Re: Victoria mom hopes to open safe place for autistic kids (News, Aug. 6)
I work with an agency that supports individuals with developmental disabilities.
While the content of the article is fine, the caption under the photo needs work. “Cheryl Lingard hopes to open a place for autistic like her son, Justin, to socialize and learn life skills”.
People who advocate for individuals with disabilities have worked hard to educate the public about using labels for people. Justin is a person, not an autistic.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could use the term “children who have autism” or “individuals living with autism.”
This principle can be applied to everyone. For example: a person who lives with a disability, rather than a disabled person.
If we remember that everyone is a person first, that will help guide the language.
Jennifer Andreen, Victoria