Yes it is a spectrum just like a rainbow and I am saying there is a distinction between the rainbow itself and warm/cool colors or a shade of green 5/7ths the way from yellow to blue. The autism spectrum is a umbrella term for a multitude of different conditions and a range of severities. Autism isn't a thing, it is a group of things.

Most neurodivergent people are so low on the spectrum that they don't even know. Most of the low-middle on the spectrum people that I have met prefer to make the distinction between their situation and that of people on the deep end. There is a marked difference between how you relate to a person who is non-verbal and a person who has difficulty identifying other peoples interest in a topic of conversation.

Autism is a un-understandable and un-relatable diagnosis specifically because it covers so many terms some of which are completely contradictory. Its a big boogie man that alienates people. Breaking up the autism spectrum to identify specific forms of neuro divergence will only lead to better understanding of those conditions and only lead to more acceptance.