ActuallyAutistic

Evening Litsy! Can you help me out here?

I‘m looking for books by #actuallyautistic authors. Particularly (but not exclusively) books by women, by slightly older authors (over 40s), autobiographies…

Thanks in advance.

TrishB https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/books/best-books-about-autism-a871.... May be a couple on here Rachel. 3y

slategreyskies Here‘s one. I‘ll check my shelves for a few more.

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum

merelybookish My first thought was Temple Grandin

Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from My Life with Autism (Expanded)

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TrishB https://www.tolstoytherapy.com/books-women-with-autism/. A few more. 3y

slategreyskies Here‘s another.

Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome

slategreyskies And another.

Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate: A User Guide to an Asperger Life

slategreyskies And another. I‘m not sure how many I have on my shelf. Hope one or two of them help.

Everyday Aspergers

slategreyskies This one is by multiple authors.

Been There. Done That. Try This!: An Aspie's Guide to Life on Earth

slategreyskies I know I have a few more, but they‘re not on my autism shelf, so I‘m not sure where I put them. I‘ll let you know if I find them. :) 3y

squirrelbrain I recalled an interesting article in The Guardian a few months ago so went looking…here it is: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/27/we-dont-need-to-be-cured-or-fixe... 3y

sarahbellum Helen Hoang comes to mind

Kiss Quotient

rockpools @slategreyskies Thank you, thank you, thank you! I thought I‘d be lucky to find one that was what I‘m looking for, but these are all just the thing. Need to decide where to begin now. Thanks 😘 3y

rockpools @TrishB Fantastic- thanks Trish. I‘ve been eyeing Katherine May‘s Wintering for a good year now, but maybe I‘ll try ‘Electricity‘ first - these are really helpful 😊 3y

rockpools @merelybookish Thank you! I hadn‘t heard of her, but it looks like she‘s written loads. Much stacking going on here - thank you 😊 3y

rockpools @squirrelbrain Thanks Helen - these are spot on. I‘m going to be busy 😘 3y

rockpools @sarahbellum Ooh, thank you - I‘ve been meaning to read that for ages! 3y

mandarchy Look me in the eye by John Elder Robison is really good. He is the brother of Augusten Burroughs. He has three fascinating successful careers before learning about Asperger's. 3y

Larkken Corinne Duyvis and Ada Hoffmann are both on the spectrum and write science fiction with own-voices characters, and I thought Talia Hibbert‘s last novel (tagged, a romance) dealt with ableism and characters on the spectrum really well

Act Your Age, Eve Brown: A Novel

Libby1 Hi! I‘ve tagged a good middle grade/YA book for you. 😊

Can You See Me?

Libby1 Anything by Temple Grandin is awesome. 3y

Libby1

Diary of a Young Naturalist

Libby1

Fingers in the Sparkle Jar: A Memoir

Libby1 The tagged book is about a group of neurodivergent young people trying to save a dystopian world.

Underdogs

Libby1 I have so many more but I don‘t want to inundate you! You can ask if you‘re looking for something in particular. I‘ve also read a few bad books about autism in my time. I‘ve been inundating myself in this for years now! 3y

Libby1 I forgot to say that the Libby Scott book specifically deals with Pathological Demand Avoidance as well. 3y

Libby1 The tagged book is by a young autistic comedian. So funny.

Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum

rockpools @mandarchy Thank you! 😊👍 3y

rockpools @Larkken Oh interesting! I‘ll investigate those - thanks! 3y

rockpools @Libby1 Thanks so much, Libby. How are you doing? I loved Young Naturalist, and it should be easy to find a copy of Sparkle Jar 😊 - will check out some of the others! 3y

squirrelbrain Wintering is on Kindle offer today for Q9.99. I was going to purchase it but apparently I already did…. Who knew?! 3y

slategreyskies Autism In Heels is on Kindle in the US today for $1.99 if anyone wants to pick up a copy. :)

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum

rockpools @slategreyskies Aaah, boo. But thank you. Still (cb.50 here - I absolutely intend to make my way through your suggestions, but have started with the easiest to get hold of! 3y

slategreyskies @rockpools Oh, I didn‘t know you were in the UK. I know what you mean about starting with the ones that are the easiest to get hold of. I had to order copies of most of them, since my library didn‘t have any of them. I wish you were closer. I‘d lend them to you! :) 3y

rockpools @slategreyskies Aw, thank you 😊, you‘ve been super-helpful. My library had a couple, but more for kids/parents - and I feel like I need to read really widely so don‘t want to splurge on just one! A friend‘s reluctantly getting assessed, and in all honesty neither of us know anything about autism- I‘m trying to broaden my own understanding to support her. So trying to read ALL the books… 3y

rockpools @slategreyskies A couple of days behind you - they‘ve just brought the price down here 😊 3y

slategreyskies @rockpools I still don‘t know as much about it as I‘d like, but I‘ve learned a lot from reading, and it‘s been really helpful. Something my husband says occasionally is to remember that, if you‘ve met one person with autism, you‘ve met one person with autism. His point is that, although there are sometimes similarities, everyone on the spectrum has an experience that‘s unique to them. I think that‘s good to remember too. More ⬇️ 3y

slategreyskies @rockpools I hope your friend gets what she needs out of being assessed. If she ends up getting a diagnosis, she‘s still the same person she always was. Nothing will have changed except that then she‘d have clues as to why certain things were different for her than they were for NT (neurotypical) people. I‘m glad the book finally went on sale there. Let me know if you ever want/need to talk. I‘ll be here. :) 3y

rockpools @slategreyskies Thank you so much -very much appreciated! And your comments on the ‘clues‘ are so helpful. Have a wonderful weekend 😊 3y

32 likes38 comments

littleautibat

The Gauguin Connection: A Genevieve Lenard Novel | Estelle Ryan

Currently reading this on my Kobo.

