Assistant Professor Nah Yong Hwee published a journal article in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Assistant Professor Nah Yong Hwee from the Psychology and Child & Human Development Academic Department (PCHD AD), co-published a journal article titled, “Preferences for Identity-First Versus Person-First Language in a Sample of University Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Singapore”, in the Journal of Autism and Development Disorders. This study aimed to explore the preferred terminology (identity-first or person-first) among university students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Singapore, specifically those with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. They also examined demographic factors (type of SEN, gender, and years since diagnosis) associated with language preference.

Majority (about 69%) of students with SEN overall preferred using Person-first language (e.g., “person with ASD/ADHD/SLD”) and also across all three groups of SEN. Only type of SEN factor influenced the preference for identity language where students diagnosed with ADHD (89.4%) and ASD (50%) were more likely to use Person-first language. The participants’ gender and the number of years diagnosis were not associated with their identity language preference.