The Autism Spectrum
A few weeks ago I received a stiff email from one of the readers of our FaceBook Page AutismTalk. (https://www.facebook.com/AutismTalk). I few hours earlier we had reposted an image which used the term “autistic people”.
It was this that had upset her as she wanted to use the term, if memory serves, people with autism.
This was a new thread in the world of autism discussions to me and has exercised me a bit while I was away on vacation.
I’m very keen to find out the views of people in the autism community on this very subject. Firstly we have created a poll below. It would be great if you could take part.
Secondly it would be great if you could share your thoughts in more detail in the comments box below.
Many thanks in advance.
| CorinneTeKanawa | well i voted for “people with autism” BUT “has autism” or “is autistic”…it doesnt bother me. im more focused on trying to help her talk and how to function in a scarey overwhelming world while having anxiety, means more to me than trying to label my kid correctly to please others. i call her whatever i want and you call yours whatever you want. im sure we have bigger things to worry about with our gorgeous asd babies 🙂 |
| mariksarah | Sorry – should say someone, not something in last sentence. |
| mariksarah | Two of my nieces have a diagnosis of autism/autistic spectrum disorder and my third niece is currently being assessed with this diagnosis suspected. All three are very different but they all share similarities in the way they view life and interact with others. Autism is part of who they are and affects every part of their personality and life and for that reason we prefer “autistic”. Saying something has autism seems to imply it is an illness somehow overlaid on them, not a fundamental part of them. |
| TeresitaGarcia | Please have a look at our series of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) blogs if you have a few minutes ! https://patienttalk.org/tag/asd/ |
| ValentinaTrejo | I agree with Christine. If people don’t know what the spectrum is, by all means school them on it. There are some people who are ignorant because they honestly have not heard of it or there are just some people who are ignorant by choice. My baby boy is on the spectrum, and that’s how I introduce him as such. There is no sliding scale or majority. There is lots of love, patience, and speading awareness. |
| JimmyGuthrie | i think the word autistic is the best ,but the word i find these people with autism hate is -“”IGNORANCE “”shown by people that don’t understand there condition. they are not stupid, or mentally retarded,. they have feelings . i just wish people would realise this and give them a bit of respect |
| Christine Benner Taylor | My son is High Functioning. So I prefer to say ON THE SPECTRUM. If the person’s never heard of the spectrum I feel that’s an opportunity for dialog. |
| StarFord | The thing about this poll is that it’s not really “majority wins” material. A lot of autistic people will vote “autistic” but we would be outnumbered by non-autistic people who are more likely to vote the other terms. However, a community should be called by what the people in it want to be called – that’s the most respectful way. |
| kjhfui | I am autistic. Like the vast majority of autistic people, I prefer identity-first language. It is insulting to imply that our autism is somehow separated from our personhood; that being autistic makes you less of a person. I cannot separate my autism from me. I would be a completely different person if I were not autistic. Autism is not this scary, horrible thing that we have to dance around all the time. You wouldn’t say “a person with Asianness”, you would say “an Asian person”. “Autistic” is no different from any other identity descriptor. Please stop this nonsense and use identity-first language only. |
| amandahbrown144 | I find “people on the autistic spectrum” to be clunky but acceptable. “Autistic people” is definitely best. Whenever someone says I “have autism” I can’t help but spend the next couple days making jokes (“My autism wants noodles” “Where has my autism got to now?” “My autism is in timeout for being a jerk”). It’s weird and creepy to try to separate out parts of my brain and when I’m disturbed, I make jokes. Thank you for not including “experiencing autism” in the poll because oh my god…that’s the worst. It’s at least a week of bad jokes. |
well i voted for “people with autism” BUT “has autism” or “is autistic”…it doesnt bother me. im more focused on trying to help her talk and how to function in a scarey overwhelming world while having anxiety, means more to me than trying to label my kid correctly to please others. i call her whatever i want and you call yours whatever you want. im sure we have bigger things to worry about with our gorgeous asd babies 🙂
Sorry – should say someone, not something in last sentence.
Two of my nieces have a diagnosis of autism/autistic spectrum disorder and my third niece is currently being assessed with this diagnosis suspected. All three are very different but they all share similarities in the way they view life and interact with others. Autism is part of who they are and affects every part of their personality and life and for that reason we prefer “autistic”. Saying something has autism seems to imply it is an illness somehow overlaid on them, not a fundamental part of them.
Please have a look at our series of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) blogs if you have a few minutes ! https://patienttalk.org/tag/asd/
I agree with Christine. If people don’t know what the spectrum is, by all means school them on it. There are some people who are ignorant because they honestly have not heard of it or there are just some people who are ignorant by choice.
My baby boy is on the spectrum, and that’s how I introduce him as such. There is no sliding scale or majority. There is lots of love, patience, and speading awareness.
i think the word autistic is the best ,but the word i find these people with autism hate is -“”IGNORANCE “”shown by people that don’t understand there condition. they are not stupid, or mentally retarded,. they have feelings . i just wish people would realise this and give them a bit of respect
My son is High Functioning. So I prefer to say ON THE SPECTRUM. If the person’s never heard of the spectrum I feel that’s an opportunity for dialog.
The thing about this poll is that it’s not really “majority wins” material. A lot of autistic people will vote “autistic” but we would be outnumbered by non-autistic people who are more likely to vote the other terms. However, a community should be called by what the people in it want to be called – that’s the most respectful way.
I am autistic. Like the vast majority of autistic people, I prefer identity-first language. It is insulting to imply that our autism is somehow separated from our personhood; that being autistic makes you less of a person. I cannot separate my autism from me. I would be a completely different person if I were not autistic. Autism is not this scary, horrible thing that we have to dance around all the time. You wouldn’t say “a person with Asianness”, you would say “an Asian person”. “Autistic” is no different from any other identity descriptor. Please stop this nonsense and use identity-first language only.
I find “people on the autistic spectrum” to be clunky but acceptable. “Autistic people” is definitely best. Whenever someone says I “have autism” I can’t help but spend the next couple days making jokes (“My autism wants noodles” “Where has my autism got to now?” “My autism is in timeout for being a jerk”). It’s weird and creepy to try to separate out parts of my brain and when I’m disturbed, I make jokes. Thank you for not including “experiencing autism” in the poll because oh my god…that’s the worst. It’s at least a week of bad jokes.
Autistic has a very sharp harsh sound which is almost derogatory. Autism disorder is kinder softer sound which has less tendency to make people feel angry.