Autism is a part of us. It is a disability that we will have our whole lives, not an illness that might go away. And it is not a bad thing — we are proud to be autistic! We think saying “person with autism” can reinforce stigma or send the message that autism is a scary thing. By saying “autistic person” or “autistic community,” we are emphasizing that autism is an important part of who we are. This essay by Lydia Brown has great information on why the autistic community prefers identity-first language.