Why They Matter And Why The Criticism Misses The Point

Following my recent video showing the contrast between Autism Level 1 and Level 3, the critics came rolling in. As usual. One comment, in particular, stood out to me:

“Autism levels are useless because someone can be Level 1 one day and Level 3 the next.”

Honestly, that’s a privileged take if I’ve ever heard one.

On his absolute best day, Charlie will still be nonverbal. He will still communicate his needs through gestures or his AAC device (once he stops trying to destroy it). Charlie will still run in front of cars without a second thought, and yes, he’ll still try to eat post-it notes. Charlie is Level 3, severe, every single day. He doesn’t wake up and suddenly “go verbal” like a magical transformation.

And then there’s this gem:

“I’m Level 1, but I sometimes go nonverbal.”

Look, I get it—you have hard days, and I empathize. But being nonverbal isn’t something people just “try on.” Nonverbal individuals don’t “go verbal” on a whim, and describing it like that minimizes the experience of those who are nonverbal all the time. You might shut down, struggle to speak, or need extra support some days. And that’s valid. But it doesn’t make you Level 3. It makes you a Level 1 autistic person having a rough day.

Autism levels aren’t a competition, but they do help illustrate the spectrum of autism. They help people understand why Jude, who can talk about chess strategies and solve math problems for fun, shares the same diagnosis as Charlie, who’s intellectually disabled, nonverbal, and stims constantly, sometimes in harmful ways.

Are autism levels perfect? No. Do we need better diagnostic terms? Absolutely. But right now, they’re one of the best tools we have to explain the vast differences in autism presentations.

If you don’t like them, that’s fine—don’t use them. But don’t dismiss them or attack those of us who rely on them to advocate for our kids.

So let’s focus on what truly matters: creating a world where every autistic person, regardless of their level, gets the support, respect, and opportunities they deserve.