THE NEED FOR A LABEL
'See the person, not the label.'
OK, but …
without the label, you wouldn't see what is distinctive about the autistic person at all, you'd just be inclined to see a person expressing difficulties as lazy, obstinate, bloody-minded, awkward, difficult, cantankerous etc etc. The charges aimed in our direction since ever.
Because our problems are all our own fault, right?
Wrong.
If you want to see the autistic person, then start with label and keep going.
The idea that a label is necessarily a bad thing is premised on the assumption that autism is a bad thing, associated with any number of negative stereotypes. The phrase that 'there's no need to be ashamed' comes with the implication that there is something to be ashamed about. The same with the reassurance that 'we are all a little bit' whatever. Actually, no. And that approach comes with the serious risk of silencing the voices of people who are so little heard as it is.
This is an important issue. I write more deeply on it on my website.
Seeing the Person:
Things not to say to autistic, ADHD, and others with a diagnosis of a neurological ‘disorder’ or to their parents.
https://site-5960281-5807-1785.mystrikingly.com/blog/seeing-the-person
