Asking #allistic about #autism is like asking fishes about #Birdism: being scared about breathing under water. Ducks are highfunctioning-birds and hummingbirds low-functioning.
Because they judge "functioning" by the ability to accept having the head under water. The longer, the more functioning.
Showing fear of drowing is a symptom, that can be reduced by exposing the bird to water again and again. The best way to (dis)solve the problem, is to "teach" the bird to be under water.