All Identities Matter Equally
What does neurodiversity affirming language mean?
Neurodiversity affirming language encourages, accepts, normalizes, and acknowledges neurodivergence. Neurodiversity affirming language recognizes disability as a natural and normal part of human life. It supports neurodivergent communities.
About the Puzzle Piece:
The puzzle piece symbol has been used to represent a puzzling condition since the 1960s and was chosen by adults who were at least not openly autistic. The original meaning of this symbolization was to imply that autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a "missing piece" of a person, autistic people are puzzling or mysterious, and autistic people must "fit in" like a puzzle piece.
The puzzle piece symbol is also associated with Autism Speaks, which is a foundation condemned by people in the autism spectrum community for a variety of reasons. According to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), "Only 1% of Autism Speaks' budget goes toward the 'Family Service' grants that are the organization's means of funding services" (ASAN 2020). In addition, "Autism Speaks' fundraising strategies promote fear, stigma, and prejudice against autistic people. Autism Speaks uses its platform to portray autism and autistic people as mysterious and frightening. Their fundraising tactics increase stigma and create barriers to the inclusion of autistic people in our communities" (ASAN 2020). Autism Speaks has also incorrectly insisted that autism is a "disease", "tragedy", "bad", and something that requires "curing" and "fixing."
About the Infinity Symbol:
[Image Description: There is a rainbow infinity symbol with a gold infinity symbol below it with a coral colored background. My First Former Buddy Club President logo is in the bottom left corner.]
The infinity symbol was first used on Autistic Pride Day on June 18, 2005, and chosen by autistic people. The infinity symbol is connected to neurodiversity, linked to the belief that there is not one "right way" of thinking, learning, or acting, and represents something that is never ending.
There are 2 infinity symbols: a gold infinity symbol, which represents autism, and a rainbow infinity symbol, which represents neurodiversity as a whole.
People Who Still Identify with the Puzzle Piece Explained:
Contrary to popular belief, there are actually not all but some autistic people/people with autism/ASD/people on the autism spectrum who still identify with the puzzle piece while not supporting Autism Speaks and supporting the infinity symbol. Instead of going along with the harmful meaning that Autism Speaks created, not all but some autistic people/people with autism/ASD/people on the autism spectrum reframed a new meaning of the puzzle piece by identifying with their disability as a unique piece of who they are.
In fact, "the puzzle piece has personal power and significance" to some autistic people/people with autism/ASD/people on the autism spectrum "in a way that helps them to feel safe in their identities and nobody has the right to deny them that" (NeuroDifferent 2020). All people are "allowed to find meaning in their identity in whatever way that works best for them" (NeuroDifferent 2020).
Not all but some people also identify with both the puzzle piece and infinity symbols.
What is identity-first language (IFL)?
Identity-first language (IFL) places the disability characteristic first when referring to an individual in the disability community. IFL highlights a disability's significance in the individual's life.
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What is people-first language (PFL)?
Person-first language (PFL) recognizes individuals in the disability community as people first before their disability. It emphasizes that disability is only one part of who they are as a whole person.
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What is neutrally inclusive language?
Neutrally inclusive language recognizes all individuals in this minority group as a whole. Neutrally inclusive language is open minded and can be used when someone is speaking to a group without assuming who identifies how and singling anyone out. It is also another way of emphasizing that disability is not the only part of a person.
Examples of what this looks like:
- "People in the disability community" - This is what I usually use when recognizing this minority group as a whole.
- "Differently abled"
- "Learning differences" - Commonly preferred by many of my peers who were in Learning Support classes during my childhood
- "Sensory differences"
Who Identifies How Explained
The majority of the disability community mostly identifies as "disabled" and with other IFL. To elaborate, IFL is preferred by most autistic people. In fact, 91% of surveyed autistic individuals said that they prefer "autistic" (IFL) over "person with autism" (PFL). Not all but most people in the disability community identify with IFL because they consider their disabilities to be an important part of their identity and life while not the only part. Furthermore, most individuals in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) community identifies with PFL.
FYI, however, "most" and "majority" does not mean all. This does not mean that every person in this minority group identifies with IFL or PFL. There are plenty of individuals who identify as "person with autism/ASD", "person on the autism spectrum", or "person in the autism/ASD community" instead of "autistic." There are also plenty of people who identify as "person with a disability/disabilities" instead of "disabled." Identifying with PFL is not because they do not accept themselves. Not all but some people who identify with PFL usually identify this way because they want to be seen as a person first. In fact, people who were not born disabled and became disabled later in life tend to prefer PFL "because they want to still be seen as who they are before they were disabled" (The Disability Union 2020). PFL or IFL may also be the terminology that was used when they were originally diagnosed. So, that became what they are used to and what they are comfortable with identifying as. Identities can develop through individual personal experiences as well. In addition, some people identify with both PFL and IFL, all three types, or do not have a preference.
The Truth About Which Language to Use
There is no "correct" or "wrong" way to identify. The specific language to use depends on each individual's preference. When encountering any individuals in the disability community, it is culturally sensitive to use whichever language that each individual identifies with according to what makes them feel comfortable. To quote NeuroDifferent, "in those cases, they should be respected for that, as it ultimately comes down to what the individual believes suits them best" (NeuroDifferent 2020). So, if someone says about themselves, "I am autistic/disabled", "I am a person with autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)/a disability/disabilities", "I am on the autism spectrum", "I am differently abled", etc., show respect by using the language that they said that they identify with as an individual when talking to them and about their disability/disabilities. Also, all because you have never met or heard of anyone identifying a certain way does not mean that that identity is nonexistent. Every person identifies differently and all identities matter. Anyone has the right to identify in any way that makes them feel comfortable. Let people choose the symbol and language that they identify with without judging them for it.
It is important to never tell anyone that there is a "wrong" or "right way" to identify, "wrong" or "right symbols" to identify with, or force any identities. Doing so is harmful, close-minded, non-inclusive, and can be prejudice, very hurtful, and cause trauma because it dismisses and treats people's identities as unworthy of existence, importance, acceptance, and respect. All identities are valid because people should be accepted for who they are instead of being expected to conform to identifying as the same as the majority of other people and what other people believe that they should identify as. Expecting people to conform to the same identity as other people is not letting people be themselves. Let people be themselves because that is what makes them unique. While everyone has similarities, not everyone is completely the same. Everyone is different in their own unique ways. That what makes the world go round🌍
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Citations
1. Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). (2020). Before you donate to Autism Speaks, consider the facts. https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AutismSpeaksFlyer2020.pdf
2. NeuroDifferent. (13 Apr. 2020). "'AUTISTIC PERSON' OR 'PERSON WITH AUTISM?' WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IDENTITY-FIRST VS PERSON-FIRST LANGUAGE." https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7pqAnhZXN?img_index=1
3. NeuroDifferent. (1 Apr. 2021). "5 REASONS WHY SO MANY AUTISTIC PEOPLE DESPISE AND REJECT THE PUZZLE PIECE SYMBOL." https://www.instagram.com/p/CNIsoV7hhQy/
4. The Disability Union. (26 Jun. 2020). PERSON-FIRST OR IDENTITY-FIRST. THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE. https://disabilityunion.co.uk/person-first-or-identity-first-the-importance-of-language/#:~:text=You%20can%20read%more%20about,to%20put%20in%20the%20effort
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