The Paradox of Labels

If you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism. If you are a teacher, therapist, or parent and you haven’t heard this quote, you’ve probably been living under a rock.

This movement toward refuting labeling oneself or their peers is not limited to autism, nor is it limited to those with special needs. It is seemingly a right of passage in growing up, and something most of us experience as we seek to find our identity in our families, communities, and workplaces.

But labels have a very real function, particularly in the medical field. Humans are programmed to recognize patterns and respond accordingly. In the medical field, these commonalities can be important in efficiently and effectively improving health, education, and other outcomes.