March 14, 2025
Identity-First and Person-First Language
By: Zachary Burton, MSW Intern and Juno Ottathengil, LLMSW
Introduction:
“They’re on the autism spectrum.”
“I am autistic.”
“She has autism.”
“He’s an autistic person.”
If you know someone on the spectrum or are an autistic person yourself, you probably have encountered some of the language above before. You may have a gut feeling on which of these “feels right” to you, but are unsure how to exactly articulate why. Every person has their own preferences on how they would like to be referred to, but how do we know what language to use in different situations? In this blog, we will detail how the above language is categorized into “Identity-First” and “Person-First” language, the history of the language, and how to use this language in an affirming way.
Person-First:
Person-First language emphasizes that the person you are referring to is a person before their mental or physical status .
Examples: “They are a person with autism,” “They’re on the autism spectrum,” “I have autism.”
This style of language gained popular recognition as a response to how the general public in America talked about individuals with disabilities during the 1970s and 1980s (Wooldridge, 2023). Disability rights movements such as “People First” and “People with AIDs” fought back against dehumanizing language that emphasized disability before humanity (Ex. “The Crippled,” “AIDS victims,” “The mentally retarded”) (Petro, 2024). The usage of Person-First language continues to be considered best practice today in appropriate contexts that are usually more disease-oriented or overtly impairing, such as “person with depression” and “person who has cancer” (Wooldridge, 2023).
Identity-First:
In communities that take pride in their “disability”, Identity-First language emphasizes that an individual’s mental or physical status is deeply connected to their sense of identity.
Examples: “I’m blind,” “I’m an autistic person,” “They’re neurodivergent.”
As adult autistic self-advocates (and those with other disabilities) find community with one another , what was once a negative way to refer to others has been reclaimed as a way to celebrate their identity (Wooldridge, 2023). Paired with efforts to “cure autism” in the early 2000s, Identity-First language has been used to stress that the individual and their autistic identity are inseparable and not something to be demonized.
“Autism, however, is not a disease. It is a neurological, developmental condition; it is considered a disorder, and it is disabling in many and varied ways. It is lifelong. It does not harm or kill of its own accord. It is an edifying and meaningful component of a person’s identity, and it defines the ways in which an individual experiences and understands the world around him or her. It is all-pervasive.” (Brown, 2011)
How to use Identity and Person-First language:
Although there has been a significant shift in preference in support of Identity-First language among autistic adults, preferences still vary between autistic adults, autistic children, and families (Taboas et al., 2023). If you aren’t sure what someone’s preference is, it’s best to ask how they like to refer to themselves in relation to their autistic identity. If you are a practitioner working with a family, have a brief discussion with them on their preferences, and offer to give an explanation of the language if needed. If you’re on the autism spectrum, how you would like to be referred to is completely up to you! By using language that aligns with the identities of ourselves and others, we communicate our acceptance of them, who they are, and who they want to be. Language will continue to change, but the effect of how we use it to affirm and lift up others is long lasting.
References
Brown, L. (2011, August 4). Identity-First Language –. Autistic Self Advocacy Network. https://autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/identity-first-language/
Petro, A. (2024, September 4). How HIV/AIDS got its name − the words Americans used for the crisis were steeped in science, stigma and religious language. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/how-hiv-aids-got-its-name-the-words-americans-used-for-the-crisis-were-steeped-in-science-stigma-and-religious-language-233188