Words matter: Language preferences in a sample of autistic adults
Jaime Flowers, Jillian Dawes, Daniel F. McCleary, Hunter Marzolf
Abstract
The terminology used to describe individuals with disabilities is a subject of ongoing debate. The use of person-first language (PFL), such as “person with autism,” is often considered the standard by professionals and organizations. However, some communities of individuals with disabilities, such as the deaf and blind, prefer the use of identity-first language (IFL), such as “autistic person.” According to published and unpublished research, preferences for IFL and PFL vary across groups. The current study evaluated autistic individuals’ language preferences (IFL vs. PFL), relative to diagnosis method, cooccurring disabilities, and rating on a self-report autism measure with a sample of 247 autistic individuals. Results found no consistent trends in language preference, indicating best practice may be to alter language use based on individual preferences when interacting with autistic individuals.