What’s in a Word?
Label is a word we use to describe the paper stuck to a bottle, jar, can or any package that enables us to identify what’s within. As I found out to my cost when my daughter was small, remove the labels and you have no idea what a can contains! Remove all the labels from all the cans then opening them becomes an exercise in potluck. If a label tells you about what’s inside a container, it allows you to make a judgement about whether you want to buy it or use it.
Labels for People
What about labels for people? It is an inevitable fact of life that we not only label things we also label people. In fact, we don’t just label other people; we also label ourselves – smart, confident, shy, superstar, obese, thin, good looking, aggressive, the list is endless whether about others or ourselves. We are all labelled at birth when given a name. We denounce, stigmatise, or pronounce judgement on others using labels. We celebrate praise, commemorate and honour using labels. In fact, it is impossible to be human without resorting to labels of some form or other to describe, distinguish, denominate, designate or identify. Labels aid the understanding of differences in need, culture and personalities. Labels like everything in life can be used for good or bad. They can help us to understand and empathise or they can be used to create hate, misunderstanding and set stereotypes. Good or bad, labelling has a significant influence on identity and society.
“I don’t want to have my child assessed for autism, as I don’t want them labelled”
The depressing thing is assessment or not, your child will be labelled. Maybe not as autistic but most definitely as either naughty, disruptive, rude, challenging or depending upon where they are on the spectrum, slow – and don’t get me started on the labels parents of these children are likely to be given. So labelled they are, not, however, with the right label. I’m not saying that labelling can’t be problematic but understanding what makes your child behave in a certain way, can be liberating and the start of a journey to understanding how to ensure their needs are best served.
Being diagnosed with autism doesn’t suddenly make your child autistic. The immutable fact is that they are autistic and have always been, with or without the diagnosis. The diagnosis makes it easier to first understand the reason for, and then deal with their many quirks and characteristics. There is also strong evidence to suggest that knowing they are autistic enables the child (and ultimately the adult) to understand them. People who are not diagnosed until later in life often say they felt a huge sense of relief because they finally understood why they don’t fit in, why the world around them feels confusing or alien.
The Positives of Labelling
Knowing a child is autistic will help a parent, amongst other things, ensure the educational needs of the child(ren) are met more appropriately and get the additional support in the classroom that is often needed. As the child grows into adolescence and adulthood, knowing they are autistic will enable them to better understand themselves and become comfortable with who they are and proud of what they have to offer a neurotypical world.
Therefore, despite the negative connotations, labels are not always a bad thing – they are only bad if we make them so. As we have identified above, there are many positive effects of labelling. Labels can give people a sense of identity, a sense of belonging, a sense of power. If we as a society understand what the label means for a person, we can help them deal with the challenges they face. We can ensure integration into society as a whole and celebrate the advantages that their difference brings.
The Negatives of Labelling
We cannot forget the negative. We know that labels can shape expectations and create stereotypes. Just because a person has autism doesn’t mean they won’t be able to hold down a job. Just because a person has autism doesn’t mean they won’t be able to have meaningful relationships. Just because someone has autism does not mean they cannot lead a long, fulfilled life. It is our expectations based upon the label that is often the limiting force – the mitigating factor, is to understand autism better. Allowing the label to be a force for good.
The Label might Define the Person but the Label is Not the Person
Remember, labels might help to define a need in your child but they are not the sum total of your child. Your child is more than a diagnosis, they are a person with a set of exceptional, incredible and astonishing characteristics and qualities – knowing they have autism, will help you face the challenges and provide the care and support that will allow them to grow into all they can be.
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