How to use the Spectrum Codex

Building your code

Go to the Encoder page. You'll see categories grouped by section ‐ sensory, social, communication, neurotype, and identity. For each category, you can toggle it on or off. Only the categories you include will appear in your code.

For scale categories (most of them), you'll pick a level from -3 to +3. Read the descriptions at each level and pick the one that fits best. It won't be perfect ‐ pick the closest match.

For variant categories (like Diagnosis Path), you'll select one or more options that describe your situation. Some variant categories let you combine multiple options.

Using modifiers

Modifiers add nuance when a simple +/- rating isn't enough.

Ss+++@ The @ means "context-dependent." Extremely sound-sensitive, but it varies by situation.
M++(---) Parentheses show a range. Usually masks heavily (+++) but sometimes drops it entirely (---).
M+++>- The > means "trending toward." Heavy masker, working on unmasking.
SI+++$ Category-specific modifier. $ on Special Interests means it became your career.
Ss+++* The * on sensory categories means sensory-seeking rather than sensory-avoidant. Intense awareness, but you chase it.

Sharing your code

Once you've built your code, you have several options.

Compact code — short enough for a social media bio. Just copy the code string and paste it wherever you like.

Full code block — the classic format, with BEGIN/END delimiters. A direct homage to the Geek Code and PGP signature blocks of the 1990s. Good for longer bios, about pages, or anywhere you want the retro feel.

Shareable link — a URL that decodes to your full profile on this site. Send it to someone and they'll see all your categories with their human-readable descriptions.

QR code — a scannable image that links to your profile page. Good for badges, business cards, or lanyards at events.

Reading someone else's code

Go to the Decoder page and paste in a code string. Or if someone sent you a shareable link, just open it ‐ the profile will render automatically.

You can also consult the Reference page to look up any category and its descriptions manually.

Tips

Your code is not permanent. Update it when things change. Autism is stable at the neurological level, but how it manifests shifts with context, burnout, masking, accommodation, and time. The > modifier exists for exactly this reason.

Don't feel pressure to fill in every category. A code with three dimensions is as valid as one with twenty. Include what's meaningful to you. Skip what isn't.