Page 8 - Autism Awareness Session
P. 8
Language
Historically, autism was viewed as a disorder by the medical model which has negative
connotations.
People that are described as Autistic are also described as being part of a
neurominority group.
The word neurominority has evolved from the word neurodiversity.
Within it, there are several neurotypes, including Autism, also known as Autistic
Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Autistic people generally do not like the word spectrum, as it minimises disability and
implies everyone has it.
Singer’s comments (1999) stating that neurodiversity
should be synonymous with disability
