The Autism Trait Wheel — See the Whole Picture, Not Just a Score
- hmotro
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Autism Trait Wheel
You took a screener.
Got a number.
And you still feel unseen.
Here is why.
We are taught that the spectrum is a straight line.
A slider bar.
From "less autistic" to "more autistic."
But you aren't one-dimensional!
You aren't just a point on a single scale.
You are a complex mix of many traits.
High intensity in some areas.
Low in others.
Specific struggles.
Specific strengths.
Let's stop looking at a line.
And start looking at the wheel.
What this tool is:
A one-page wheel.Each slice = one trait.Each slice shows two truths side-by-side.Challenge on the left (red).Strength on the right (green).You color what fits.You see the whole person.
No just a label.
Why this wheel is different from other wheels:
Most wheels only measure deficits.
Ours shows strengths AND deficits.
Sensory overwhelm ↔ sensory precision.
Task switching struggle ↔ deep focus.
Same trait. Two sides. One picture you can use.
The “spiky profile” made visible
Many non-autistic folks look “smooth” across skills.
Autistic profiles are often spiky.
Big peaks. Real valleys.
Without a picture, peaks hide valleys.
That’s where fights start.
Stop the bad-intent trap
“Brilliant at work, so why miss the bill?”
“Talk for hours on a passion, so why shut down at dinner?”
Peaks get read as global ability.
Valleys get misread as apathy or defiance.
The wheel reframes it from “won’t” to “wired.”
How to use it for yourself:
Read both sides of each slice.
Left = challenge. Right = strength.
Color red on the left of each slice.
Color green on the right.
Fill more rings for stronger intensity.
Pick the closest fit; you can revise later.
Share it with your partner or therapist.
How to use it for your partner:
Read both sides first.
Color the challenge you see (left/red).
Color the strength you see (right/green).
Compare wheels together.
Name one appreciation and one tough slice.
Ask for one concrete support.
Talk about it (quick script)
Start with strength:
“I appreciate your _______ because ______.”
Name the challenge, without blame:
“One tough slice is ______ when ______.”
Make a micro-ask:
“What would help next time is ______ (specific, visible, time-bound).”
Tips for literal thinkers
Anchor to a real scene: work task, family dinner, store run.
Pick a number of rings based on that scene.
Close enough is good enough.
The goal is clarity, not perfection.
Turn the picture into action
Choose one slice each for individual work.
Choose one slice together for couple work.
Make micro-agreements:
One cue. One behavior. One time stamp. One visible proof.
Examples:
“If the room gets loud, I’ll give the pause signal and take a 5-minute step-out, then text ‘OK’ before I return.”
“After dinner, we print the label and mail the bill—photo of the drop as proof.”
“Before hard talks, we send a 3-bullet agenda by 5 p.m.”
From insight to clarity
These traits track with common autism screeners.
This is not a diagnosis.
If you want more than insight, testing can help.
Get the template. Try the wheel.
Then decide your next step.
And remember that we're always here to help you on your journey
Harry Motro
Clinical Director, Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center
© 2025 New Path Family of Therapy Centers Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of these statements may be reproduced, redistributed, or used in any form without explicit written permission from the New Path Family of Therapy Centers.
Specialties
Neurodiverse Couples
AuDHD
ADHD
Autism
Parenting (Neurotypical & Neurodiverse)
PDA
Life Experience
Parents a highly sensitive, neurodivergent child while unmasking her own PDA and AuDHD identity. She brings real-world empathy to families navigating both self-discovery and support.
Navigates a neurodiverse marriage built on friendship, transformed by diagnosis and mutual understanding. Sixteen years in, Rachel and her partner have reshaped their relationship through clarity, accommodation, and compassion.
Lived the cost of camouflaging—now helps others unlearn it safely. Rachel guides clients toward authenticity without sacrificing safety or identity.
Grounds her therapy work in lived neurodivergence, not just education. Her insight comes from walking the same path as the people she supports.
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #126649,
Supervised by Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT #53452
Want to learn more about yourself?
Explore our sister site, Adult Autism Assessment, and take a deeper dive into your journey of self-discovery. Click the links below to get started!
References
Autism Education Trust. (2023, July 7). Spiky profiles. https://autismunderstood.co.uk/autistic-differences/spiky-profiles/
Butler, N. (n.d.). Spiky profile: What does it mean? The Autistic Joyologist. https://autisticjoyologist.co.uk/spiky-profile/
Exceptional Individuals. (n.d.). Spiky profile: What is it and who is it for? Retrieved November 3, 2025, from https://exceptionalindividuals.com/candidates/neurodiversity-resources/spiky-profile/
Jack, C. (2022, August 16). From autistic linear spectrum to pie chart spectrum. Psychology Today.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-autism-spectrum-disorder/202208/autistic-linear-spectrum-pie-chart-spectrum