Language can offer recognition, clarity, and connection but at times, can feel limiting. At a surface level, labels can help people communicate who they are, yet many identities resist neat definitions and the question arises - who are these labels for; oneself or others? For queer and neurodivergent people especially, self-description is often fluid, contextual and deeply personal. 

“I personally prefer to not use the term “neurospicy.” I take great issue with “differently abled” and “special” when it comes to my neurodivergency. These terms shy away from accepting that I am disabled, and paints a skewed more sugar coated view of how disability truly affects me.”

Amy (he/they)

“Of the labels I’ve rejected, person-first language, functioning labels, and “Asperger’s” stick out to me. My issue with person-first language is that it treats the diagnosis like something that can be wholly separated from the individual. In my case, being autistic has informed most, if not all of, my decisions, experiences, and art that is out in the world. It is an inseparable and integral aspect of my identity, rather than a mere accessory.”

Person-first language leads with the person before the diagnosis e.g. “A person with autism". While identity-first language leads with someone's diagnosis, condition or disability before the person.

“Functioning labels, in my eyes, are far too static to reflect the dynamism of neurodivergent identity. They homogenise the aspects of life where one may perform strongly as belonging to someone who would not ever need or warrant additional support where they need it, and vice versa for those areas of weakness. Functioning labels create an inaccurate, one-dimensional picture of someone’s capabilities or struggles, doing their behavioural nuances very little justice.”

Functioning labels such as ‘high functioning autism’ and ‘low function autism’ suggest someone who is ‘high functioning’ has more capability. Disabilities like autism are complex and not linear, functioning labels over simplify a complex spectrum. 

“I wholeheartedly reject the label of Asperger’s, knowing full well that the name of a morally unjust scientist is being half-heartedly applied to the identity of those who disagreed with his practices, myself included.”

Asperger’s syndrome is a formerly used diagnosis for autism. It uses functioning labels to categorise people into capability levels. The namesake of Asperger’s and a pioneer of early (now) autism research, Han Asperger, was a Nazi.

Anonymous 

“I’ve definitely rejected some labels along the way, especially anything that frames me as broken, disorganised, or a problem to be managed. I’m not interested in language that makes me feel like a diagnosis first and a person second. I’m not too sure about the term “neuroqueer” for me, but I can understand that this could be a perfect term for someone else.”

Kai (he/they)

These experiences show that identity language is less about finding the perfect label and more about claiming autonomy over self-understanding. When words are used their power can lie in helping someone feel seen and understood, by themselves and others. When words aren’t used identity can be lived rather than defined, that absence can be its own kind of clarity.