Language Statement

Geneva Centre for Autism Language Statement

Geneva Centre for Autism uses identity first and person first language interchangeably to respect the personal choices regarding terminology within the autism community.  For example, many self-advocates prefer identity-first terminology such as "Autistic individual,” "autistic person," or just "autistic" as they believe autism is an innate part of their personal identity. For others, person-fist language, like individual or person with ASD or individual / person on the spectrum, is preferred by some who choose not to be labelled by their diagnosis but acknowledge that disability is only a part of their identity and doesn't define who they are.  

More recently, the terms neurodivergent and neurodiverse have been used in reference to the autism community, as autism is one of the conditions under the neurodiversity blanket.