Dictionary

antiautistic en · ADJ

Etymology

From anti- + autistic.

Meanings

1. Exhibiting, characteristic of, or relating to antipathy toward and/or discrimination against autistic people.
   • I'm also genuinely dismayed that the connection between anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and anti-autistic prejudice is still an issue and that people are still suffering needlessly as a result of it. 2020, Sarah Kurchak, I Overcame My Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder, unnumbered page:
   • If I'd been diagnosed ten years ago, I'd definitely have been frightened to tell anyone, because I've internalized as much antiautistic stigma as the next person. 2018, Mike Jung, “I Hate To Interrupt This Conversation About Mental Illness, But Guess What–I'm Autistic”, in Kelly Jensen, editor, (Don't) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health, page 33:
   • This book mentions childhood neglect and anti-autistic ableism. 2021, Talia Hibbert, Act Your Age, Eve Brown, unnumbered page:
2. (of a drug) Tending to reduce lethargy or withdrawn emotional states.
   • […] whereas for withdrawn, chronic schizophrenics who cut themselves off from the outside world he will tend to select a preparation having an anti-autistic effect. 1983, Rene Spiegel, Pyschopharmacology: An Introduction, page 5:
   • Those preparations prescribed in particularly small doses act not only anti-psychotic but also antiautistic. 1992, B. Luban-Plozza, W. Pöldinger, F. Kröger, Psychosomatic Disorders in General Practice, page 212:
   • At higher doses, it is antiautistic, disinhibiting and resocializing, all effects useful in treating chronic psychoses. 1989, Harry Schwartz, Breakthrough: The Discovery of Modern Medicines at Janssen, page 78:
3. (dated) Countering autism or autistic behaviour.
   • In one case, for instance, we felt that we could detect three antiautistic features in the mother. 1961 November, Mary A. Sarvis, Blanche Garcia, “Etiological Variables in Autism”, in Psychiatry, volume 24, number 4, page 309:
4. (dated, figuratively) Aware of, interested in, or engaging with other people or the world.
   • Talking is anti-autistic and anti-self-digestive, and is an exercise that establishes mutuality, intimacy—feelings of mutual support—bonding, regardless of what is said. 1990, Theodore Isaac Rubin, Anti-Semitism: A Disease of the Mind, page 75:
   • But in this sensitised state, a sort of antiautistic state, the world, especially the interpersonal world, could feel dangerously sharp, explosive, toxic, choking. 2012, Andrew Relph, Not Drowning, Reading, unnumbered page:
   • The anti-hermetic and anti-autistic aspects of the DJ culture removes the self-tormenting aspects of their journeys within. 1998, Ulf Poschardt, DJ-Culture, page 299:

Forms