels “too much.” They are not laziness or avoidance, but a sign that support and recovery are needed.

    A Brief History 

    Autistic people began describing shutdowns in online communities and advocacy spaces in the early 2000s, distinguishing them from meltdowns. Researchers and practitioners have since recognised shutdowns as part of the “freeze” response to stress. Autistic voices emphasise that shutdowns can last longer than meltdowns and often require patience, quiet, and reduced demands to recover.

  • Stimming  

    Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behavior, refers to repetitive actions that help regulate emotions, focus, and sensory input. Common stims include hand-flapping, rocking, tapping, humming, echolalia, or playing with textures. Stimming can express joy, manage overwhelm, or create a steady rhythm in a busy environment. It is a natural part of many autistic individuals’ lives and should not be stopped unless it poses a risk of harm.

    A Brief History

    Initially, stimming was a clinical term used to describe repetitive behaviors. Over time, autistic communities have reframed it as a neutral or positive aspect of life—something supportive rather than a problem to be fixed. Many advocates encourage acceptance of stimming and the creation of environments where individuals can stim safely and freely.

    Common stims include hand‑flapping, rocking, tapping, humming, echolalia, or playing with textures. Stimming can express joy, manage overwhelm, or create a steady rhythm in a busy environment. It’s a natural part of many autistic people’s lives and doesn’t need to be stopped unless it risks harm.

  • Special Interest 

    A special interest is a deep, focused passion that many autistic people have for a subject, activity, or hobby. It often brings joy, comfort, and a sense of identity. Special interests can lead to expert knowledge, creativity, and even careers. They are not “obsessions” or “fixations” — they are meaningful and valuable parts of autistic life.

    A Brief History

    The idea of special interests has been described in autism research for decades, but often in negative or pathologising ways. Autistic advocates reframed the term to highlight its positive role: special interests are sources of happiness, resilience, and connection. Communities now celebrate them as part of autistic culture.