🔹Did You Know?

Learning support – EDI calendar  

This year World Autism Acceptance Month (WAAM) is celebrated throughout April 2025. This week we are going to focus on ‘Terminology’, as it is evolving in the neurodiverse community.

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Introduction

Many autistic people do not feel being autistic is a disability, viewing it as a different way of being. On the other hand, other autistic people do see being autistic as a disability. Either way, legally, being autistic would fall under the definition of disability. This means that when a person is autistic, they are protected by the Equality Act (2010).

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Why words matter …

In a world where autistic people face many barriers, it is crucial we make a conscious effort to talk about autism in a positive way. Language is a powerful means for shaping how people view and think about autism. It can have a huge impact on the way we behave towards and support autistic people.

• We approach autism as a different way of being rather than as a ‘deficient’ or ‘disordered’ way of being.

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• We should avoid using ‘high/low functioning’ and instead think of how these traits can fluctuate depending on circumstances.
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• Stimming is short for ‘self-stimulating behaviours’ which are repetitive behaviours that involve repetitive body movements or vocalisation. They can vary in type and frequency, depending on the individual and their function. Stimming can occur regardless of a person’s emotional state. For example, a person may stim when they are anxious and overwhelmed, AND also when they are happy.

• Fight, flight, freeze and fawn, are stress responses that protect us from danger. Autistic students may refer to these as Meltdown, Bolting, Shutdown and Masking.

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There is more terminology to be aware of, however the main message is to use positive/strength language before we mention the challenges.