The Role of Language in Shaping Cultural Perceptions Within Healthcare and Supporting Neurodivergent People's Well-being and Access to Care: Focus on Autistic Experiences

Ben Potts; Connor Parish; Nmesoma Francisca Ukaji; Georgia  Pavlopoulou; Themis  Karaminis; Matthew Lane; James McStravick; Madeline O'Brien; Jane Harvey-Lloyd; Sophie Shepherd; Jane Green; Anne Collis; Nikolaos Stogiannos; Emily Skelton; Christina Malamateniou

doi:10.1002/jmrs.70096

The Role of Language in Shaping Cultural Perceptions Within Healthcare and Supporting Neurodivergent People's Well-being and Access to Care: Focus on Autistic Experiences

Ben Potts, Connor Parish, Nmesoma Francisca Ukaji, Georgia Pavlopoulou, Themis Karaminis, Matthew Lane, James McStravick, Madeline O'Brien, Jane Harvey-Lloyd, Sophie Shepherd, Jane Green, Anne Collis, Nikolaos Stogiannos, Emily Skelton, Christina Malamateniou

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

Abstract

Chronic stigmatisation and social exclusion of neurodivergent people have resulted in poorer quality of life and adverse health outcomes. Language has been weaponised and has furthered their suffering and isolation. With this paper, we propose some considerations of optimal communication interactions in healthcare with neurodivergent people, in general, and autistic people, in particular, to ensure respectful and human-centred patient and practitioner interactions across both clinical and academic practice.

Original language	English
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences
Early online date	19 May 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.70096
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 19 May 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

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10.1002/jmrs.70096Licence: CC BY

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Potts, B., Parish, C., Ukaji, N. F., Pavlopoulou, G., Karaminis, T., Lane, M., McStravick, J., O'Brien, M., Harvey-Lloyd, J., Shepherd, S., Green, J., Collis, A., Stogiannos, N., Skelton, E., & Malamateniou, C. (2026). The Role of Language in Shaping Cultural Perceptions Within Healthcare and Supporting Neurodivergent People's Well-being and Access to Care: Focus on Autistic Experiences. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.70096

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abstract = "Chronic stigmatisation and social exclusion of neurodivergent people have resulted in poorer quality of life and adverse health outcomes. Language has been weaponised and has furthered their suffering and isolation. With this paper, we propose some considerations of optimal communication interactions in healthcare with neurodivergent people, in general, and autistic people, in particular, to ensure respectful and human-centred patient and practitioner interactions across both clinical and academic practice.",

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Potts, B, Parish, C, Ukaji, NF, Pavlopoulou, G, Karaminis, T, Lane, M, McStravick, J, O'Brien, M, Harvey-Lloyd, J, Shepherd, S, Green, J, Collis, A, Stogiannos, N, Skelton, E & Malamateniou, C 2026, 'The Role of Language in Shaping Cultural Perceptions Within Healthcare and Supporting Neurodivergent People's Well-being and Access to Care: Focus on Autistic Experiences', Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.70096

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Role of Language in Shaping Cultural Perceptions Within Healthcare and Supporting Neurodivergent People's Well-being and Access to Care

T2 - Focus on Autistic Experiences

AU - Potts, Ben

AU - Parish, Connor

AU - Ukaji, Nmesoma Francisca

AU - Pavlopoulou, Georgia

AU - Karaminis, Themis

AU - Lane, Matthew

AU - McStravick, James

AU - O'Brien, Madeline

AU - Harvey-Lloyd, Jane

AU - Shepherd, Sophie

AU - Green, Jane

AU - Collis, Anne

AU - Stogiannos, Nikolaos

AU - Skelton, Emily

AU - Malamateniou, Christina

PY - 2026/5/19

Y1 - 2026/5/19

N2 - Chronic stigmatisation and social exclusion of neurodivergent people have resulted in poorer quality of life and adverse health outcomes. Language has been weaponised and has furthered their suffering and isolation. With this paper, we propose some considerations of optimal communication interactions in healthcare with neurodivergent people, in general, and autistic people, in particular, to ensure respectful and human-centred patient and practitioner interactions across both clinical and academic practice.

AB - Chronic stigmatisation and social exclusion of neurodivergent people have resulted in poorer quality of life and adverse health outcomes. Language has been weaponised and has furthered their suffering and isolation. With this paper, we propose some considerations of optimal communication interactions in healthcare with neurodivergent people, in general, and autistic people, in particular, to ensure respectful and human-centred patient and practitioner interactions across both clinical and academic practice.

KW - Healthcare

KW - Neurodivergent People's Well-being

KW - Autistic Experiences

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039334397

U2 - 10.1002/jmrs.70096

DO - 10.1002/jmrs.70096

M3 - Editorial

SN - 2051-3895

JO - Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences

JF - Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences

ER -

The Role of Language in Shaping Cultural Perceptions Within Healthcare and Supporting Neurodivergent People's Well-being and Access to Care: Focus on Autistic Experiences

Abstract

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