Functioning

 Humans don't function. We're not machines, designed to fulfill a specific "function" at which we can fail and "malfunction." We're people, with agency and goals and dignity and free will.

I see people objecting to "high-functioning"/"low-functioning" terminology because "It's a generalization" and "You can't know how well someone functions by looking at them," but these objections are beside the point -- humans don't function. We're people, not machines.

What is a "dysfunctional" family or relationship? Why does a family or relationship have a "function"? Why do humans have to "function" in order to have a happy, fulfilling, respectful relationship? Why can't we have a happy family without being required to participate in some "functionality"?

When you say that a neurodivergent/disabled person who passes for neurotypical/abled is "high-functioning" and a neurodivergent/disabled person who doesn't pass is "low-functioning," you're saying that the "function" of disabled people is to pass for abled. We don't get to decide our own goals and intentions -- our "function" has been assigned to us, and we can only pass or fail at it.

Disabled adults are said to "function at the level of (younger age)." We can't function at the level of three year olds, because three year olds don't function. They explore their environment and try to climb things, but they don't "function." They haven't yet internalized the capitalist message that their existence must be justified by "functioning."

So please, please, stop using words related to "functioning," "dysfunctional," "functioning level" in reference to people.