Language

Language is an important factor in identity.

Every Autistic person is an individual with unique qualities, strengths, attributes, and support needs.

People use different words to talk about autism, and each person will have their own way of talking about autism and about themselves. The diversity of views is linked in part to the breadth of the spectrum itself. Some people in the Autistic and autism community like to use ‘Autistic person’ (identity-first language), some like to say ‘person with autism’ (person-first language), and some are fine with using either. We respect the right of all individuals with lived experience of autism to choose the language that represents the way they self-identify.

At the Australian Autism Alliance, we have interchangeably used identity-first language and person-first language, reflecting the voice of our community to represent all Autistic Australians.