Dutch-speaking adults with autism prefer person-first language, study finds.
Adults with autism in Dutch-speaking countries prefer to be referred to using person-first language, such as "person with autism," rather than identity-first language like "autistic person." A study asked 414 Dutch-speaking adults with autism in Belgium and the Netherlands about their language preference. The majority (54%) preferred person-first language, while 27% had no preference, 14% preferred identity-first language, and 5% suggested another term. More education was linked to preferring identity-first language, while being older was associated with having no preference. This contrasts with findings from English-speaking countries but aligns with a recent study in the Netherlands.