Every journey with autism is different and so is every NDIS plan. While the NDIS has transformed access to therapy and support, families still want to know the difference between the levels of autism and what they involve.
Whether you’re just starting early intervention or navigating the teenage years, Achora can help you unlock the right mix of therapies, capacity-building supports, and community participation opportunities.
Let’s uncover autism level one, two and three and the different conditions.
What Is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person thinks, communicates, and interacts with the world around them. It’s called a spectrum because every individual experiences autism differently. Some may need significant daily support, while others live independently with minimal assistance.
People with autism often have unique strengths, perspectives, and ways of learning. However, they may also experience challenges with communication, sensory sensitivities, or adapting to change. This is where the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) plays a crucial role in providing tailored supports and therapies.
Understanding the 3 Levels of Autism
Since 2013, autism has been described by how much support a person needs, instead of using different medical labels. This makes it easier for families and professionals to understand what kind of help and services will best suit each individual.
Autism Level 1: Requiring Support
This is the most mild level on the autism spectrum. People at Level 1 are often independent but may need some help with social communication, organisation, or planning skills. They might find it hard to pick up on social cues or maintain routines. But, with targeted supports, such as life-skills programs, coaching, or therapy, they can thrive in education, employment, and social settings.
Autism Level 2: Requiring Substantial Support
Individuals at Level 2 generally experience more noticeable communication and behavioural differences. They may find verbal communication or social interaction more difficult, and often display repetitive behaviours or intense focus on specific interests. These participants benefit from structured supports such as occupational and behavioural therapy. They need consistent NDIS funding to manage daily routines and community participation.
Autism Level 3: Requiring Very Substantial Support
This is the highest level of support need within the autism spectrum. People at Level 3 often have limited communication, require assistance with most areas of daily living, and may experience significant sensory sensitivities. With tailored NDIS supports, including assistive technology, behavioural support, and personal care assistance, individuals at this level can still achieve greater comfort, safety, and engagement in their communities.
What are the Different Types of Autism?
Before the current classification system, autism was often described using the names of the different conditions. While these are no longer used clinically, you might still hear them mentioned, especially in older reports or conversations.
Asperger’s Syndrome
This term was once used for people with average or high intelligence and good language skills who still found social communication challenging. They might have struggled with things like eye contact, tone of voice, or understanding social cues, and often had strong interests in specific topics or routines.
Autistic Disorder
This described people who had more noticeable difficulties with communication and behaviour. They might have had delays in speech, found it hard to understand gestures or facial expressions, and needed more day-to-day support.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder/ Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
This was used for people who didn’t fit into the other categories but still showed signs of autism. Their needs were usually mild to moderate and affected areas like communication, social skills, and behaviour.
All of these older terms are now grouped together under one diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This recognises that every person’s experience of autism is different and that supports should be tailored to their individual needs.
Why Understanding Autism Levels Matters for NDIS Supports
Knowing where someone sits on the spectrum helps families, educators, and providers tailor the right mix of NDIS supports and therapies. Whether it’s early intervention, capacity building, or community participation, each level comes with its own opportunities for growth.
At Achora, our role is to make that process easier, helping you interpret reports, set clear NDIS goals, and connect with the therapies that create lasting progress.
NDIS Autism Funding in 2025: What You Need to Know
As with every disability, the NDIS doesn’t allocate funding based on diagnosis alone. Instead, it looks at how autism impacts daily functioning and how it affects things like communication, self-care, mobility, and social participation.
That means two people with the same diagnosis (for example, Level 2 autism) might receive very different levels of funding, depending on their specific challenges and goals.
To secure the right supports, it’s crucial that your reports and evidence clearly show:
- Where there are struggles to do things independently
- How their disability impacts everyday life
- What supports or therapies are required to build capacity
This kind of detail helps NDIS planners determine what’s “reasonable and necessary.” Any NDIS decision is based on someone’s eligibility within this criteria.
Why Autism Funding Levels Vary
Families are often surprised when two participants with similar diagnoses receive very different funding. Which is understandable, but it’s important to know that there’s a reason for this. As with every disability, the NDIS doesn’t allocate funding based on diagnosis alone. Instead, it looks at how autism impacts daily functioning and how it affects things like communication, self-care, mobility, and social participation. The variation exists because the NDIS funds based on functional impact, and although they have the same diagnosis it may present in their lives very differently.
To make sure your NDIS plan is reflecting your true needs, focus on quality evidence. Reports from therapists, psychologists, and educators should clearly describe:
- What the participant can’t do without support
- How the disability limits participation in everyday settings
- What outcomes the recommended supports are expected to achieve
At Achora, our Support Coordination and Plan Management team helps families gather, structure, and present this information clearly. This will help ensure your NDIS plan works for you, not against you.
The Future of Autism Supports: What’s Changing
In 2025, there’s growing discussion around how children with mild to moderate autism will be supported outside of the NDIS through new initiatives such as the Thriving Kids Program.
While this won’t immediately affect current participants, it may shape how new families access early intervention or short-term support in the future.
For now, the NDIS remains a vital source of funding for therapies, assistive technology, and community-based supports for people on the autism spectrum.
Achora: Your Partner in Autism Support
At Achora, we help families navigate the NDIS with confidence. From preparing your evidence to understanding your plan and connecting you with trusted providers, our team ensures every dollar of your NDIS funding works toward your child’s goals.
We understand that every person with autism is unique and their support should be too.
Reach out to Achora today to learn how we can help you prepare your next NDIS plan, secure the right funding, and access the supports that make the biggest difference.