World Autism Month
- Rae Sabine
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
This year’s theme for World Autism Month is “Autism and Humanity. Every Life Has Value.” Language shapes how people are understood and treated.
Autism is an inherent part of who a person is.
It shapes how they experience and move through the world. We do not usually separate identity from the person.
For example, we would not say “person with womanhood.” We just say “woman.”
Similarly, many autistic people prefer identity-first language such as “autistic.”
Not everyone will use the same language, and it is important to follow individual preference. But listening to the broader autistic community is a good place to start.
Some helpful language guidance:
X person with autism -> autistic, autistic person
X high-functioning, low-functioning -> has specific support needs
X at risk of being autistic -> may be autistic
X autism disorder -> autistic, autism
X normal person -> non-autistic, allistic
World Autism Month from Rae Sabine
