SCTL Positionality Statement on Autism Language
At the Social Competence and Treatment Lab (SCTL), we are committed to continuously engaging with the autism community related to topics and issues that directly impact the community and inform our work. This includes ongoing discussions regarding language to describe autism, including conversations around person-first (e.g., person with autism) and identity-first (e.g., autistic person) language, neurodiversity, and other descriptors for autism. SCTL respects the right of each person to use language that suits them and their experience. We also respect the way family members use language to describe their experiences.
SCTL continues to engage in outreach, clinical assessment, research, and other activities with the autism community. This includes working with autistic colleagues and other people with lived experience. SCTL’s Director also does not identify as autistic. For these reasons, we must find a way to navigate language that is respectful and affirming. Our solution is to predominantly use identity-first language, with some person-first language. We sometimes also utilize phrases such as “on the spectrum” to describe individuals with autism. Second, we commit to the use of consistent, accurate, and specific language to describe both autism and non-autism groups. We also believe it is best to avoid non-specific value-laden comparative terminology that separates autism as unhealthy, atypical, or abnormal (e.g., typically developing or healthy controls) whenever possible. Most crucially, we aim to defer to the preferences of the individuals with whom we work, in the settings where we are working together.
Here are some of the reasons behind our decision:
We believe in the values of neurodiversity, understanding that autism and other forms of neurodivergence are part of human diversity while also being a disability. This means that we focus our efforts on supporting, and not curing or normalizing autistic youth and adults. We commit ourselves to prioritizing and respecting the voices of autistic people and families across all of our work.
To read more about autism-affirming language preferences and suggestions, check out Gernsbacher (2017), Bottema-Beutel and colleagues (2021), Dwyer and colleagues (2022), and Keating and colleagues (2022).
Our positionality statement is regularly reviewed by the lab director and members of SCTL. As we are committed to continuing to effortfully engage with the autism community and with work in this area, our position will likely evolve over time to reflect our values. We will continue to strive to use language that is purposeful, intentional, and specific. We welcome members of the autism community to engage with us on our positionality and broader conversations on autism language.
We also want to note that prior outputs from SCTL may utilize language that does not reflect this positionality. We cannot change our past, but we vow to work towards a better future for all those who interact with us and our work.
Published on 4/18/2023
SCTL continues to engage in outreach, clinical assessment, research, and other activities with the autism community. This includes working with autistic colleagues and other people with lived experience. SCTL’s Director also does not identify as autistic. For these reasons, we must find a way to navigate language that is respectful and affirming. Our solution is to predominantly use identity-first language, with some person-first language. We sometimes also utilize phrases such as “on the spectrum” to describe individuals with autism. Second, we commit to the use of consistent, accurate, and specific language to describe both autism and non-autism groups. We also believe it is best to avoid non-specific value-laden comparative terminology that separates autism as unhealthy, atypical, or abnormal (e.g., typically developing or healthy controls) whenever possible. Most crucially, we aim to defer to the preferences of the individuals with whom we work, in the settings where we are working together.
Here are some of the reasons behind our decision:
- Language shapes attitudes about autism. It simultaneously reflects identity. While recent work has shown large groups of individuals on the spectrum prefer identity-first to person-first language, we recognize that is not everyone. As we serve individuals in the community, we feel it is essential to have a respectful, accepting, and validating attitude towards all possible experiences.
- It gives us the best opportunity to engage with all members of the community. This includes autistic people, parents, siblings, family members, and professionals of various backgrounds. This is especially important when recognizing the role of diverse sociocultural backgrounds and how they may shape understandings of autism. By having a more narrow definition, we risk limiting who feels comfortable engaging with SCTL. This could limit whether our work would be truly representative and relevant to the real-world experiences of autism.
- Inconsistency and a lack of specificity are common practices when applying language to those with and without a specific diagnosis, condition, or identity. To add to the complexity, there is a variety of terminology that exists to describe those who do not identify as autistic or do not have a diagnosis of autism (e.g., non-autistic, allistic, and neurotypical). The appropriate terminology often depends on the context in which the comparison is made. By using specific, accurate, and consistent language, we can ensure we are not creating confusion, stigma, or inaccuracies when comparing across groups (e.g., autistic and allistic individuals, children with and without autism).
We believe in the values of neurodiversity, understanding that autism and other forms of neurodivergence are part of human diversity while also being a disability. This means that we focus our efforts on supporting, and not curing or normalizing autistic youth and adults. We commit ourselves to prioritizing and respecting the voices of autistic people and families across all of our work.
To read more about autism-affirming language preferences and suggestions, check out Gernsbacher (2017), Bottema-Beutel and colleagues (2021), Dwyer and colleagues (2022), and Keating and colleagues (2022).
Our positionality statement is regularly reviewed by the lab director and members of SCTL. As we are committed to continuing to effortfully engage with the autism community and with work in this area, our position will likely evolve over time to reflect our values. We will continue to strive to use language that is purposeful, intentional, and specific. We welcome members of the autism community to engage with us on our positionality and broader conversations on autism language.
We also want to note that prior outputs from SCTL may utilize language that does not reflect this positionality. We cannot change our past, but we vow to work towards a better future for all those who interact with us and our work.
Published on 4/18/2023
