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Words have the power to change attitudes toward autistic people (Keating et al., 2022).We, as autistic doctors, disagree with the antineurodiversity stance of Singer et al. (2022). Yet on this we agree: research concerning nomenclature preferred by autistic people has a problem of partial representation (Singer et al., 2022). We contend it is not researcher perspectives that are underrepresented, but those of autistic people with high support needs, nonspeaking autistic people, and autistic people of the global majority. Science should address these gaps. However, researchers lacking expertise in ethical approaches may be concerned about causing harm (Singer et al., 2022). Non-autistic researchers with deficit-based views create harmful power imbalances between researchers and the autistic community (den Houting, 2021). We recommend neurodiversity affirmative, community-based participatory research approaches. These recognize the differing needs of marginalized and intersectional groups and view the autistic community as a unit of identity (den Houting, 2021). Neurodiversity affirmative research encompasses a paradigm shift toward disability rights and the social model of disability (Keating et al., 2022). This human rights aligned approach includes all autistic people, including those with high support needs and complex communication needs, while advancing science (den Houting, 2021).As autistic clinicians, researchers and importantly, parents to autistic children with a whole range of support needs, we see autism with a broad perspective. We appreciate the commonalities we all share, regardless of overt presentation. We believe a neurodiversity affirmative approach to autism can have a profound effect on outcome for autistic people, no matter what the challenges or support needs. Good science does not require derogatory language or dehumanization of autistic people.Neurodiversity means human rights applied to differing neurology. If autistic people with all kinds of support needs are offered autonomy, choice and opportunity, (National Autistic Taskforce, 2019) autistic flourishing will follow.

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