“It’s something I have” or “it defines who I am”.pdf (512.61 kB)
Download file“It Defines Who I Am” or “It’s Something I Have”: What Language Do [Autistic] Australian Adults [on the Autism Spectrum] Prefer?
journal contribution
posted on 21.10.2020, 08:43 by Simon BurySimon Bury, Rachel Jellett, Jennifer Spoor, Darren HedleyDarren HedleyThere has been a recent shift from person-first to identity-first
language to describe autism. In this study, Australian adults who
reported having a diagnosis of autism (N = 198) rated and ranked
autism-terms for preference and offensiveness, and explained their
choice in free-text. 'Autistic', 'Person on the Autism Spectrum', and
'Autistic Person' were rated most preferred and least offensive overall.
Ranked-means showed 'person on the autism spectrum' was the most
preferred term overall. Six qualitative themes reflected (1) autism as
core to, or (2) part of one's identity, (3) 'spectrum' reflecting
diversity, (4) the rejection of stigmatising and (5) medicalised
language, and (6) pragmatics. These findings highlight the importance of
inclusive dialogue regarding individual language preference.
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