❌ Myth: Person-first language (“she has autism”) is most respectful.

✅ Reality: The way to respect someone is to ask them how they want to be referred to. Many neurodivergent people prefer identity-first language (“she’s Autistic”).

Why does this matter?

💬 Language is not one-size-fits-all. When leaders assume there’s a single “correct” way to speak about neurodivergence, they risk erasing individual preference. Respect means listening, adapting, and honoring the words people and communities choose for themselves.