When discussing the concept of disability and the ASD community, the language that we choose to use is a prominent tool to shape how disability itself is viewed. Within the ASD community, the two most recognized ways of referring to individuals are person-first language (PFL) and identity-first language (IFL). Self-advocates and allies advocate for using both language semantics, pointing out the strengths of both. Below, we will expand upon the characteristics of each, their intention, and how we can best respect the wishes of those we value (Estaris, 2023).
Person-first language involves acknowledging and placing the individual’s name before the disability. For example, one could say “Alex who has Autism”, or “Samantha who is Deaf.” PFL was first developed during the 1970s and 80s by various disability advocacy groups, being later written into the language of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (Wooldridge, 2023). This use of language is intended to emphasize the individual’s humanity, highlighting their uniqueness and establishing the individual as more than simply their disability (Estaris, 2023). Many advocates regard this form of language as helping reduce the stigma of disability while viewing it as a part of an individual’s life, rather than an all-encompassing identity trait.
While PFL has been the leading form of inclusive language when referring to the ASD community, a recent trend has seen the rise of identity-first language. Contrary to PFL, IFL introduces an individual’s disability before their name, such as, “Alex is an Autistic person.” Responding to the perspective that PFL attributed an individual’s disability to be a negative characteristic in their life, IFL leans toward acknowledging the culture and shared identity that many individuals with the same disability claim. This form of language validates an individual’s disability as part of their identity, a pivotal aspect of who they are as humans, and possibly a source of pride.
So, what can we, as the advocates and family and supporters of the ASD community, do to ensure that the language we use is beneficial to the ones we love? It is important to note that there is no shared consensus amongst the ASD community about a language preference for person-first language and identity-first language, and both language semantics are used. With this in mind, the most important thing that we can do is communicate with those within the ASD community about whether they have a preference themselves and what makes them feel the most comfortable and heard. For those for that conversations can not be had, maintaining a sense of cultural competency, such as reading blogs like this one, preserves a continuing education of the preferences of those within the ASD community. Being curious and open-minded about language usage enables the ASD community to voice their opinions and create a space where their perspectives are seen.
Resources:
Estaris, L. (2023, September 19). Person-First vs. Identity-First Language. YWCA Spokane.
https://ywcaspokane.org/2023-racial-justice-challenge-disability-and-language/
Wooldridge, S. (2023, April 12). Writing Respectfully: Person-First and Identity-First Language.
National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/science-health-public-trust/perspectives/writing-respectfully-person-first-identity-first-language