Giving Voice to Non-Speakers: Language, Respect and the Power of Naming

• By: Annie Kent, MA Psychology #ActuallyAutistic Mental Health/ Autism Advocate, Freelance Writer, and Educator
• July 9th, 2026
• autism advocacy, Autism terminology, communication differences, disability rights, inclusive education, neurodiversity, non-speaking Autism, person-first language, Summer 2026 Issue
• 65    0

For the longest time, I used the term non-speaking synonymously with non-verbal, having been taught ‘non-verbal’ in graduate school. Since that time, new terms and definitions have emerged with the advent of a variety of disability rights movements. Person-First Language Person-first...

Identity Language: In Service of a More Inclusive Workplace

• By: Jillian Noyes Planning Across The Spectrum
• June 25th, 2021
• actually autistic, diversity, history, identity, identity language, inclusion, inclusion training, inclusive workplace, language, neurodiversity, person-first language, stigma, Summer 2021 Issue
• 4797    0

As diversity and inclusion initiatives grow in popularity, it is important to consider how they contribute to shaping workplace attitudes. Programs that do not take current developments happening in the communities being serviced into account will come across as outdated at best, and harmful at...

Call Me Autistic: A Soft Correction for Those Still Using Person-First Language

• By: Becca Lory Hector, CAS, BCCS Autism and Neurodiversity Researcher/Consultant/Speaker/Author/Advocate Evolving Skye, LLC
• January 1st, 2021
• actually autistic, identity-first language, labels, language, person-first language, respect, winter 2021 issue
• 12724    1

I want to tell you about the woman I am named after, my Great Aunt Betty. I never met Betty, but I got to hear about her whenever I asked where my name came from. Betty was apparently a sassy lady who, like me, despised her full name and went by her nickname, Betty. The “big” family secret...