I hate when “high functioning autism” is used as a synonym for “mild autism”
Having mild autims does NO mean the person will be high functioning.
The level of functioning is determined by an entire constellation of other factors, from whether the person grew up in a supportive or abusive family environment, a supportive or abusive socio-cultural environment (the sociopolitical landscape), any co-occurring physical or mental comorbidities…
EDIT:
This post wasnt an advocacy for the term “mild autism” as the most ideal term, it was a vent about the deep inadequacy of using “HFA”
I think a well phrased “level 1 autism” (needs support) definition is preferable to the term “mild autism”, when generalising people’s entire clinical picture