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

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.

Compassionate pedagogy for neurodiversity in higher education: A conceptual analysis

“…Research into autism and other neurodevelopmental differences is undergoing a paradigm shift, away from medical models and towards neurodiversity approaches ( Dwyer, 2022 ; Pellicano and den Houting, 2022 ; for alternative perspectives and critiques of the neurodiversity paradigm, see Nelson, 2020 ; Singer et al, 2022 ). One key limitation of the medical paradigm in this field is its narrow focus on the individual as the unit of study, with the aim of identifying and ameliorating deficits.…”

Language in Autism Research: Accurate and Respectful

“…The second paper by Singer et al ( A Full Semantic Toolbox Is Essential for Autism Research and Practice to Thrive ) (Singer et al, 2022) lobbies for the use of a broad spectrum of descriptive terms related to autism by clinicians and researchers without recrimination. Words such as disorder, they claim, are medically accurate when, for example, describing individuals prone to “head‐banging so intense and frequent that it results in concussions.” Discussing behavior such as this as mere “differences,” they suggest, trivializes the severity of the condition and could ultimately reduce much needed support for profoundly affected individuals.…”

“…The article by Singer et al (2022) extends Robison's perspective and makes the point that clinicians and researchers must be able to describe the characteristics of autism without fear of recrimination. The need for such an article is due to the level of polarization between advocates of neurodiversity and many clinicians, researchers and families with profoundly affected autistic individuals.…”

“…First, I would encourage all authors, both junior and senior, to read the previous commentary by Robison (2019) as well as the Singer et al (2022) and Keating et al (2022) papers published in Autism Research . But, I would also encourage the reading of the papers by Bottema‐Beutel et al (2021) and Dwyer et al (2022).…”

“…As Singer et al (2022) have stated, "There does not need to be a battle between the two viewpoints around autism vocabulary; there is room across the spectrum to acknowledge that autism can be a state of being for some, an impairing condition for others and somewhere in between for many." David G. Amaral, Editor-in-Chief…”