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Support needs labels: Esther's interpretation ​

Last edited on: 12-6-2026

DISCLAIMER
Even though this information has been written with as much scientific 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.

I've made a framework for defining the support needs labels. On this page I'll give a deep-dive on my framework.

Contents:

Introduction ​

Within the autism and broader disability community we often use labels to help communicate the amount of support we need because of our disabilities to others. We call these "support needs labels". These labels are:

  • Low support needs (LSN)
  • Medium/moderate support needs (MSN)
  • High support needs (HSN)

The labels are always compared to other disabled people. So when someone has low support needs, they have low support needs in comparison to all other disabled people, not compared to non-disabled people.

But when do you fall under a certain label? There aren't really clear rules for that. But I've thought about it a lot, and I've made my own framework for it. I'll explain what this framework is and when, in my opinion, you could fall under which label.

The information in this deep-dive is very extensive and complex. Please feel free to ask for clarification by using the relevant buttons or the contact form. In case you feel like something isn't correct or logical, please feel free to tell me via those ways too. Click here for a less in-depth version of how I interpret the support needs labels.

The purpose of this framework ​

I made this framework because I noticed big differences between how different people interpret the support needs labels. I especially saw this within the autism community. For example, I saw people claiming a label that didn't seem fit at all. I think this happens because there aren't really clear definitions for the different labels.
Claiming you fall under a label that doesn't fit has different negative consequences. Especially when someone claims to have higher support needs than their actual need for support. Because if someone who should fall under LSN claims to have HSN, which label is left for those with actual HSN? Those people are then pushed out of that label, which reduces the usefulness of the labels significantly. I hope that my framework can give some more much needed structure. This way these kinds of situations might be prevented.
My framework is not intended to be used as a professional tool. I highly discourage this too. It's purely and only something I've thought of to maybe help other disabled people, and the people close to them, with accurately labeling their level of needed support.

Defining terms ​

There are a couple of words that are usually used by people explaining the support needs labels. But different people can have different interpretations of terms. Because of this I want to start with explaining how I define certain terms. These are:

  • "Need"; when does someone need something?
  • "Can't do"; what are the reasons someone can't do something?
  • "Help"; in what ways can someone receive help, and how do they differ from each other?

I put the bigger subjects on separate pages to keep everything more organized.

Defining "need" ​

I didn't make a page for this one, because it's fairly straightforward: You need something when the absence of the help changes a "can do" into a "can't do". All "can't do" categories are included in this definition.

Defining "can't do" ​

On this page I explain how I define "can't do". I define the different categories of "can't do" I found, explain each of them, and give examples.
The 4 categories I've defined are:

  • Physically unable
  • Practically unable
  • Executive-functionally unable
  • Rationally unable

Defining "help" ​

On this page I explain how I define "help", I define the different kinds of help someone can receive or implement, explain each kind, and give examples.
The 4 main categories I've defined are:

  • Human help
  • Adaptive help
  • Self help
  • Environmental help

When which label fits, according to my framework ​

When talking about support needs labels, 2 different principles are usually used within the disability community. I took both of those in mind when developing my framework.

ADL method (in the process of translation) ​

Within this methode, only the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are used. On this page I explain how I define the different support needs labels, based on this method. Besides this is give some rough guidelines to help explore which label might fit a person best.

Adaptief functioning method ​

Within this method, all adaptive functioning is used. De definitions of "can't do" and "need" stay the same. However, "help" has to be redefined.

Redefining "help" (not yet translated) ​

On this page, "help" is redefined. I define the different kinds of help someone could receive or implement, explain each kind, and give new examples in the context of conceptional and social functioning.
The 3 main categories I defined are:

  • Human help
  • Adaptive help
  • Self help

Defining the support needs labels (not yet translated) ​

On this page I explain how I define the different support needs labels within my framework, using the adaptive functioning method. Besides this is give some rough guidelines to help explore which label might fit a person best. I also explain why I'm of the opinion that this method is better compared to the ADL method.

Case study: My support needs label (not yet translated) ​

On this page I use myself as an example to try and see which support needs label might fit me according to my framework. By doing this I'm hoping to show how my framework could be used.
The contents of this page are behind a password. I did this so the information isn't out in the open. Use this password to get access:
SupportNeeds6689