Autistic Perspectives

Why listen to autistic voices?

Most information about autism is written by clinicians and researchers. Autistic people describe the same experiences from the inside, and their accounts can change how a family understands a child’s behavior. This page summarizes positions stated by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), an organization run by and for autistic people, together with the World Health Organization’s statements on rights. The views below are theirs, attributed; Autism Family presents them so families can hear them directly.

“Autism is a normal part of life”

ASAN describes autism as a developmental disability that affects how autistic people experience the world — and calls it a normal part of life that makes autistic people who they are. ASAN states that autistic people are born autistic and will be autistic their whole lives, and that a person can be autistic without a formal diagnosis. It also points out that autism occurs across all races, genders, ages, religions, incomes and identities, and that myths about who “looks autistic” make diagnosis harder for adults, girls and people of color.

How ASAN describes the autistic experience

ASAN lists common experiences while noting that not every autistic person relates to all of them:

• Thinking — strong interests, attention to detail and problem-solving strengths; routines are often important, and unexpected changes can be hard.
• Senses — heightened sensitivity to light and sound; difficulty with some sensory input or with noticing pain or hunger. Stimming, such as rocking or humming, helps with sensory regulation.
• Movement — challenges with fine motor skills, coordination, starting or stopping movement, and speech.
• Communication — many methods, including echolalia, scripting, AAC and communication through behavior. ASAN’s position: not every autistic person can talk, but everyone has important things to say.
• Socializing — possible differences in understanding social norms, eye contact and body language, and in reading other people’s feelings. ASAN asks others to state their feelings directly.
• Daily living — some autistic people need help with tasks like cooking, work or going out, and need breaks to recover energy.

ASAN emphasizes that needs vary widely: some autistic people need substantial daily help, others need little, and some need help only at certain times. Some autistic people have intellectual disabilities and some do not.

Identity and language

In an essay published by ASAN, Lydia Brown explains why many self-advocates prefer “autistic person” over “person with autism”: autism is understood as an inherent, all-pervasive part of identity that shapes how a person experiences the world, and cannot be separated from the person. The essay argues that “person with autism” can quietly suggest the person would be better off without autism, while “autistic person” affirms the person’s worth and potential as they are. It also recognizes that many parents prefer person-first language and calls for respectful debate rather than insults. More on terms and language.

A world built for non-autistic people

ASAN describes society as built for non-autistic people, which can make daily life more demanding for autistic people, and states that autistic people deserve understanding and acceptance. The Organization for Autism Research likewise says many societal barriers prevent autistic people from fulfilling their potential, naming employment as one of the biggest. WHO affirms that autistic people have the same right to the highest attainable standard of health as everyone else, and reports that they often face stigma and discrimination, including unjust denial of health care, education and opportunities to take part in their communities.

“Nothing About Us Without Us”

ASAN closes its description of autism with the disability-rights slogan “Nothing About Us, Without Us!” — the principle that decisions about autistic people should include autistic people. For families, that can start small: involving your child in decisions about their own supports, listening to adult autistic voices, and asking autistic people how they would like to be described. Supporting inclusion.