In May of 2024, two months after my autism diagnosis, I wrote a linguistic analysis of popular or found words or phrases that describe or relate to autistic culture. This initial analysis helped to ground me in the public discourses around autism and to understand the importance of language in relation to issues of autistic representation.
While I found some positive artifacts, the majority of words used about or in relation to autisticness were negative, often demeaning bits of slang used to distort and misinform about autistic positionality.
Knowing these words and how they were being used and why was, and still is essential to my understandings of autism, and my understanding of the need for autistic advocacy.
Note that this analysis is due for an update and some terms of descriptions may be out of date. Additionally, some important words may be missing from this list.
Read my analysis of Autistic Language Artifacts below:
The Art of Autistic Joy 