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Happy Autism Acceptance Month! In an effort to bring more awareness and acceptance to the community, we wanted to help our readers learn how to address those on the spectrum with a proper language guide. Read more inside so you can come correct.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) intern Lydia Brown published an article on their blog Autistic Hoya under the title The Significance of Semantics: Person-First Language: Why It Matters.
Brown discusses how they attended the Adult Services Subcommittee’s final meeting where several members discussed how to address our autistic friends and family members. In the piece, Brown shares why semantics is important and how person-first language should be prioritized.
“Feedback from one of our members suggested changing ‘ASD individual’ in our report to ‘individual with ASD,’” Brown shared in the article. “The Autistic self-advocate sitting beside me, who also has an Autistic brother, voiced her objection to use of the term. ‘I disagree,’ she said as the suggestion was read aloud. ‘I’m not a person with autism; I am Autistic.’”
Things have changed and the voiceless now carry platforms to speak for themselves. One mother responded that, “I come from a time where that word, ‘autistic,’ had — still has — a negative meaning. It’s offensive. When someone refers to my son as ‘the autistic,’ I cringe at that word; I get ready to defend him.”
Brown cites that autism is a neurological, developmental condition. It is considered a disorder, and it is disabling in many and varied ways. It is lifelong. It does not harm or kill of its own accord. It is an edifying and meaningful component of a person’s identity, and it defines the ways in which an individual experiences and understands the world around them. It is all-pervasive.
Brown’s research suggests that several people are in favor of using “person with autism” and that they strongly oppose language referring to disabilities like “suffers from,” (i.e. “Alan suffers from Asperger’s syndrome;” “Joey, an autism sufferer;” etc.) Most people agree that we must emphasize the value and worth of the person.
“Person-first language advocates believe the best way to do this is through literally putting the noun identifying ‘person’ before any other identifiers,” Brown shared.
The National Autistic Society makes it simple for us, suggesting that the most important thing to remember is that many autistic people see their autism as a fundamental part of who they are. Sp, it’s important to use positive language. If you are referring to a particular person or group, just ask them how they would prefer to be described.
This preference should take precedence over the recommendations they have outlined below:
Do say
autistic adult/people/child
person/child on the autism spectrum (note: this is informed by research, which indicates that there is a growing preference for positive identity first language, particularly among autistic adults)
is autistic
is on the autism spectrum
has an autism diagnosis
disabled person/person with a disability
disability or condition
Asperger syndrome is a form of autism (note: Asperger is pronounced with a hard “g”; see below)
talk about the autism spectrum and the varying challenges and strengths people have (for instance, some autistic people have an accompanying learning disability and need support to do everyday things like clean, cook or exercise. Other autistic people are in full time work, with just a little extra support)
not autistic
neurotypical (note: neurotypical is mainly used by autistic people so may not be applicable in, for example, the popular press)
autistic people, their families and friends
people on the autism spectrum, their families and friends
support or adjustments
traits or characteristics.
Don’t say
has autism
person/child/adult with autism
an autistic
an autist
an autie
an aspie (note: some individuals may refer to themselves in this way and this should take precedence when you’re referring to them)
suffers from or is a victim of autism
retarded/mentally handicapped/backward/mild/severe
disease/illness/handicap
Asperger syndrome is a mild/rare form of autism
high functioning or low functioning
severe or mild
normal
people living with autism (to describe autistic people and their family and friends)
treat symptoms
Hope this helps!
Come Correct: Here’s The Proper Language To Use When Addressing People On The Spectrum
was originally published on
globalgrind.com
