The Problem with Person-First Language (And Why I Use Identity-First Language Instead)
In this post, I want to talk about what identity-first language is and why it matters. When I was in graduate school (a while ago), we were taught to use person-first language when talking about our clients. Person-first language places the person before the identity or concern (for example, "person with Autism," “person with depression”). Professors taught us that person-first language is more respectful because it emphasizes the person’s humanity rather than defining them by their identity or condition. I would refer to a client as "a person with alcoholism" rather than "an alcoholic."
The Consensus in the Autistic Community
However, Autism is not an inherently negative condition or a disease. It is a core part of a person’s neurology, not something that dehumanizes us. Many Autistic people would say that being Autistic is a central part of their human experience.
For these reasons, the majority of Autistic individuals prefer identity-first language (“Autistic person,” not “person with Autism). This acknowledges that Autism as an important part of who they are. Jim Sinclair, an Autistic activist who wrote some of the first formative essays on Autistic rights, made an important point: We only separate a person from a condition when we view that condition negatively or as incompatible with humanity. In Sinclair’s 1993 essay Don’t Mourn for Us, he emphasized that Autism is not something external that can be removed or something negative that we need to be ashamed of. Rather, it is fundamental to an Autistic person's existence. There is no neurotypical child hidden inside an Autistic shell. Autism is a valid way of being.
Similarly, Davida Hartman and her colleagues write in The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook that we naturally use identity-first language (Autistic person) for other identities, especially those that we consider to be neutral or positive. For instance, I don’t say I’m “a person with Irish-Americanness.” I say I am an Irish-American person (I am proud of my Irish-American heritage). I don’t say that I am "a person with womanhood.” I simply say that I am a woman. We don’t hesitate to frame language person-first with these identities because they are not seen as negative. The discomfort with saying "Autistic person" stems from a lingering bias that being Autistic is something undesirable—a stigmatizing “developmental disorder” rather than a different neurotype or brainstyle.
Why Identity-First Language Matters
In recent years, the Autistic community has made it clear that person-first language (“person with autism”) feels offensive and dismissive. It implies that Autism is something separate from the person and something negative, rather than a positive, integral part of who they are. Other disabled communities have expressed similar concerns about person-first language and have expressed preferring identity-first language, as well (for example, using the phrases “disabled person” or “deaf person” rather than “person with disabilities” or “person with deafness”).
I want to share a powerful excerpt from The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook by Davida Hartman and colleagues:
"Being Autistic is integral to who someone is. It is intrinsic to how a person develops through a distinct Autistic developmental trajectory, communicates through Autistic communication styles, experiences and interacts with the world through distinctly Autistic perceptual mechanisms, and learns and understands through Autistic cognitive processing. Being Autistic is a neurological foundation from where each Autistic person grows. Being Autistic is not a part of a person, or in any way detachable or an impediment to be removed. Being Autistic is a naturally occurring neurology" (p. 19).
For this reason, I identify as an Autistic person. Autism is not something I have, and it is not a disorder to be cured or something that can be separated from me. It is my neurotype. It is my way of thinking, experiencing, and interacting with the world. You cannot remove Autism from me. I am Autistic.
The Importance of Professionals Using Identity-First Language
At the end of the day, I recommend that everyone use identity-first language because the Autistic community has expressed a clear preference for it. It is particularly important that mental health and medical professional use identify-first language to make their clients and patients feel comfortable. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), it is important to "honor the language preference of any disability group" to demonstrate respect, professional awareness, and solidarity. By using the language that a community prefers, and by avoiding ableist and outdated terminology, we help create a more inclusive and understanding society where Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals can thrive.
Changing our language can be an adjustment, but it is a meaningful way to show respect for the Autistic community and the Autistic people in your life.