The words we choose

As part of the Dimensions Group one of the UK’s leading providers of support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities we’re proud to share their thoughtful guidance on using respectful, person‑centred language. Dimensions highlights why the words we choose matter, how language shapes attitudes, and why moving away from outdated or dehumanising terms helps everyone see the whole person, not a label.

Their resource also explains how language continues to evolve, how lived‑experience voices influence this change, and why terms like “behaviours of distress,” “people who communicate without words,” and “complex support needs” reflect compassion, dignity and understanding in communities across the UK.

You can find out more and watch a short video from Mark and Jordan sharing their lived experience here.