Autistic Person or Person With Autism? What you need to know

A practical, evidence-informed guide to language choices

Should you say Autistic person or person with autism? Should you always mirror the language a client uses? This workshop helps you navigate situations where professional training, workplace requirements and Autistic community preferences do not neatly align.

Drawing on Autistic perspectives, Australian research and contemporary professional guidance, the workshop examines the shift from pathology centred terminology towards person first, identity first and neurodiversity affirming approaches.

This is not about replacing one rigid rule with another, or criticising practitioners for using the language they were taught. You will examine how training, workplaces and diagnostic systems shape language while developing a more thoughtful and flexible approach to practice.

We will explore:

• Why person first language became established as respectful professional practice, and what Australian and international research tells us about Autistic community preferences, helping you connect with and honour community perspectives.
• When identity first, person first and formal diagnostic terminology may be appropriate in therapeutic conversations, documentation and service materials
• How to respect individual preferences without relying on mechanical mirroring, especially when clients, families, colleagues, or organisations use different terminology, helps you navigate real-world complexities and fosters respectful interactions.

This workshop may be particularly useful if you:

• Are a student, graduate, therapist, allied health professional or other professional working with Autistic people
• Feel uncertain about how to refer to Autistic people
• Were taught that person first language is always the most respectful option
• Are updating organisational, clinical or educational materials
• Want practical guidance without another list of rules to memorise

You will leave with a practical framework for making language choices across therapeutic conversations, documentation and service materials. You will be better equipped to respect individual preferences, navigate competing expectations and understand the meaning carried by different terms.

You will also receive additional resources to support you to put the learning into practice.

About the presenter

Jacqueline Gibb is a neurodivergent counsellor, educator, and supervisor with a Master’s in Counselling and a Graduate Certificate in Trauma Counselling. She is an ACA Level 4 registered therapist and founder of NeuroDiversity Affirming Training & Supervision (NDATS). Jacqueline delivers training and clinical supervision for allied health professionals, focusing on neurodiversity affirming practice with Autistic and ADHD adults. Her work integrates lived experience, trauma-informed approaches, and current research to help practitioners move beyond deficit based models toward ethical, culturally competent care. 

Read more about me here

 

 

 

Workshop requirements

Please note that you'll need access to the following to participate in this workshop:  

• Desktop or laptop computer  

• Reliable internet connection  

Cancellation policy

Workshop 

• Cancellation with more than 48hrs days notice - refund of 80%
• Cancellation with less than 48hrs notice - no refund available 

Resources

• If resources have not yet been dispatched a 100% refund is available  

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