What do we mean when we describe someone as “severely autistic”? Why is it so hard to explain what being autistic actually means? And how useful (or harmful) are terms like high-functioning, low-functioning, profound autism, or even Asperger’s?

Kieran Rose returns for a deep dive into the language we use to describe autism - and why it often does more harm than good. He and Mark explore the flaws in functioning labels, the dangers of ranking autistic traits, and how trying to quantify someone’s autism usually misses the point.

In a wide-ranging and compassionate chat, Mark and Kieran explore how complex, deeply personal and often contradictory this topic is - both for parents and for autistic people themselves. What starts as a provocative question ends up as a fascinating conversation about diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, identity, education, eugenics, power, and prejudice.

A powerful, enlightening and empowering episode - a must-listen for anyone parenting autistic kids who’s ever felt under pressure to explain, justify or minimise their child’s neurodivergence.

00:00 - Intro: Meet Kieran Rose

04:30 - Life in a Fully Neurodivergent Household

08:00 - Topic of the Week: How Autistic Is Your Child?

12:00 - Labels, Bias, and the Stigma Around Autism

18:00 - High vs Low Functioning: Where It Comes From

23:00 - What Even Is Autism?

28:30 - The Flawed Legacy of Asperger’s

35:00 - Identity vs Diagnosis

42:00 - DSM-5 Levels of Autism: Why They Don’t Work

49:00 - Profound Autism and The New York Times Article

55:00 - A Counterpoint: The Voices We Don’t Hear

1:00:00 - Co-occurring Conditions and the Real Source of Needs

1:07:00 - Clinical Labels vs Lived Experience

1:14:00 - Mark’s Imposter Syndrome as an Autism Parent

1:18:00 - What’s the Alternative?

1:23:00 - Final Thoughts: Humanising, Not Diagnosing

1:27:00 - Neurodiversity Champions

1:33:00 - Tiny Epic Wins

1:39:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments

1:43:00 - Wrap-up & Where to Find Us

Kieran Rose website - https://theautisticadvocate.com/

Eugenics - https://www.newscientist.com/definition/eugenics/

Asperger Syndrome - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/the-history-of-autism/asperger-syndrome

Hans Asperger - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Asperger

Lorna Wing - https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/lorna-wing-an-autism-hero

DSM-5 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5

PDF Download of DSM-5 - https://ia800707.us.archive.org/15/items/info_munsha_DSM5/DSM-5.pdf

New York Times article: The Autism Spectrum Is Too Broad - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/opinion/autism-diagnosis-category-stigma.html

Greta Thunberg - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49918719

What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism

Ehlers Danlos Syndromes - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndromes/

Communication First - https://communicationfirst.org/

Autism Central - https://www.autismcentral.org.uk/

Kieran Rose Animated Guide to Monotropism - https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=diwlbe4AHRcxfjQF

Kieran Rose Animated Guide to The Double Empathy Problem - https://youtu.be/qpXwYD9bGyU?si=7bnGR2UsrCgLa_hL

KIERAN'S HOMEWORK

Kieran Rose Blog: Autism, it’s Labels and the Language of Pathologising Rhetoric - https://theautisticadvocate.com/autism-its-labels-and-the-language-of-pathologising-rhetoric/

Sunday Times article: Extra time in exams ‘unhealthy’ for children with ADHD and autism - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/extra-time-exams-unhealthy-children-adhd-autism-k820s56zh

TES magazine article: Sami Timimi: Why ‘invented’ SEND labels are disabling pupils - https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/sami-timimi-interview-problems-with-send-diagnosis-adhd-autism

Yahoo News: Badenoch says motability cars not for people with ADHD - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/badenoch-motability-cars-not-people-135341300.html?guccounter=1

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