AAC - Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Methods and tools used to support or replace spoken language. This includes devices, apps, picture boards, or gestures that help autistic people communicate when speech is difficult or unavailable. AAC enables expression, interaction, and connection.
Ableism
discrimination, prejudice, or unfair treatment directed at people with disabilities. It’s based on the often unspoken belief that people with disabilities are less valuable, capable, or worthy than non-disabled people. Even "fair" treatment that amounts to expecting the same behaviour from an autistic person as a non-autistic person, is not fair at all and is Ableism.
ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder,
an outdated diagnosis that was commonly diagnosed alongside Autism. ADD is no longer diagnosed and is now referred to as Inattentive ADHD.
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
Commonly diagnosed alongside Autism. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s ability to regulate attention, impulses, and activity levels. It's a difference in how the brain processes information and responds to stimulation. ADHD comes in Three Types: Inattentive, Hyperactive, and Combined.
Alexithymia
A condition where a person struggles to identify, describe, or understand their own emotions. It’s common among autistic people and often feels like knowing something hurts or burns inside but not having the right words or signals to explain it. It doesn’t mean a lack of emotion; the feelings are there, but the bridge between emotion and language is broken or fogged over. This can make relationships confusing, both for the person feeling it and for others who mistake silence for indifference.
Allistic/Allism
Allistic describes someone who is not on the autism spectrum, as opposed to autistic, which refers to people who are. It is a replacement word for 'Normal', because calling non-autistic people normal is Ableist.
ASD
Autistic Spectrum Disorder. An umbrella diagnosis introduced in the DSM V that replaced Classic Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and PDD-NOS. The term is unpopular with Autistic people as many of us feel the word 'Disorder' is wrong and should be replaced by something like 'Difference'.
Asperger’s Syndrome
An outdated diagnosis previously considered separate to autism. Asperger's is no longer diagnosed or recognised in the DSM. Asperger’s Syndrome is now considered part of ASD. Named after Hans Asperger by English psychiatrist Lorna Wing in 1976. Many people diagnosed with Asperger's consider it part of their identity and still (validly) identify as having Asperger's or being 'Aspies'
Aspie
an informal word for someone diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.
Asynchronous Communication
A communication style common among autistic people, where understanding, processing, or responding to information happens on a different timeline than neurotypical expectations.
It reflects how autistic individuals may need more time to interpret language, emotions, or social cues, leading to delays in response that aren’t about disinterest but about processing depth and sensory or cognitive load.
The term also describes how autistic people often prefer text-based or delayed communication methods (like messaging or email) over real-time conversation, because they allow for clarity, reflection, and reduced social pressure.
Burnout
A state of intense physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion that builds up from long-term masking, sensory overload, and constant effort to function in a world not built for autistic people. It’s not the same as ordinary fatigue or depression, though it can look like both.
Everything: thinking, speaking, moving, existing starts to feel like wading through cement. It happens when someone has been running on survival mode for too long, performing normalcy until the body and mind finally crash. Recovery can take weeks, months, sometimes years, because recovery is not just about rest alone, it’s about unlearning the self-erasure that caused it.
Classic Autism
An older, informal term that referred to what used to be diagnosed as Autistic Disorder under the DSM-IV (before 2013). It described people with significant challenges in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviours, often alongside language delays or intellectual disability.
Code Switching
Changing speech, behavior, or mannerisms to match different social environments. For autistic people, this often means hiding stims, forcing eye contact, copying tone or slang, or speaking in ways that feel unnatural in order to blend in. It is a survival habit learned from constant social pressure. Over time it drains energy and can make a person feel disconnected from who they actually are.
DSM V
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5th edition. The official manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. It was published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 2013, replacing the previous version, DSM-IV-TR.
Echolalia
The repetition of words, phrases, or sounds spoken by others. In autistic people, it can happen right after hearing something or long after. It helps with processing language, regulating emotion, or finding a way to speak when creating new words feels impossible. Echolalia is a form of communication and understanding, not empty repetition.
High Functioning / Low Functioning
Labels used to describe how visibly autistic a person appears to others. “High functioning” usually means someone who can mask well or meet certain social expectations, while “low functioning” is used when someone’s support needs are more visible. These terms are misleading and harmful because they measure worth by how comfortable a person makes others feel, not by their actual experience or needs.
Hyperfixation
An intense and consuming interest in a specific topic, activity, or object. During a hyperfixation, focus narrows completely, sometimes at the expense of basic needs like eating or sleeping. It can be a source of joy, calm, and identity, but also exhaustion when the outside world keeps demanding attention elsewhere.
