Allist

Someone who is not autistic.

Autism

A lifelong neurodevelopmental difference whereby the brain is built up in a way differently from most. See here for more information on characteristics of autism.

Autist

Someone who is autistic.

Autistic burnout

Autistic burnout happens when autistic people have experienced one or more of the following:

• too many crisis points in a short space of time

• acting too hard to conceal their autistic self (see masking below)

• too much street and pressure

It looks a lot like depression and can lead to suicidal thoughts even if the person does not want to commit suicide. (See burnout below)

Autistic inertia

Refers to having difficulty starting a task and/or stopping a task once it has been started.

Echolalia

Repeating a phrase taking from TV, a book, or said by someone else. (See palilalia below)

Elopement

When an autistic person leaves an area because they have a physical need to escape. A form of crisis point similar to meltdown or shutdown.

Empathy

Cognitive empathy
The ability to know how someone else is feeling or what they are thinking. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Emotional empathy
When you feeling the emotions someone else is having. For example, being sad because your friend is sad.

Compassionate empathy
Where you understand not only how the person is feeling, you are also motivated to assist if necessary.

Executive functioning

The ability to recognise a task which needs to be done, come up with the appropriate steps for carrying out the task, and then carry it out in a timely manner. Something many autistic people struggle with. (see executive functioning below)

Infinity symbol

Often depicted in gold for autism acceptance or rainbow for neurodiversity. Often seen as preferable over the puzzle piece to symbolise autism by the autistic community.

Interoception

Awareness of internal body signals like hunger, body temperature, pain etc.

Identity first language

Use of the term “autistic person/people.” Generally seen as preferable to person first language by most in the autistic community.

Masking

Hiding autistic traits to appear less autistic. More information here.

Meltdown

A neurological event releasing a burst of emotions following sensory, cognitive, and/or emotional overload. Meltdowns can appear like tantrums but are very different. More information here.

Neurodiversity

Natural variations in the make-up of the human brain, in the same way biodiversity refers to the natural variations in biological life.

Neurodiverse

All brains, autistic or not are neurodiverse as all brains have subtle differences.

Neurodivergent

Having a brain that is built significantly differently from most others, an umbrella term used to describe conditions and differences such as autism, ADHD, tourette’s, dyslexia etc.

Neurotypical

Someone not nuerodivergent i.e. they do not have any variation typically considered neurodivergent e.g. ADHD, tourette’s, autism etc. This term is often erroneously used to mean not autistic.

Palilalia

Repeating words or phrases of your own as opposed to being from another source (see echolalia above).

PDA

Pathological Demand Avoidance is a profile of autism involving an overwhelming physical need to avoid any and all demands due to excessive anxiety.

Perseveration

Where you consistently think about a certain idea to the exclusion of other thoughts or participate in an activity to the exclusion of all else. For example, autistic people often experience perseveration when something unjust has happened and their desire to correct the wrong becomes all consuming.

Person first language

The use of the term “person with autism.” This is widely used by non-autistic people, less so by autistic people.

Proprioception

Awareness of where your own body is and how it is moving.

SALT

Speech and Language Therapists offer support/treatment for communication difficulties and are often involved in the assessment process for diagnosing autism. Can provide materials to support non-verbal communication.

Samefood

Eating the same dish every day for a certain meal e.g. always having the same kind of noodles for lunch.

Sensory overload

When the amount of sensory information being absorbed is too much for the person to process.

Shutdown

A neurological event culminating in an implosive reaction following sensory, cognitive and/or emotional overload. More information here.

Special interest

Also known as a Spin, special interest is a hobby or interest about which the autistic person is very passionate. Contrary to popular belief, many autistic people have a wide range of special interests, not just one.

Stimming

Short or self-stimulatory behaviours, or auto-stim. Include hand flapping, finger flicking, rocking, staring at bright lights, repeating word, phrases or noises. An action that gives sought after sensory feedback.

Vestibular

The body’s sense of balance and stability.