MNHQ please don't use the term 'ASD child'

[Borka]

You've given Tuesday's blog of the day the title 'My ASD child is not a genius but he is amazing'. ASD isn't an adjective and shouldn't be used like this - it's like saying Down Syndrome child or Special Needs child, which I'm assuming (hoping) you wouldn't do.

You could use either 'autistic child' (which is how the blogger refers to her son in the post) or 'child with ASD'.

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

Some people prefer the use of ASD child/person.

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

Saying someone with ASD sometimes sounds a bit odd to me. It sounds like something you carry around with you and something you can just leave at home when it gets too much.

Saying someone is ASD or is an ASD child/person makes it clear that it is part of them iyswim.

[J3NN1]

Agree that saying a child with asd is better than saying asd child. They are not defined by Autism, it is something they have.
However.... my daughter is a 'child with asd' and sometimes just for ease of writing and quickness on here I'll short cut and write something like 'dd (7) asd'
I never would refer to her like that in real life but on the boards like this it is sometimes a short cut with no offence intended.

[PurpleDaisies]

What's the difference between "asd child" and "autistic child"? I'm really struggling to see it. I could understand you wanting "child with asd" instead but I can't see how "autistic child" is better.

[DireTires]

I don't like first person language (i.e. Autistic) unless the person has chosen to use it themselves.

ASD child is unusual.

ADHD child.

Dyslexic child

Dyspraxic child

Down's Syndrome child

Are these terms used?

[PurpleDaisies]

Sorry that's sounds arsed but I'm just a bit confused.

[DireTires]

PurpleDaisy I don't like either but some people do prefer to be called Autistic.

[Eeeek686]

Doesn't seem like a massive deal to me, just a tiny difference in word order? Why is one so different or more offensive/harmful than the other? The point is easily conveyed either way, surely!

Sticks and stones and all that....

[PurpleDaisies]

Oh hang on, it's the equivalent of saying "autism child" instead of "autistic child". Is that it?

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

unless the person has chosen to use it themselves.

And the child may have decided themselves they prefer that term if they are old enough to decide.

[PurpleDaisies]

PurpleDaisy I don't like either but some people do prefer to be called Autistic.
I'd normally use "a child/person with autism", but go along with however a person described themselves.

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

I personally wouldn't use autistic child either

What if the child themselves told you they prefer that term?

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

Never mind, x posts

[Rockpebblestone]

I think you have, to a certain extent, have to let people self define when it is stuff that is affecting their own family lives.

Some people prefer autistic, some people prefer has autism etc

Whenever in doubt and their child was part of a discussion we were having I would use their name to refer to them and let their parent or themselves self define how they want any condition they might have affecting their life referred to.

[Superaspie]

I am a person with autism.
I am an autistic person.

I don't think I am an asd person. Not in an offended way, its just bad grammar.

[Borka]

PurpleDaisies yes exactly, it's like saying 'autism child'.

I didn't mean this to be about whether it's better to say someone's autistic or they have autism, there's never going to be an agreement on that.

But you wouldn't say an epilepsy child, a dyslexia child, an obesity woman etc.

[PurpleDaisies]

Yes, once I'd had my coffee I realised it was a grammar thread.

I love a grammar thread.

[Borka]

Well, yes and no - it is a grammar thread but not just a grammar thread.

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

You wouldn't say epilepsy child, a dyslexia child or an obesity woman however you might say epileptic child, dyslexic child or obese woman.

In which case could ASD not stand for autism spectrum disordered?

[Borka]

'I am autistic' and 'I am autism' don't mean the same thing.

'I have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder' doesn't mean 'I am an Autism Spectrum Disorder'

[Borka]

Cross post - but I don't think that ASD is generally taken to mean autism spectrum disordered.

[Superaspie]

It's in a similar vein to saying someone is ocd.

I haven't come across anyone saying they are a bit asd just because they have a preference towards something or a single sensory issue or something similar but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.