BOTH ARE RIGHT
At Autism Speaks, we use both. We polled our social community about their preference and heard that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach. So while saying “a person with autism” or “an autistic person” are both generally appropriate, we always recommend respecting individual preferences and using the language that feels most comfortable to the person on the spectrum.
Expand your knowledge
The two schools of thought behind this are person-first language (“person with autism”) and identity-first language (“autistic person”). We utilize them both because a defining goal of our inclusion movement is total acceptance of autistic people, not merely awareness, and that means accepting both the person and their identity in equal measure.
Call out derogatory language
A person's diagnosis should never be mocked. Use of derogatory language or slurs, including the R-word, is unacceptable and reprehensible. Using "autistic" or “on the spectrum” as an insult is never okay. So when you hear it, call it out – every member of the autism community deserves respect and needs allies.