Autism Acceptance Month: What’s in a name? “Person with Autism” or “Autistic Person” – which is correct?

Courtney Bearns, MSW, LSW

How do we even talk about autism, or someone identified as being autistic? With “person-first” language, someone should be referred to as “a person with autism,” emphasizing the “person” part over the diagnosis. Using “identity-first” language, the idea is that it is impossible to separate the autism from the person. From this perspective, it is better to say “an autistic person” or even, in some communities, “an autistic.” But what is correct? All of the above! In one recent study, 87% of autistic adults preferred the term “autistic,” suggesting the identity first language is the way to go (Taboas et al., 2022). For these people, the term “autistic” recognizes how important a role autism plays in people’s identity and the way they experience the world. They feel they are not people with a separate layer of autism on top, but “autistic” in that autism forms a core part of who they are.

However, that remaining 13% preferring “person with autism” is important, too – for someone in that 13%, the person first language is important. According to this school of thought, the fact that they are a person is more important than the fact they have autism, so the “person” part should go first. They feel this affirms their humanity by emphasizing they have a diagnosis, not that they are a diagnosis.

So what should “neurotypical” or “allistic” (non-autistic) people do? Ask, and listen! How does someone refer to themselves? How do they refer to other people who share their experiences? If you ask them what language they want you to use, what do they say?

As with most things, it’s important to respect the feelings and preferences of the people who are most impacted by the language. As the Autistic Self Advocacy Network says, “Nothing about us, without us!” Or in other words, don’t just talk about autistic people, talk with autistic people. Whether someone is considered “autistic” or “a person with autism,” they deserve the respect of being able to name their own terms.

For more information about how to support autistic people, check out some of these resources compiled by the Autism Self Advocacy Network:

https://autismacceptance.com/allies/

Autism research: Nothing about us, without us! Autistic Self Advocacy Network. (2021, July 7). Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://autisticadvocacy.org/2021/07/autism-research-nothing-about-us-without-us/

Bury, S. M., Jellett, R., Haschek, A., Wenzel, M., Hedley, D., & Spoor, J. R. (2022). Understanding language preference: Autism knowledge, experience of stigma and autism identity. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221142383

Taboas, A., Doepke, K., & Zimmerman, C. (2023). Preferences for identity-first versus person-first language in a US sample of autism stakeholders. Autism, 27(2), 565–570. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221130845