Level-1 “high-functioning” autism, Asperger’s syndrome and the highly-sensitive person (HSP):

We can acknowledge all of the following:

Some people identify with being on the autism spectrum and some identify with having Asperger’s syndrome and some with HSP.

Some see HSP as being part of the autism spectrum as well, while others delineate clearly between the two.

Some feel comfortable describing themselves as living with high-functioning autism, while some don’t warm to this term.

Some see autism and Asperger’s as the same thing and some distinguish between the two in specific ways.  Asperger’s is now technically considered to be part of the autism spectrum, and it may be that descriptors and categorizations change again in the future.

Some feel they are autistic with a measure of ADHD as well.

Some don’t see autism as a straight-line spectrum but as something like a nebula, a mandala, a diverse field or a colour wheel.

There are many other ways to see and to talk about these ways of being, as well.

The way people with autism, Asperger’s  or HSP see or describe themselves doesn’t matter.  What matters is what has meaning for the individual person – what they identify with.  Further, their view of themselves might change over time.