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. 2023 Mar;16(3):497-501.
doi: 10.1002/aur.2876. Epub 2022 Dec 12.

A full semantic toolbox is essential for autism research and practice to thrive

Alison Singer  1 , Amy Lutz  2 , Jill Escher  3 , Alycia Halladay  1   4
Affiliations

A full semantic toolbox is essential for autism research and practice to thrive

Alison Singer et al. Autism Res. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with a highly diverse set of challenges, disabilities, impairments and strengths. Recently, it has been suggested that researchers and practitioners avoid using certain words to describe the difficulties and impairments experienced by individuals with ASD to reduce stigma. The proposed limitations on terminology were developed by only a subset of the autism community, and the recommendations are already causing negative consequences that may be harmful to future scientific and clinical endeavors and, ultimately, to people with ASD. No one should have the power to censor language to exclude the observable realities of autism. Scientists and clinicians must be able to use any scientifically accurate terms necessary to describe the wide range of autistic people they study and support, without fear of censure or retribution.

Keywords: Vocabulary; autism spectrum disorder; bias; language.

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Comment in

  • Language in Autism Research: Accurate and Respectful.
    Amaral DG. Amaral DG. Autism Res. 2023 Jan;16(1):7-8. doi: 10.1002/aur.2886. Epub 2022 Dec 30. Autism Res. 2023. PMID: 36585778 No abstract available.
  • Anti-ableist language is fully compatible with high-quality autism research: Response to Singer et al. (2023).
    Natri HM, Abubakare O, Asasumasu K, Basargekar A, Beaud F, Botha M, Bottema-Beutel K, Brea MR, Brown LXZ, Burr DA, Cobbaert L, Dabbs C, Denome D, Rosa SDR, Doherty M, Edwards B, Edwards C, Liszk SE, Elise F, Fletcher-Watson S, Flower RL, Fuller S, Gassner D, Onaiwu MG, Good J, Grant A, Haddix VL, Heraty S, Hundt A, Kapp SK, Keates N, Kulshan T, Lampi AJ, Latimer O, Leadbitter K, Tidd JL, Manalili M, Martin M, Millichamp A, Morton H, Nair V, Pavlopoulou G, Pearson A, Pellicano L, Porter H, Poulsen R, Robertson ZS, Rodriguez K, Roux A, Russell M, Ryan J, Sasson N, Grier HS, Somerville M, Sorensen C, Stockwell KM, Szymanski T, Thompson-Hodgetts S, van Driel M, VanUitert V, Waldock K, Walker N, Watts C, Williams Z, Woods R, Yu B, Zadow M, Zimmerman J, Zisk AH. Natri HM, et al. Autism Res. 2023 Apr;16(4):673-676. doi: 10.1002/aur.2928. Autism Res. 2023. PMID: 37087601 No abstract available.
  • Letter to the editor.
    Finucane B, Myers SM, Challman TD, Martin CL, Ledbetter DH. Finucane B, et al. Autism Res. 2023 Apr;16(4):678. doi: 10.1002/aur.2921. Autism Res. 2023. PMID: 37087602 No abstract available.

References

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