How to talk about autistic people

[Scautish]

There are many, many threads on MN where either autistic adults are discussed in an inaccurate manner, or horrible/abusive behaviour is attributed to autism, often the now-defunct Asperger's Syndrome.

In the relationships section, it is particularly common. This is hurtful and damaging to autistic people.

The charity Autistica has recently brought out guidelines for journalists and other media content producers and I thought it might be helpful, particularly for @MNHQ who continue to allow threads which discuss autism in

the link is here, but here is an excerpt.

Talking sensitively, accurately and positively about autism in the media is crucial. Many autistic people tell us that autism is part of who they are. They want society to be aware of both the challenges and strengths associated with autism, and accept and embrace difference. This guide aims to help journalists use the right language and understand the needs of autistic interviewees.

Talking about autism
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition which changes the way people communicate and experience the world around them. Some autistic people are able to learn, live and work independently but many have learning difficulties or co-occurring health problems that require specialist support.

Getting language right
In a recent consultation, the majority of autistic people preferred the term 'autistic’. For example: ‘he is autistic’ or ‘autistic adult’. Do not use the noun e.g. ‘an autistic’.
Parents generally prefer ‘on the autism spectrum’.
Avoid the terms ‘Aspergers’ or ‘Aspie’ - these are no longer given as a diagnosis.
Use of the word 'condition' is ok, and in the right context ‘disability’, but ‘disease’ or ‘disorder’ should be avoided.
Don’t use ‘mild/severe autism’ or ‘high/low functioning’, instead say ‘autistic' or autistic and has a learning disability’
Say that someone speaks few or no words, it's preferred over the term ‘non-verbal’
Don’t use negative language like ‘suffering from’ or ‘paralysed by autism’. It may be appropriate to use this language when talking about other difficulties such as ‘struggling with anxiety’.
Do talk about autistic people's strengths.
Talk about how research can improve lives, not fix problems.

I get that which is why I think some differentiation of language IS helpful. It isnt a "disability" for many stereotypically bery bright "quirky" people labelled autistic but really really is for many others and I dont know what the preferred language is as I ses I get it wrong.

We talk at home about it being a difference not disability as it is for us. But im well aware its v different for others.

Why is Aspergers defunct?!

@butterflywings37 I am a formally diagnosed autistic person.

stanski because Hans Asperger cooperated with the Nazi regime, including sending children to the Spiegelgrund clinic which participated in the euthanasia program so there is a big push to disassociate with him.
Asperger actually termed the condition we call Asperger's as Autistic Psychopathy. I have great fun telling people im autistic but also a psychopath just for my own amusement.

For further clarity, I have absolutely no links to Autistica, but I have respect for what they do.

Formally? That's an interesting term. Do you still class yourself as autistic?

I think what a lot of posts are showing is that one organisation cannot tell people what terminology should or should not be used as people have a choice how they are referred to and actually I've never had any communication from the organisation stated in op but a lot from other well known organisations that have not issued these 'guidelines'

As an autistic person, I have no fucks to give.

butterfly formally means formal, like proper.
Formerly would be past tense as in "I was formerly a bit of a dick but I have now improved my behaviour"

Thank you. I had absolutely no idea how I wanted people to refer to me and to have a charity police language on my behalf.

If I'm being blunt, all this 'use this language' business seems like NT bullshit. If someone speaks no words they are non-verbal, no amount of mental gymnastics is going to change that.

I know I don't think the same as most people, I've got the certificate to say so. None of the difficulties I've faced would have been affected by any of this language malarkey.

I'd rather these well meaning charity people would just go back to hand wringing over foreign donkeys or scabby cats

@butterflywings37 I’m struggling to understand why you are describing “formally” as “interesting”.

I have an official diagnosis from the NHS. As well as an “informal” one by a charity.

But thank you for you presumably sarcastic comment which hasn’t the intention of undermining my credibility somehow.

My Dear Child prefers "I am autistic" or " I have Autism" as he doesn't consider he suffers from it like he has a disease, it is what he has and is, and affects him at a fundamental level. In the same way as he has blue eyes and red hair.

I would agree with some pp that we, his parents, have certainly suffered due to his Autism, though. And he doubtless has also suffered, a lot, due to his conditions.

Wouldn't 'pre Verbal' indicate that 'verbal' will eventually follow when the reality for some people with ASD is that they may never become verbal. Which is why non verbal works.

Not at all sarcasm but usually when someone is diagnosed they say I have a diagnosis of ... or I was diagnosed as ... So your terminology of formerly which is often used in the context of previously confused me ( which is why I found it interesting and asked for clarification)

My son refers to himself as an autistic person, not a person with autism. To say 'a person with autistm' suggests it's an affliction or something they've caught like a disease. Autism is who he is, the same as being a male, being white, being gay etc.

@IWouldPreferNotTo I’m genuinely really pleased that you have not been affected by the language malarkey. I have.

I don’t want to be told I’m “high functioning” or that I have “mild autism” as that’s so fucking misleading and unhelpful. I have a PhD, I have had professional roles yet I fucking suck at so many aspects of life, and my teen years were fucking awful and the impact on my mental life has been huge and nearly fatal. I really want the world to be better educated about how autism impacts individuals. And that Sheldon is not an accurate representation of autism. I want my sons to be able to experience an non-prejudicial world too.

So maybe it is NT bullshit - or maybe they have consulted with a meaningful number of autistic people and relatives of autistic people and come to a consensus. Not a unanimous agreement but a majority nonetheless. But maybe I’m wrong and they’ve just thought “fuck it, here’s what we’ll call them....”

butterfly but OP didn't use formerly as in previously.
She used formally. They are two different words with two different meanings.

There are many, many threads on MN where either autistic adults are discussed in an inaccurate manner

Can I ask how you know these autistic adults are being discussed in an inaccurate manner when you have never met said autistic adults?

Not undermining just requesting clarification when you've made such a big statement on how people should communicate and the vocabulary that should be used

@HerRoyalFattyness I misread but still feel 1 poster telling a whole community how they should communicate/refer is quite a large statement

Extremes aside, does the exact wording matter? Especially given that any difficulties or discrimination aren't the result of someone using the words Aspergers or high/ low functioning. As someone without autism/ none autistic/ not on the autistic spectrum, I've got to agree with the pp that said it sounds like nt bullshit.

I find it annoying, and sometimes offensive, when people start suggesting anyone that's a bit shit at organisation or remembering tasks, or that acts impulsively, might have adhd. Or an armchair dx for any bad behaviour. But if the sentiment behind it is genuine, I couldn't give a flying one about the exact wording used when discussing someone with adhd. I don't see why autism is any different.

@PandaPantaloon

Because most of the “autistic” adults to whom they are referring do not have a diagnosis. So they are attributing unpleasant and sometimes abusive behaviour to autism without any qualification to do so.

I find the wording of your title ironic op!

It's a minefield.

I like ‘an autistic’ and will continue to use it. ( I am an autistic and have autistics for children and am married to one). I also couldn’t really care how someone else refers to me.