As a neurotypical mother, my introduction to autism and its language at the time of my son’s diagnosis was from the vantage point of the medical model, which usually makes use of person-first language, i.e., “person with autism” (Kenny et al., 2016).

Whereas many parents of young persons on the spectrum find the diagnosis process reassuring as it validates their concerns about their child’s behavior and offers a roadmap for how to support them, others find the process of integrating the concept of the autism spectrum into their narrative about their child’s identity to be confronting.

Carers may go through a process of redefining their expectations, even grieving their former expectations around parenting a mainstream child.

Read more at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/nurturing-self-esteem-in-autistic-children/202207/autistic-person-or-person-autism