Language Choice

Impact of language choices in scientific publication on representation of autistic researchers.

The impact manifests in several key ways.

  1. Inclusivity and Accessibility. Language that is clear, direct, and jargon-free is more accessible to a wider audience. Which means a wider spectrum of autistics can engage more fully with scientific content, whether they are authors, reviewers, or readers.
  2. Bias and stigma. 
  3. Representation. Who is getting left out and who is getting included. 
  4. Authorship and collaboration. Autistics may face barriers in scientific publishing due to implicit biases in what is considered rigorous or appropriate academic language. This can discourage participation or lead to under representation in authorship and peer review processes.
  5. Ethical considerations. Engaging the autistic community ensures that scientific discourse does not inadvertently marginalize or misrepresent groups.
  6. Policy and guidelines. Journals and publishers can influence language norms through their style guides and editorial policies. By adopting guidelines that favor inclusive and respectful language, publishers can lead the shift towards more equitable representation in scientific literature.




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