An alternative to the current support needs labels

Last edited on: 16-9-2026

NOTE: This page is still in development.

DISCLAIMER
Even though this information has been written with as much accuracy in mind, it is NOT based on actual scientific research. It's purely something I thought of myself. Don't take it too seriously.

Contents

• Labels now
• Labels I think might be better
• Examples

Labels now

• Low support needs (LSN)
• Medium/moderate support needs (MSN)
• High support needs (HSN) With in-between labels like L/MSN (between LSN and MSN) and specifier labels like H-MSN (higher MSN)

Labels I think might be better

Specify different labels

• Need for support
• Camouflaging/masking effort
• Camouflaging/masking succes

Need for support

• No support needs (NSN)
  • No support needs at all
  • This person is not disabled
• Minimal support needs (MiSN)
  • Disability is "easily" and fully compensated for with relatively uninvasive supports
  • Coined by @angry_autist
• Limited support needs (LSN)
  • Equivalent of current (lower) low support needs
• Marked support needs (MSN)
  • Equivalent of current (higher) low support needs
• Substantial support needs (SSN)
  • Equivalent of current (lower) medium support needs
• Extensive support needs (ESN)
  • Equivalent of current (higher) medium support needs
• Intensive support needs (ISN)
  • Equivalent of current (lower) high support needs
• Profound/pervasive support needs (PSN)
  • Equivalent of current (higher) high support needs
• Complete support needs (CSN)

Camouflaging/masking effort

• Low masking
• Partially masking
• High masking

Camouflaging/masking result

• No success
• Minimal succes
• Partial success
• Overall success
• Complete success
  And
• Fluctuating success (specify range)

Examples

• "I have marked support needs (MSN) and am high masking with overall success."
• "[Person's name] has intensive support needs (ISN) and is high masking with minimal success."