Commentary: Considering nomenclature for autism – aligning with the language preferences of the autistic community – a commentary on Kehinde et al. (2021)
This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.
About the autistic author markerChapple, M. & Worsley, J. D. (2021). Commentary: Considering nomenclature for autism – aligning with the language preferences of the autistic community – a commentary on Kehinde et al. (2021). Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 26(3), 284-285. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12490
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Authors
Abstract
Since the implementation of ‘autism’ as a diagnosable condition in the 1980s, the medical model has continued to dominate how we understand autism. More recently, there has been a rise in understanding autism through the neurodiversity model and the lived experiences of autistic people themselves. However, there is often misalignment between the medical model and the preferences of the autistic community. In particular, there are misalignments around the language we use in society to discuss autism and autistic people. Language misalignments are particularly important, with language playing an important role in conveying understandings of a group within society. This article highlights these nomenclature misalignments, focussing on (1) Asperger syndrome, (2) functioning labels, (3) severity assumptions, (4) the language of disorder and (5) identity‐first compared to person‐first language. The article discusses the difficulties that might present in healthcare settings as a result of these misalignments.
Bibliography cited by this reference
Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.
Cited bibliography overview
These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 01:40.
- With a DOI
- 5
- Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
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- References with detected author names
- 7 / 7 (100.0%)
- Without detected author names
- 0
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- Without a stable identifier
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- References with raw author names still to review
- 0
- References with external metadata lookup issues
- 0
- From DOI or external metadata
- 19
- From validated raw bibliography text
- 0
- Raw names already validated
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- Raw names still to review
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Peter Kinderman , John Read , Joanna Moncrieff , Richard P Bentall (2013). Drop the language of disorder . Evidence Based Mental Health, 16(1), 2-3. BMJ.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
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González Moreno, Andrés Santiago (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
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Lorcan Kenny , Caroline Hattersley , Bonnie Molins , Carole Buckley , Carol Povey , Elizabeth Pellicano (2016). Which terms should be used to describe autism? Perspectives from the UK autism community . Autism, 20(4), 442-462. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
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Kristen Bottema-Beutel , Steven K. Kapp *Autistic author. Learn more… , Jessica Nina Lester , Noah Sasson , Brittany N. Hand (2021). Avoiding ableist language: suggestions for autism researchers . Autism Adulthood, 3(1), 18. SAGE Publications.
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Steven K. Kapp *Autistic author. Learn more… (2020). Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement . Springer Singapore.
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Milton D. (2020). The neurodiversity reader . The neurodiversity reader, 3.Type: OtherCrossref
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Sher R.D.A. (2020). The aftermath of the Hans Asperger expose . The Psychologist, 33, 76.Type: OtherCrossref