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Terminology in the Autistic Community

 Firstly, I would like to say that as the saying goes, "If you have met one Autistic, you have met one Autistic." Terminology for Autistic individuals may vary, but much of the community agrees on identity-first language rather than person-first (of course if the person prefers person-first language for Autism, that should be respected, as should outdated terms like Asperger's or "Aspie") and many of us reject functioning labels because it can either deny agency or deny accommodations, depending on what a psychologist determines your needs to be.

When I was a child, it was assumed that I had an intellectual disability at first because I was partially nonspeaking and primarily communicated with verbal stimming and tics during class. I was also subjected to some ABA techniques to attempt to modify my behavior, which I completely didn't understand as a child. In fact, I was not even informed of a formal diagnosis other than what was assumed to be an intellectual disability, and later being told that I was "gifted." I guess they figured out I was hyperlexic by how I passed every spelling test with a 100 with very little studying and the ways in which I consumed books.

Much later in life (last year actually), I was given another evaluation and told that I was "moderately" Autistic and it was insinuated that I was a "savant." I use quotes because these terms are problematic for me because I don't need to be told how well or how badly I pass as neurotypical, and I don't like the term "savant," as its origins go back to the term "idiot savant" and later, "autistic savant." Basically, all they're trying to tell me is that I'm a genius in a small handful of areas, but cannot take basic care of myself. 

Also, some Autistic people prefer the terms "Autist" or "on the Autism spectrum" to "Autistic" specifically, some people prefer to continue to use Asperger's or "Aspie" for themselves, and others prefer person-first language saying that they "have autism." Regardless of what terminology a person uses for themselves in relation to Autism, you should respect their language used to describe themselves when referring to them. 

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