Autism Terminology / Common Dos and Don’ts
Use: Autistic person, Autist, Autistic, On the Autism spectrum
Avoid: Person with Autism
Use: Is Autistic
Avoid: Identifies as having autism
Use: Is disabled, Has a disability
Avoid: “Special needs”, “Differently abled”, “Handi-capable”
Use: Neurotypical (NT), Allistic, Non-Autistic
Avoid: Normal
Use: Has high support needs, Has low support needs
Avoid: Low functioning, High functioning
Use: Masked Autism
Avoid: Female Autism, Asperger’s, High-functioning Autism
Use: Nonverbal, Loses speech
Avoid: Mute, Dumb
Use: Intellectually disabled, Developmentally disabled
Avoid: R*tarded, Stupid, “Special”
Use: Direct language about what a person can or can’t do, and what kind of support they need
Avoid: Euphemisms, language that minimizes challenges, language that belittles or condescends