While the triad of impairments within autism is a very necessary term and represents a tremendous amount of progress with the way in which we think about Autism (ASD) in a broader, more spectrum based way, it doesn’t tell the entire story of the condition.

Because as much as impairments can be limiting, serving as deficits which create the need for accommodations and support within a lot of different areas of life, there is another flip side to that coin…

Albeit, one which also requires a healthy dose of pragmatism.

And that is…

The same neurodivergence, which informs many of these clinical impairments, also serve as sparks of genius.

These are the things that mark out many autistic people as being incredibly talented within certain fields or might lead to a very unique sense of personality.

But…

It’s important to bring in some balance here and reaffirm we’re not overly romanticising the very clear need for support within autism.

Some of these areas within the triad of impairments create neurological differences that can create both obstacles and extraordinary abilities within the same person.

It all depends on how they are approached.

And in truth, it’s the support, accommodations and systems which are put in place that allow these restrictive behaviours – or these supposed restrictive behaviours – to blossom into unique ways of doing things.

We do need the support structures in place to help foster neurodivergent ways of being so they can become strengths – talent needs nurture. And neurodivergent talent needs a very special type of nurture.

Strengths don’t just become strengths by virtue of saying they are.

What is the Triad of Impairments? 

The triad of impairments was a groundbreaking contribution within the field of autism spectrum disorder.

And it’s a contribution that still remains entirely relevant today, because it shifted the focus from viewing autistic-related behaviours from deficits to neurological differences.

The weight of this progression within the field can’t really be understated.

It was a huge step forward in normalising neurodivergence, leading to the more “needs first” person-centred approach to autism that we have today.

The model itself, which was developed by Dr Lorna Wing and Judith Gould in 1973, highlighted how traits such as intense focus and direct communication can actually be incredible strengths in industries, such as tech, sciences and the arts.

When autism is viewed in this way, it reframes perceived “impairments” as adaptive strengths – when there is a proper understanding of what an individual is doing in a constructive way.

Wing and Gould’s Revolutionary Autism Framework 

The triad of impairments as a framework consists of three interconnected areas of difference, which include social interaction, communication, and imagination.

The work of Wing and Gould’s model is built on the earlier contributions by Kanner and Asperger, creating a more unified and inclusive understanding of autism, which reflected the greater diversity of presentations seen in person-to-person.

Key Contributions of Wing and Gould:

• They demonstrated that autistic traits can appear across different intelligence levels.
• They created a new vocabulary for discussing autism between professionals and families.
• They established the foundation for modern diagnostic practices and inventions.

Evolution of the Triad Framework

The contributions of Wing and Gould still have a huge influence on autism research and practice today. The spectrum model, which they proposed within the triad of impairments, directly influenced the DSM-V shift to autism spectrum disorder in 2013.

This was a huge shift, as it saw the clinical definition of autism change on a fundamental level.

Within education, their work laid the foundations for the development of specialised teaching approaches that were able to accommodate different processing styles.

And so, rather than enforcing neurotypical standards and ways of doing things, there was far more of an emphasis on teaching the individual instead of the one which was being projected onto them.

Off the back that, perhaps one of their most significant contributions, was in helping pave the way for the neurodiversity movement, which has and is continuing to gain momentum year on year.

The term itself, “being on the spectrum,” is a direct cultural contribution from the work of Wing and Gould.

Three Core Deficits: Communication, Interaction, Behaviours

Within the triad of impairments framework, there are three areas which are interconnected with one another, traditionally being viewed as deficits within autism.

But as the field has evolved, there has been more of a leaning into the philosophy of a triad of differences, relating to communication, interaction, and social behaviours..

The idea of deficits hasn’t been completely thrown out – nor should it be.

Because we still need to acknowledge that there is actually significant support required in some instances. And to take a stance of, ‘strengths only,’ would be to bypass the needs of those individuals who are in need of legitimate accommodations in some instances.

Although, the pendulum does swing the other way.

The rise of the strength-based perspective within autism, has actually helped contribute to some more meaningful support systems that cater to the actual needs of many neurodivergent individuals.

Communication Differences

• Diverse Expression Styles: Communication variations appear across a broad spectrum, with some individuals developing sophisticated scripting strategies for social navigation while others prefer alternative methods.
• Processing Variations: These differences reflect unique ways of processing and sharing information rather than simple deficits to overcome.
• Contextual Strengths: Direct communication styles often valued in professional contexts may be misinterpreted in casual social settings, highlighting how communication differences can be situational advantages.

Social Interaction Patterns

• Engagement Preferences: Some autistic individuals prefer solitude or structured interactions, while others actively seek connections but struggle with unwritten social rules.
• Processing Differences: These variations stem from unique social information processing styles rather than lack of social interest or motivation.
• Authentic Connections: Many autistic people form deep, meaningful relationships based on shared interests and direct communication, demonstrating alternative but equally valid social connection patterns.

Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours

• Functional Purpose: These behaviours serve important functions, providing comfort, predictability, and deep engagement with interests.
• Coping Mechanisms: What appears as rigid routines often represents sophisticated strategies for managing sensory input and environmental demands.
• Pathways to Expertise: Intense focus on specific interests frequently leads to exceptional knowledge and skills, transforming a perceived limitation into a significant strength.

Spotting Triad of Impairments Traits 

Deciphering behavioural patterns is never an easy task. It requires great presence to be honest enough with oneself to see their own patterns.

But when it comes to autistic individuals, and specifically adults, who might’ve been diagnosed later in life, recognising some of the behavioural tendencies that make up the triad of impairments, can often be a much longer journey.

And this is due to the fact that the recognition of these traits can often involve untangling decades of adaptive masking that was specifically designed to blend in with neurotypical societal expectations.