Hyperfocus
A state of deep concentration where time and awareness fade away. For autistic people, it can happen naturally when doing something interesting or important. The focus becomes so complete that everything else disappears until the task is done or interrupted.
Infinity Symbol
A symbol representing the diversity and endless variation within the autism spectrum. Often shown in rainbow or gold, it replaces the puzzle piece as a sign of acceptance, emphasizing wholeness and continuity instead of brokenness or mystery.
Info Dumping
The act of passionately sharing detailed information about a topic of interest, often all at once. For autistic people, it’s a way of connecting, showing enthusiasm, and sharing knowledge. It can be mistaken for oversharing, but it’s an expression of trust and genuine excitement.
Jigsaw Pieces
A symbol historically used to represent autism, based on the idea that autistic people are “puzzling” or “incomplete.” Many autistic people reject it because it implies brokenness or something to be solved. It is often replaced by the infinity symbol, which conveys acceptance and unity instead of deficiency.
Level 1 / 2 / 3
Categories used in diagnostic criteria to indicate the level of support an autistic person needs. Level 1 means support is needed but less visible, Level 2 indicates moderate support, and Level 3 means substantial support is required. These levels describe support needs, not intelligence or value.
Masking
The act of hiding autistic traits to fit social expectations. It can include forcing eye contact, mimicking social behavior, or suppressing stims. Masking is exhausting and can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a sense of losing oneself.
Monotropism
A way of thinking where attention focuses intensely on one interest or task at a time. It explains traits like hyperfixation, difficulty switching attention, and deep engagement in a single topic.
Neurodivergent
Describes a brain that functions differently from what is considered typical, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological variations. It emphasizes difference rather than deficit.
Neurotypical
Describes a brain that develops and processes in ways considered standard or typical in society. Neurotypical people often expect social and cognitive norms that neurodivergent people may not naturally follow.
NT (Abbreviation of Neurotypical)
Short form of neurotypical, used to refer to people whose brains and behaviors align with societal norms.
Parallel Play
A form of social interaction where two people engage in separate activities side by side. Common in autistic children and adults, it allows connection without the pressure of direct interaction.
PDA (Pathological/Pathological Demand Avoidance / Persistent Demand Avoidance)
A profile within the autism spectrum characterized by extreme avoidance of demands, expectations, or perceived pressure. It often manifests as anxiety-driven resistance, control-seeking, or sudden refusal to comply.
Proprioception
The body’s sense of position, movement, and balance. Differences in proprioception can make it hard to judge force, distance, or coordination, leading to clumsiness, repetitive movements, or difficulty with physical tasks.
Self-Advocacy
The act of understanding and communicating one’s own needs, rights, and boundaries. For autistic people, it means asserting support requirements, expressing preferences, and demanding respect in environments that may not be accommodating.
Shutdown
A state of temporary withdrawal or unresponsiveness caused by overwhelming stress, sensory input, or emotional overload. During a shutdown, speaking, moving, or thinking may become extremely difficult or impossible.
Special Interest
A deep, passionate focus on a particular topic or activity. Special interests provide joy, comfort, and identity, and can guide learning or creative expression.
Spoon Theory
A metaphor for limited energy and capacity in daily life, often used to explain the cumulative toll of tasks, sensory input, and social demands. Each “spoon” represents a unit of energy, and running out of spoons means exhaustion or inability to function.
Stimming
Repetitive movements, sounds, or behaviors that regulate sensory input, emotion, or stress. Common stims include hand-flapping, rocking, humming, or fidgeting. Stimming provides comfort and self-regulation.
Superpowers
Abilities or strengths that are heightened or unique in autistic people, often emerging from intense focus, attention to detail, pattern recognition, or deep empathy in specific contexts. Superpowers are personal strengths rather than literal abilities. The term is considered problematic by many autistic people as it places unreasonable pressure on them to be savants.
Retard
An ableist slur word that legally constitutes Hate Speech if it's part of a public act that incites hatred. It's a Hate Crime if it's part of assault or harassment and is motivated by prejudice against disability. You can report, press charges and give someone a criminal record, fines, get them fired, banned from places, and possibly prison time if they call you this.
Unmasking
The process of gradually or fully stopping the suppression of autistic traits and behaviors that were previously hidden to fit social expectations. It can feel freeing and authentic but may also expose someone to misunderstanding or judgment. Unmasking often follows burnout or conscious self-acceptance.