Autism is a developmental disability that affects how people experience the world around them. Although everyone with autism experiences things differently, and autism can show differently from person to person, commonalities include differences from neurotypical individuals in thinking, sensory processing, movement, communication, and socialization. People with autism are born with it, as it is mostly a genetic condition.
(Information from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network)
Adult Autism Essentials by 
All the Weight of Our Dreams by
From the authors: "What does autism have to do with race? It seems simple, but it is extremely complicated. I urge you to read this anthology and explore this in depth as you dive into the hearts of the authors. On every page, in every account, from every contributor you will find one profound, universal theme threaded silently and artfully throughout the entire anthology. Again and again, you will find that the answer to the aforementioned question, now unspoken, "What does autism have to do with race?" is a gentle, but resounding, everything."
The Autistic Brain by
Temple Grandin may be the most famous person with autism, a condition that affects 1 in 88 children. Since her birth in 1947, our understanding of it has undergone a great transformation, leading to more hope than ever before that we may finally learn the causes of and treatments for autism. Weaving her own experience with remarkable new discoveries, Grandin introduces the advances in neuroimaging and genetic research that link brain science to behavior, even sharing her own brain scan to show which anomalies might explain common symptoms. Most excitingly, she argues that parents and teachers of kids on the autism spectrum must focus on their long-overlooked strengths to foster their unique contributions.
But You Don't Look Autistic at All by
Autism: that's being able to count matches really fast and knowing that 7 August 1984 was a Tuesday, right? Well, no. In this book, Bianca Toeps explains in great detail what life is like when you're autistic. She does this by looking at what science says about autism (and why some theories can go straight in the bin), but also by telling her own story and interviewing other people with autism.
Camouflage by
Autism in women and girls is still not widely understood, and is often misrepresented or even overlooked. This graphic novel offers an engaging and accessible insight into the lives and minds of autistic women, using real-life case studies. The charming illustrations lead readers on a visual journey of how women on the spectrum experience everyday life, from metaphors and masking in social situations, to friendships and relationships and the role of special interests. Fun, sensitive and informative, this is a fantastic resource for anyone who wishes to understand how gender affects autism, and how to create safer supportive and more accessible environments for women on the spectrum.
I Think I Might Be Autistic by
In her forties, the author was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. She addresses aspects of living with ASD as a late-diagnosed adult, including coping with the emotional effect of discovering oneself to be autistic and deciding with whom to share the diagnosis and how.
Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate by
Cynthia Kim explores all the quirkyness of living with Asperger Syndrome (ASD) in this accessible, witty and honest guide looking from an insider perspective at some of the most challenging and intractable aspects of being autistic. Her own life presents many rich examples. From being labelled nerdy and shy as an undiagnosed child to redefining herself when diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome as an adult, she describes how her perspective shifted to understanding a previously confusing world and combines this with the results of extensive research to explore the 'why' of ASD traits. She explains how they impact on everything from self-care to holding down a job and offers typically practical and creative strategies to help manage them, including a section on the vestibular, sensory and social benefits of martial arts for people with autism.
Neurotribes by
A groundbreaking book that upends conventional thinking about autism and suggests a broader model for acceptance, understanding, and full participation in society for people who think differently. What is autism? A devastating developmental disorder, a lifelong disability, or a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference akin to certain forms of genius? In truth, it is all of these things and more -- and the future of our society depends on our understanding it.
Unmasking Autism by
In Unmasking Autism, Dr. Devon Price shares his personal experience with masking and blends history, social science research, prescriptions, and personal profiles to tell a story of neurodivergence that has thus far been dominated by those on the outside looking in. For Dr. Price and many others, Autism is a deep source of uniqueness and beauty. Unfortunately, living in a neurotypical world means it can also be a source of incredible alienation and pain. Most masked Autistic individuals struggle for decades before discovering who they truly are. They are also more likely to be marginalized in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and other factors, which contributes to their suffering and invisibility. Dr. Price lays the groundwork for unmasking and offers exercises that encourage self-expression, including: Celebrating special interests; cultivating autistic relationships; reframing autistic stereotypes; and rediscovering your values.
We're Not Broken by
Eric Garcia draws from his own experiences as an autistic journalist to discuss the social and policy gaps that exist in supporting those on the spectrum. From education to healthcare, he explores how autistic people wrestle with systems that were not built with them in mind. At the same time, he shares the experiences of all types of autistic people, from those with higher support needs, autistic people of color, and those who are LGBTQ.
Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder by
In this book Sarah Hendrickx has collected both academic research and personal stories about girls and women on the autism spectrum to present a picture of their feelings, thoughts and experiences at each stage of their lives. Outlining how autism presents differently and can hide itself in females and what the likely impact will be for them throughout their lifespan, the book looks at how females with ASD experience diagnosis, childhood, education, adolescence, friendships, sexuality, employment, pregnancy and parenting, and aging. It will provide invaluable guidance for the professionals who support these girls and women and it will offer women with autism a guiding light in interpreting and understanding their own life experiences through the experiences of others.
Being diagnosed with autism is often seen as a tragedy. But for Jac den Houting, it was the best thing that's ever happened to them. As an autistic person, concepts like the Neurodiversity paradigm, the Social Model of Disability, and the Double Empathy Problem were life-changing for Jac. In this talk, Jac combines these ideas with their own personal story to explain why we need to rethink the way that we understand autism.
In this episode of Vitals, we hear from Kip Chow, an autistic advocate, educator, and someone that was officially diagnosed as autistic as an adult, on why they think the system for assessing autism is lacking. We also spoke to Dr. Lesley Cook, a clinical psychologist and an expert in the field of neurodiversity-affirming assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and adults.
Seeking an autism diagnosis as an adult can be confusing and intimidating. In this video I'll walk you step-by-step through what the diagnostic process can look like including tests, sample questions, timelines, and the #1 best thing I can recommend you do pre-evaluation to ensure you get the diagnosis you're looking for.
In this video, host Taylor Heaton is joined by Emma Sharman, the Neurodivergent Emabler to discuss her incredible (and free) resource, "Workplace Adjustments for Executive Dysfunction."
Autism advocate, Dr Camilla Pang unfolds what it means to be neurally diverse, teaching us to celebrate our differences and love our weirdness. Dr Camilla Pang is a scientist specialising in computational biology who is crazy about proteins and is an active researcher in cancer evolution. Her second book 'Perfectly Weird' is her debut children's book (March 2022), making her an advocate and voice for the neurodiverse community which she believes are the hidden treasures of human evolution. She is a trustee for charities such as the lightyear foundation and is passionate about enabling neurodiverse minds in the education system and representing Autism in women.
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