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Hi, my name is Nick Chown and this is a presentation on autism theory.
I will tell you a little bit about myself in a moment.
This presentation is based on lectures given to the National Autistic Society sponsored
Sheffield Hallam University postgraduate certificate in autism and Asperger's syndrome.
It's a combination of generally available information and received
opinion about autism theory together with some of my own views.
I will make it very clear to you where something is my own opinion.
Before I tell you what I'm going to be speaking about,
I need to say something regarding my use of terminology.
Some people hold very strong views on certain aspects of autism terminology
so, I need to assure you that it is not my intention to upset anyone with my use of terms.
I generally use identity first language, such as autistic person rather than person-first
language, such as person with autism because the majority of
autistic people who express a view prefer the identity-first version.
This is because the person-first version implies that there is a real person hidden
under the autism and thereby, devalues them as not being a real person.
Now, the second terminology point I need to mention is my use of autism as a generic term
covering all the different diagnoses and there are
so many on the autism spectrum disorder,
Asperger's syndrome and so on.
I refer to non-autistic people as either neurotypical or typically developing.
I should also add that much of this talk,
if not all of it, will be an oversimplification of the subject matter.
Autism theory is complex;
I didn't think you would want to listen to me for a whole week.
