English-Language Autism Terminology Preferences of Autistic People and their Parents in the United States: Clustering Illuminates Diverse Views

Autism terminology preferences are the subject of considerable debate and various studies, the results of which sometimes conflict. This study examined diversity in terminology preferences, in part through clustering, in a United States sample of 3181 non-autistic parents and 2098 autistic people (including 451 autistic parents of autistic children). The study also examined a particularly wide range of language issues: participants rated terms for autism, subgroups within autism, autistic people, autism likelihood, and autistic characteristics. Terminology ratings differed between non-autistic parents, autistic parents, and autistic non-parents, but these differences were generally modest. Clusters revealed greater variability. Almost half of both autistic and non-autistic participants were grouped in the Open Cluster, characterised by liking or neutrality towards most terms. Others, especially among autistic participants, were grouped in the Identity-First Cluster, characterised by support for identity-first language, strong opposition to terms for autism subgroups, and rejection of many pathologising terms. Still others, including many non-autistic but also many autistic participants, were in the Person-First Cluster, characterised by support for person-first language, yet still some skepticism towards autism subgroup terms. These results suggest that there is presently no consensus regarding autism terminology preferences in the United States.