high functioning low functioning

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What is the difference?

My intelligence is in the lower average range.

Do I have high functioning or low functioning?

Likely high-functioning, but simply because most are. Unless your IQ is in the ret*d range you're also unlikely to be considered low-functioning.

Mine is in the low average too, although that might just be due to my inability at maths... It still makes you high functioning, however I don't personally like the terms high and low functioning because it makes it sound like high functioning people are less troubled by their problems. I am very disabled by my AS... and tourettes.

I'm high functioning. I got a college degree by the skin of my teeth because of bad group and communication difficulties. I am married and raised five children. My husband is glad I'm not clingy and demanding like most women.
My daughter is low functioning. She is nonverbal, appears to be mentally ret*d, and communicates displeasure by screaming and biting and kicking. She also has severe OCD and bipolar and seizure disorders.

High and low functioning is not a product of IQ alone.. It really has to do with your ability to provide for yourself or survive in this world. If you look at works by Baron-Cohen he rates functioning via a systemizer scale. His assertion is that people who are lower functioning are also surpremely high systemizers (7-8 on his scale) and it goes downward from there to the 3-4 scale. (for ASD adults)

It is some interesting reading if you want to do the research...

I'm not sure if you're thinking that intelligence and IQ are the same.
IQ scores for autistics are often polarized; high in some areas and very low in others. It's entirely possible you're just unbelievably bad at math. That doesn't make you "low-functioning", but would bring down your IQ score.
I haven't had an IQ test in long time, but my reading and visual comprehension is off the charts, and in contrast, I can't math my way out of a paper bag. I'm very "high-functioning" (have a job and go to college and have a boyfriend) despite not being able to drive, moderate to severe apraxia, spatial cognition problems, prosopagnosia, visual AND auditory processing disorders.
I'm a surprisingly good public speaker, but can't ask for the table salt.
Autistic brain is a specialist brain. Find and exploit your strengths, and you'll do well.

High or low functioning is a poor metric, if you ask me. Those that need significant assistance are rather obvious. I don't need assistance, at least from the point of view of anyone looking at my life. But I am significantly impaired based on the overall status of my career, finances and relationships. Is society better off because I made it 'on my own' (whatever the f**k that means) even if it means that I never came close to reaching my potential?

This is what's wrong with the calculus of disability. If you aren't drooling on yourself and sleeping in your feces, you have to suck it up, quit feeling sorry for yourself and get on with your life.

No.

I'm not bitter.

So how is this different for ANY person alive who has any sort of issue? I mean at what point do we stop the excuses (being bitter) and start taking responsibility?

How do you determine what excuses are? How do you determine whether someone is taking responsibility? How does being bitter equate to making excuses? What if "sucking it up and getting on with life" has caused harm?

I think the definition of HFA is largely "autism without mental retardation" (in practice autism + IQ>70), but in comon language the name gained traction with the meaning of "mild autistic"

The question I asked is how are these issues unique to Autism? I have plenty of NT friends who are born with one thing or another that causes them issues. They do not receive disability either. What is the difference? Where is the line between "disability" and "entitlement for services" versus just living?

The bitterness comes from the fact that I have NOT made excuses and HAVE taken responsibility, but am still judged to be inadequate and a failure by many standards.

This is not different from anyone that has issues that impede their lives.

And I'm not constantly bitter, I'm just human enough that I can't escape the negative feelings all the time. I usually turn the bitterness in to a stubborn refusal to give up. I shake my fist at the world and scream "I'll show you all, mother f*****s!! !". Then I calm down and get on with it.

I used to buy into that definition too except that there are a number of "gifted" ASPIES (at least if you believe them) that are not able to function or low functioning. The best definintion I have seen yet (the one that is most measureable) is the one I referenced above by Baron-Cohen RE systemizers.

Who says these issues are unique to autism? Do other people having different issues somehow invalidate the fact that some autistic people do in fact have difficulties? How is this relevant? What do your NT friends have to do with wavefreak58? I have NT friends who have disabilities who are applying for or who receive disability assistance. I do not assume they're making excuses or not taking responsibility (although I still don't know what you mean by that).

I don't see the distinction you're trying to draw between "disability" and "entitlement for services" versus "just living." The obvious interpretation seems to be that you see something negative about receiving disability assistance versus trying to make it without help. Given that the process in the US tends to be grueling and require two or more appeals in addition to having a hearing in front of a judge, it seems that applying for disability is not a particularly easy way out.

Are you NT? There is NO obvious interpretation in my question. I was asking very specifically how one person (Wavefreak) made the differentiation as he was the one making the statements. There is no "implied" feelings or otherwise towards people receiving diabilitiies. I honestly do not get what emotions you are projecting on my question or how my question can be generalized like this...

Ah... Cool. Thanks for the answer RE how it is different. I did not think it was either thus the reason I asked. Oh yeah...and for the explanation RE the bitterness thing. I sometimes feel the same way but always come out of the corner swinging too... like a mad women in fact.