autism, autistic

A neurodivergent condition that affects how people experience the world around them. People are born autistic and there is no one way to be autistic. Some autistic people may have other disabilities such as physical or intellectual disabilities; some don’t. Some people may need additional help in their daily lives.

Shared traits include:

• Thinking differently;
• Processing senses differently;
• Moving differently;
• Communicating differently;
• And, socializing differently.

Therefore, EAPM suggests news outlets and media products:

• Refrain from using functioning labels when discussing autism. Functioning labels are an outdated descriptor that many autistic people dislike. Instead of saying “high functioning” or “low functioning”, we will use language about support needs, such as “higher support needs” and “lower support needs”. Do not use the terms “profound” or “severe” when describing autism (i.e. “profound autism”) or any disability, unless it is in a direct quote.
• First and foremost call people by their names.
• Interview autistic sources when discussing the topic of autism. Understand that no two people experience autism the same way. Do not let groups such as Autism Speaks, a group that often speaks from a parents’ perspective, nor the Autism Self Advocacy Network, a group that speaks often speaks from the perspective of those with low support needs, speak for all autistic people.
• Use identify-first language (autistic person, not person with autism; autistic community, not community with autism). Never use “special needs.”

A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is separate and apart from living with or experiencing the world as an autistic person. Some autistic people never receive a diagnosis of ASD or may receive a diagnosis later in life.

Do not confuse or pathologize being autistic with the the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

← Return to Chapter A