How raisingchildren.net.au talks about autism

On raisingchildren.net.au, we:

• use identity-first language when we talk about autism, which means we talk about ‘autistic children’ and ‘autistic teenagers’
• talk about ‘autism’ and use the term ‘autism spectrum disorder’ only when we refer to a diagnosis
• refer to therapies and supports for autistic children, rather than treatments.

Autism is a brain difference and a type of neurodiversity, which is the natural variation in how people’s brains work. Neurodiversity is something to be embraced, rather than an impairment that needs curing.

Identity-first or person-first language: what’s the difference?

Identity-first language puts a person’s condition or disability before the person – for example, ‘autistic children’.

Person-first language puts the person before their condition or disability – for example, ‘children with autism’.

Identity-first language: why we now use it for autism

raisingchildren.net.au has moved to identity-first language for autism from person-first language after feedback from readers and consultation with autism experts and advocates and people with lived experience.

Many autistic people and autism experts and advocates prefer identity-first language because it indicates that being autistic is an inherent part of a person’s identity, not an addition to it.

We recognise that there are different opinions about and positions on autism language. We also acknowledge people’s personal preferences and individual rights to decide how they’re described. For example, in our videos, you’ll come across various approaches as individual parents and practitioners use autism language according to their own preferences. And of course, if we’re referring to an individual person, we’ll use that person’s preferred language.

Other organisations, including Amaze and the National Autistic Society in the UK, also use identity-first language.

Autism or autism spectrum disorder?

raisingchildren.net.au talks about ‘autism’ in most situations. We use the term ‘autism spectrum disorder’ only when we’re referring to a diagnosis. This is because professionals like psychiatrists and psychologists refer to the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) when they’re diagnosing autism. DSM-5 uses the term ‘autism spectrum disorder’.

Therapies and supports for autism

raisingchildren.net.au talks about ‘therapies and supports’ for autistic children, rather than ‘treatments’. This is because ‘therapies and supports’ help children to get the most out of life and meet their own individual goals. ‘Treatments’ might imply that autistic children can or need to be cured.