Identity‑first language places the identity before the person, such as autistic person. Many autistic people prefer this because it recognises autism as an integral part of identity, not something separate or negative.
A brief history
Identity‑first language gained traction in disability and autistic advocacy in the 1990s–2000s as a response to person‑first language. Advocates argued that person‑first phrasing (person with autism) implied that autism was something undesirable to be separated from the person.
As the identity model of disability grew—emphasising disability as a cultural, political, and lived identity rather than a deficit—identity-first language became a way to affirm pride, belonging, and community. It aligns closely with movements such as the Deaf and disability rights communities, where naming identity upfront is part of claiming autonomy, resisting stigma, and recognising the value of disabled ways of being.