The process can be thought of as trying to both remember and decipher a forgotten language which is embedded deep within the self – one which has done it’s best to remain hidden.

The Autism Triangle in Late Diagnosed Adults 

For many adults who go through the journey of understanding their autism later on in life, it  can be likened to peeling back the layers of performative scripts.

Identifying the masks that have been worn for so long that they’ve obscured the true self that’s never been allowed to speak or express itself.

This journey of masking can often coincide with major life transitions: career advancements that demand unsustainable social energy, parenthood’s ongoing sensory overloads, or midlife reckonings with chronic exhaustion from maintaining neurotypical façades.

It can often present as a huge rite of passage when the old ways of living no longer work and the masks that used to serve in many ways begin to crumble.

And this can be particularly challenging for women who display high masking behaviours which are often far more refined than their male counterparts due to the unique gender specific social conditioning at play.

Real-World Impact Across Life Domains:

• Professional Settings: Workplace environments frequently trigger recognition of autism traits, as demands can lead to autistic shutdowns and burnout. Many excel in structured environments but struggle with office social dynamics, creating career challenges despite strong technical abilities.
• Relationship Dynamics: Autistic adults often experience higher levels of loneliness than neurotypical peers despite equal desire for connection. Communication differences can affect intimacy, with partners needing to develop mutual understanding of different interaction styles.

The Diagnosis Journey

Social Communication Red Flags

• Subtle Manifestations: Social communication differences in autism often appear in nuanced ways that may not fit stereotypical presentations. While traditional diagnostic frameworks focus on obvious signs, many individuals develop sophisticated strategies to navigate social situations while experiencing significant internal challenges.
• Non-verbal Complexities: Many autistic adults struggle with maintaining appropriate eye contact or interpreting facial expressions, often developing conscious strategies to manage these interactions. This continuous effort leads to exhaustion from constant monitoring of social cues and responses.
• Scripted Interactions: Communication patterns may include carefully rehearsed social interactions and prepared responses. Many individuals develop a bank of phrases for common situations, helping them navigate social expectations while masking their natural communication style.
• Workplace Challenges: In professional settings, these differences manifest as difficulties with workplace socialization and team dynamics. Many autistic individuals struggle with unspoken social expectations like office small talk or informal gatherings, with their need for social recharge misinterpreted as disinterest.
• Emotional Processing: Emotional expression presents another layer of complexity. Many autistic individuals experience alexithymia – difficulty identifying and expressing emotions verbally – creating challenges in relationships where emotional fluency is expected.
• Different, Not Deficient: These communication differences represent alternative ways of processing social information rather than deficits requiring correction. Understanding these patterns helps create inclusive environments that accommodate diverse communication styles.

Balancing The Dual Nature of Autism’s Triad

And so, where is the balance between advocating for differences in a strength-based model, and taking a more pragmatic approach towards supporting genuine needs?

And the answer is actually quite simple. It’s to take a needs first perspective.

As long as the needs of the individual are fully received as being legitimate and not in any way, rubbing up against the status quo of whatever peer group or institution, then that individual will stand a far greater chance of thriving – authentically, as they truly are.

And as they are truly meant to be – unmasked.

But this comes down to the awareness question again. Because there can be no self advocacy without an awareness of one’s own needs.

Without this, it becomes very difficult to seek the type of accommodations that characterise a truly person-centred, needs-based accommodation.

Accommodating Genuine Support Needs

And so, what do accommodations look like?

Executive functioning scaffolding is one of the most effective ways to help support executive dysfunctioning, which can result from the inability to properly transition and/or hyperfocus, or experience sensory overwhelm – whether internally created or externally received.

This can involve strategies such as:

Visual organisation tools: The use of effective visual support could help significantly reduce cognitive load of working memory demands. These include things such as visual schedules, checklists, and colour coding systems.

Environmental modifications: These types of accommodations can often help in managing sensory overload, relating to lighting and sound. But also, having a predictably laid out environment that is dedicated to a singular activity can also help reduce cognitive overload.

Structured Routines and systems: Maintaining predictable routines with clear rules can usually supportive involved, time management, transitioning, and task initiation. In this context, systems become like a personal support vocabulary to fall back on during cognitive overload.

Social Navigation Tools

Specially designed social navigation tools can help compensate for the lack of natural intuitive, social processing which can see a lot of autistic individuals needing to rely on their own self-created frameworks and scripting.

Boundary-setting frameworks: Structured approaches to establishing personal limits in social contexts help prevent overwhelm.

Social energy management: Techniques for balancing social engagement with necessary recovery time are particularly valuable for high-functioning autistic individuals whose subtle support needs often go unrecognised.

Sensory exit strategies: Proactive plans for managing sensory overwhelm in social settings, focusing on environmental adjustments rather than behaviour modification – a concept explored in depth through autism support strategies.

Special Interest Integration

Special interests aren’t always the obstacles that they’re portrayed to be in stereotypical examples of autism. The hyper focus, which often accompanies special interests, have within them, their own transferable skill sets which can be hugely advantageous in professional and educational settings.

Some examples of support strategies might be:

Strength-aligned work roles: In a professional setting, reframing special interests as highly valued, transferable skill sets would be hugely supportive. When autistic adults, it’s kind of support, many reports increased job satisfaction when their expertise align with work tasks.

Interest-based learning pathways: In a school setting, formulating educational approaches, which leverage special interests as a gateway to deeper specialisations, as opposed to viewing them as distractions would create a more inclusive curriculum.

Balanced support approaches: Creating strategies within any institutional organisational setting which recognises autistic needs are often complex and include co-occurring conditions like anxiety, which might require targeted interventions.