When People Use Autism as an Insult, Here's How to Combat It

June 4, 2024 Elizabeth Morey

Nathan, an autism vlogger, makes videos on his YouTube channel, Autism ACTUALLY Speaking, to tell people more about himself as a person with autism and to spread autism awareness and positivity. He has a unique way of looking at the world that more of us should probably get on board with, and the point he makes in this video is no exception.

Nathan remembers the first time he heard the word "autism" used as an insult. The interesting thing about this moment for him, however, was that he didn't see "autistic" as an inherently insulting thing to call someone. And perhaps you shouldn't either.

Photo: YouTube/Autism ACTUALLY Speaks

Don't get him wrong—the use of autism as an insult is definitely a real problem, he says. But perhaps the issue is less about bullies and other misguided individuals saying it as an insult and more about society as a whole believing it is an insult.

Photo: YouTube/Autism ACTUALLY Speaks

That's right. The real problem here is that our entire society sees autism as the "other." Part of this is natural, because disorders and disabilities are out of the norm. But there are also plenty of other things that are out of the norm, such as special talents, that we value and consider good things; therefore, they don't fit into our insulting "other" category. Maybe it's time to realize that autism shouldn't fit there either.

So what exactly is the solution to this problem? Nathan sums it up perfectly in the video below.

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Elizabeth Morey

Elizabeth Morey graduated summa cum laude from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI, where she dual majored in English Literature and Spanish with minors in Writing and Business Administration. She was a member of the school's Insignis Honors Society and the president of the literary honors society Lambda Iota Tau.

Some of Elizabeth's special interests include Spanish and English linguistics, modern grammar and spelling, and journalism. She has been writing professionally for more than five years and specializes in health topics such as breast cancer, autism, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Apart from her work at GreaterGood, she has also written art and culture articles for the Grand Rapids Magazine.

Elizabeth has lived in the beautiful Great Lakes State for most of her life but also loves to travel. She currently resides a short drive away from the dazzling shores of Lake Michigan with her beloved husband.

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