The autism spectrum is complex, beautiful, and vast. However, it is also known as a commonly stressful and overwhelming experience that can be difficult for parents to navigate. These five nonfiction books are aimed at helping parents and communities at large to not only understand and help their children with autism but also to accept and celebrate their individuality. Here are five outstanding and eye-opening nonfiction recommendations focusing on the autism spectrum.
Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity, Edited by Emily Paige Ballou, Sharon DaVanport, and Morenike Giwa Onaiwu
In this groundbreaking collection, readers hear from a diverse array of autistic voices guiding parents through ways to make their children feel understood, loved, and accepted. Not many books teaching parents about autism come from those who have it. This authentic collection tackles common issues, mistakes, and misconceptions parents hold as they navigate their way through their child’s education, growth, and development. Readers are also shown the joys that come with autism and the beautiful culture autistic children belong to. Contributors tackle topics such as childhood, gender identity, sexuality, and their emotional needs. This book is not only a guide but a memoir, a celebration, and a vibrant testament to the beauty of autism.
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price, PhD
In Unmasking Autism, Dr. Devon Price delves into the varying experiences of those on the autism spectrum and the phenomenon of masking. By sharing their own experiences with masking and recounting histories, sociological research, medication, and personal profiles, Dr. Price paints a picture of the multiplicity of neurodivergence. In this nonfiction book, autism is shown as an extraordinary and beautiful gift that can, when living in a neurotypical world, also be a source of alienation and hardship. The ingrained sense of the need to “mask” autism can result in a disconnect from one’s true identity. Dr. Devon Price promotes “unmasking” in autistic individuals in hopes that they reconnect to themselves through exercises such as celebrating special interests, cultivating relationships in the autistic community, reframing autistic stereotypes, and re-immersing themselves in their values. This is a great read for any parent looking to embrace the uniqueness of their child and help them lead whatever life they choose.
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison
John Elder Robinson’s memoir allows readers to see the world through an Aspergian perspective. Robinson takes us through his life as a child and his difficulty relating to those around him. Longing for connection, Robison sensed his difference from those around him and felt others’ awareness as well but couldn’t understand why. He held onto this feeling for much of his life, until, at forty, he was finally diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. Robison takes us through this perspective-shifting diagnosis and how it changed both his perception of self and the world. This dark, funny, and raw memoir sheds light on the power of identity and acceptance and the way it can radicalize your world.
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida
Named one of the best books of 2016 by NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business, and Bookish, Naoki’s memoir illuminates the feelings, perceptions, and inner workings of a thirteen-year-old boy with autism in a way that had never been done before. Reviews from parents and family members rave about this landmark book and the long-sought-after insight into the minds of their loved ones with autism. Naoki explains certain characteristic behaviors such as the speaking rate and patterns of individuals with autism, specific idiosyncrasies related to order, the avoidance of eye contact, and the source of stimming behaviors with revelatory honesty, explaining these physical effects of autism with their psychological causes. Not only a celebration of autism but a celebration of life, The Reason I Jump is a gift to all.
Uniquely Human: Updated and Expanded: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry M. Prizant PhD with Tom Fields-Meyer
One of the world’s leading experts on Autism, Dr. Barry M. Prizant, switches the script on traditional autism therapy, which often focuses on eliminating people’s “autistic” symptoms, by instead pushing for therapies that fully embrace and celebrate those on the autism spectrum. Dr Prizant’s Uniquely Human tackles topics like introducing “identity-first language” into children’s vocabulary, the varying identities of those on the Spectrum, and the need for the amplification of the autistic and neurodivergent voices. Rather than analyzing the behaviors of those with autism as hindrances or ailments, Dr Prizant repaints them as ways of coping with a chaotic and overwhelming world. Described as a “must-read” for anyone connected to autism, Uniquely Human rejects any notion of “brokenness” in a child by honoring the unique and beautiful autistic experience.
Parenting is difficult, but it doesn’t need to be isolative. These nonfiction reads are aimed at helping parents aid, understand, and celebrate their children on the spectrum. Let us know of any helpful nonfiction books about the autism spectrum we may have missed on our socials!
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