Critique of an article regarding the split of the autism spectrum

This is a critique of an article I read in the New York Times. The article is titled "Should the Autism Spectrum be Split Apart?" Here is a link if you'd like to read it: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/health/autism-spectrum-neurodiversity-kennedy.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Now I want to start by saying that I don't necessarily disagree with this author's point in the article, which is that the autism spectrum should be split into 2 different diagnoses. I've read different points of view on the topic, and I am more a proponent of splitting the spectrum, although that's not a set-in-stone opinion. One of the issues with splitting the spectrum, which is an issue in the current system as well, is aspie supremacy or the belief that lower support needs autistic people are better, and it's all rooted in ableism. Now I've pulled some quotes from the article that really struck me in a bad way, and then I'll explain why that is.

“autism began to be viewed as a spectrum that included far less impaired children and adults.”

I know what they're trying to say, but saying things like this just continues to push the narrative of aspie supremacy and invalidates those with level 1 and 2 autism. I do think that there needs to be greater distinction to validate each person's individual experience as best as possible, while also recognizing that everyone with autism is affected by the disorder, which is a disability, and it affects every part of the way we are and live!

“it is obscuring the experiences of the seriously disabled people it was first meant to describe, like her daughter.”

When it described your daughter someone with level 3 autism it didn’t describe the reality of living with level 1 or 2 autism and while I know that living severely impaired as a level 3 autistic is difficult saying that doesn’t paint the portrait of how those who had lower support needs were left in the shadows knowing that something was innately wrong with them but not sure what leading to higher rates of depression and suicide. Some things I can't do or really struggle to do and sometimes I feel severely disabled by autism even as a level 1 autistic person and no its not the same as being severely impaired by your disability as with someone with level 3 autism but I think that with level 3 autistic people people expect a lot less out of them because their disability is visible but with level 1 and 2 people expect you to be able to do everything an allistic person can do and that's just not feasible.

All in all, I agree with her point that it's difficult to validate everyone because their experiences are quite different, not just between different levels but also between each person. It affects each person in a unique way, and so while some of these lines rubbed me the wrong way, you should read the whole article because I did find it informative and interesting. I hope what I'm saying makes sense and isn't offensive, because that's not my intention. If it does come across that way, please, please correct me.