I’m not going to dox myself, but I am an autism activist and we all pretty much use the term autist. If you read Unmasking Autism, a good book btw, it will show that Autist is the preferred nomenclature
I appreciate the insight from everyone here, I have a friend who taught kids with autism and told me that they were taught to say “person with autism” so I’ve always gone that route since then.
I have a friend who taught kids with autism and told me that they were taught to say “person with autism” so I’ve always gone that route since then.
“Person with autism” is something neurotypical researchers cooked up to describe our “disease” that we need to be “treated” for. Like we’re a person with the flu, or a person with asthma. It implies that we’re fundamentally broken in some way. It’s very common in clinical or educational circles. Your friend probably didn’t know any better, and the kids they were teaching didn’t, either.
“Autistic” or “Autist” is how we talk about ourselves. Autistic folks aren’t sick or broken—we’re whole people. Being autistic is who we are.
I’m not going to dox myself, but I am an autism activist and we all pretty much use the term autist. If you read Unmasking Autism, a good book btw, it will show that Autist is the preferred nomenclature
for who, the author? many autistic people dislike the term. IMO we don’t really even need a noun for autistic people. adjectives work fine.
I appreciate the insight from everyone here, I have a friend who taught kids with autism and told me that they were taught to say “person with autism” so I’ve always gone that route since then.
“Person with autism” is something neurotypical researchers cooked up to describe our “disease” that we need to be “treated” for. Like we’re a person with the flu, or a person with asthma. It implies that we’re fundamentally broken in some way. It’s very common in clinical or educational circles. Your friend probably didn’t know any better, and the kids they were teaching didn’t, either.
“Autistic” or “Autist” is how we talk about ourselves. Autistic folks aren’t sick or broken—we’re whole people. Being autistic is who we are.