Beyond “High-Functioning”: Mental Health Reality of Level 1 Autistic Young Adults
For young adults diagnosed with Level 1 Autism—often historically referred to as “high-functioning” autism or Asperger’s—the transition into adulthood comes with a unique set of profound, yet frequently invisible, pressures. Because individuals with Level 1 Autism typically possess strong verbal abilities and average to above-average intelligence, their struggles are easily overlooked by the neurotypical world. […]