Autism research and advocacy have grown leaps and bounds over the past few decades. While there’s a lot we still don’t know, there’s a whole lot more that we do. And in recent years, many things have changed – including the way we speak about autism. While previous advocacy efforts were spearheaded by well-meaning individuals or neurotypical parents of autistic children, people are now listening more closely to autistic adults as they speak about their life experiences and childhood efforts to “treat” their “condition.” These voices are the ones we should listen to closely as we move forward toward accepting and embracing neurodiversity, and who we should view as the authorities in helping autistic children thrive in this world we all share.
The changes may seem subtle to individuals who don’t have direct experience with the autism community, but in reality they are profound and meaningful. Words have incredible power, and the way we speak about autism affects how we approach neurodiversity as a whole.
Here are some things to be aware of when you speak about autism, based on recommendations from autistic adults:
1. Replace “Autism Awareness” with “Autism Acceptance.” The general consensus is that “awareness” is fear-based, warning parents about symptoms to look for to identify autism and giving them solutions for “treatment.” Today, advocates prefer “Autism Acceptance,” implying that autism is a form of neurodiversity that needs to be accepted and embraced, not “fixed.”
2. A person who has autism should be called an “autistic person,” not “a person with autism.” Previously, it was considered respectful to use person-first language when talking about autistic individuals, identifying them as a person with autism. The idea was that their autism does not define them and they are not one-dimensional, so it shouldn’t be used as a label. Today, autistic individuals have reclaimed the term as a part of their identity and it is no longer considered appropriate to use the label “autism” as an associated affliction (“a person with autism;” “a person who struggles with autism;” “a person suffering with autism”). Simply use the term “autistic” instead. Of course, some people do prefer different terminology so if you have any questions, ask the autistic individual!
3. The puzzle symbol is out. The infinity symbol is in. For years, a puzzle symbol has been used to symbolize autism – signifying that there’s a “missing piece” somewhere to solve the puzzle. Autistic individuals have pushed back at that idea, indicating that the goal isn’t to eliminate autism or figure out what’s “missing,” but rather to accept the neurodiversity in our world. Hence, the rainbow infinity symbol that represents acceptance and inclusion of neurodiversity.
4. Terms like “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” are not appropriate. These terms have been used to describe the “severity” of a person’s autism, but are actually ableist as they measure how close a person is to being neurotypical. Refrain from using these terms.
5. There is no one-size-fits-all description of autism. Rocking, stimming, compulsively lining up toys, refusing to make eye contact, social awkwardness – these have historically been the “typical” indicators of autism. But autism looks different in everyone. Making comments like, “He doesn’t look like he has autism!,” “But she’s so social!,” “We’re all a little autistic…” are not complimentary and detract from the struggles many autistic individuals face.
6. Avoid pathologizing autism. Using a medical model and employing terms like “prevent,” “cure,” “treat,” “eliminate,” implies that autism is an undesirable condition that has no place in our society. In fact, the current official diagnosis for autism is “Autism Spectrum Disorder” (ASD), which many autistics find offensive as the term “disorder” has a negative connotation. Instead, use terms like, “support,” “embrace,” and “accept.” This language shift encourages us to help autistics thrive in our shared world, rather than implying they need to change in order to fit in.
We won’t get our language right every time, but learning about the words autistics prefer we use and doing our best to use them is a step in the right direction.
Are you autistic? Do you have an autistic child? What do you want people to know?