This report uses the terms “autism” and “autism spectrum disorder” (or ASD) interchangeably.
Autism is a broad term widely used in academic literature and by policymakers. It can refer to the medically diagnosed condition known as autism spectrum disorder and earlier diagnostic categories, such as pervasive developmental disorder, autistic disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, etc. It can also refer to individuals who self-identify as having autism without an official diagnosis.
Autism spectrum disorder or ASD generally refers to a medically recognised condition as defined in diagnostic manuals, such as ICD‑11 and DSM‑5. It may also encompass diagnoses made under previous versions of these manuals, as well as individuals describing themselves as having the disorder.
Throughout this report, references to autism or ASD primarily concern people with a formal diagnosis and/or those receiving disability benefits related to autism. In some instances, the terms may also include individuals who report having autism in national surveys, even if they may not have an official diagnosis.
Furthermore, the report adopts person-first language, which emphasises the individual rather than defining them by a diagnosis or impairment. In contrast to identity-first language, which foregrounds the condition, person-first language places the person at the centre. Accordingly, this report uses formulations such as “a child with autism” rather than “an autistic child”.
Autism is characterised by a wide spectrum of presentations, encompassing diverse strengths, challenges and needs. For the purposes of policy analysis and cross-country comparison, this report distinguishes between different levels of support needs – mild, moderate and severe. This terminology is used as an analytical framework and does not seek to capture the full heterogeneity of experiences of children with autism or those of their families. Rather, it facilitates a structured examination of policy design and implementation across countries. Where national policies explicitly use the term “functioning”, the report adopts the same terminology in the relevant country context to ensure consistency. Such references to functioning should be understood in line with the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), that is, as a measure of an individual’s performance in interaction with their environment.
The language this report uses is without prejudice to the self-identification of persons in the autism community.