I am #actuallyauristic.

Hey everyone, support and lift up #actuallyautistic authors!
Here is a list of books by them and there's a whole scifi/fantasy section. Please consider sharing this!
https://geekclubbooks.com/autistic-authors/

Owlizabeth

Toy Story 4 Little Golden Book (Disney/Pixar Toy Story 4) | Josh Crute

I‘m with the oldest for a sensory-friendly showing of Tot Story 4. He‘s playing video games and I‘m reading my kindle while we wait for the movie to start. Of course. #readeverywhere #actuallyautistic

40 likes

ooodiga

About Face | Donna Leon

Black, white and red: my vacation reads so far share the same colour palate - a total, but very satisfying coincidence!

#vacationreads #bookcovermagic #black #red #white #sosatisfying #actuallyautistic

NeamhainHughes

The Bride Test | Helen Hoang

pick

Yet again I‘ve read a Helen Hoang book in under 24 hours. Up too late reading and up first thing this morning devouring the rest of it. It was very sweet and, as an #actuallyautistic person, I found Khai super relatable. Love love love

22 likes

Owlizabeth

The Bride Test | Helen Hoang

pick

Ahhhh this was SO GOOD. I loved The Kiss Quotient and I had extremely high hopes and OMG did Helen Hoang deliver! I loved Khai and Esme and their story. I love that it was an immigration story as well as being a romance and will forever be here for #actuallyautistic representation. Just excellent contemporary romance. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

And look how well the cover matches my leggings! 😂

MrBook Nice review! Saw this in the store last time I was there. 😁 5y

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Caroline2

Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals | Tony Attwood

Can anyone recommend any good books on children with Aspergers/high functioning (low care needs) autism please?? 🤔

Mdargusch Possibly @Reviewsbylola can recommend some? 6y

Reviewsbylola Let me scrounge around and see what I can come up with. 6y

CampbellTaraL Also, check out the #ActuallyAutistic tags on Twitter/Instagram/YouTube for great resources from and by ASD people.

NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently

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Reviewsbylola Neurotribes is the one that sprang to mind for me too. ⬆️ It‘s very comprehensive. Otherwise I normally read memoirs relating to ASD. 6y

Reviewsbylola Today I‘m reading a few books to my daughter‘s class about ASD. One that I‘m reading is

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

Reviewsbylola But I take it you‘re looking for adult books that talk about kids on the spectrum? 6y

Weaponxgirl @taraWritesSci I think that‘s a great book too. 6y

Weaponxgirl I haven‘t read any books on the subject yet but I recently did a course in intensive interaction and that is something that will probably be quite intuitive to a lot of people in a lot of ways. It can be tailored to the individual and I‘ve found that a great way for making connections with children on the spectrum. 6y

Caroline2 @Reviewsbylola Thank you! I‘ll check out the book and the tags. Is there any memoirs you would particularly recommend?? 6y

Caroline2 @taraWritesSci oh thanks, I‘ll check them out. 👍🏻 6y

Caroline2 @Weaponxgirl that sounds interesting, keep an eye out, thank you. 6y

Reviewsbylola One I just read was great, although the brothers it focuses on are definitely more low functioning.

The Warner Boys: Our Family's Story of Autism and Hope

Reviewsbylola Also this one is more YA.

Same But Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express

Reviewsbylola I have this one but haven‘t read it.

Odd Girl Out: An autistic woman in a neurotypical world

Caroline2 @Reviewsbylola Thank you, I‘ve stacked them all. I‘ve heard this is good too but I haven‘t read it yet

A Boy Made of Blocks

Reviewsbylola That‘s on my TBR! 6y

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kgriffith

Knowing Why: Adult-Diagnosed Autistic People on Life and Autism | Elizabeth Bartmess

This was mentioned in an amazing twitter thread about #actuallyautistic #ownvoices, as was the book tagged in the below comment. https://twitter.com/xasymptote/status/1075781558630518785?s=21

kgriffith

Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking

kgriffith Of note: NONE of the writers for the first season of the show “Atypical” were autistic, and only one (supporting, not main) character‘s actor was. This changed after massive criticism and their renewal for a second season. (edited) 6y

rwmg The idea that somebody believes TV reflects any group accurately is slightly mindboggling 6y

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AlaSkaat I've had people tell me that I don't 'look' autistic. They really meant my appearance and I just didn't know what to say... I don't think people understand Autism that well. 😂 they shouldn't watch a film to learn about stuff like this... 😂 6y

kgriffith @rwmg Right?? Yes please base your opinion of me on The L Word, that‘s totally what my life looks like. 🙄😂 6y

kgriffith @OleAnder you don‘t look autistic, huh? 😂 That‘s right up there with “Wow, he seems totally normal!” Why are people the worst?? 6y

dylanisreading Um. 6y

dylanisreading I've had someone (not in healthcare) tell me my experience doesn't sound like ADD. Okay?? 6y

kgriffith @Bianca *[EYEROLLS IN ADD]* 6y

kgriffith @Bianca 😏 6y

43 likes10 comments

Crystallinegirl

Queens of Geek | Jen Wilde

pick

This was a great, feel-good read with lots of minority representation, including an autistic girl and a bisexual girl. I really enjoyed it, and it's one from my #ActuallyAutistic reading list for #AutismAcceptancemonth. (Also I made my husband take this picture, because that's my hair behind the book! XD) Oh! It's also my "friendship" book for #Booked2018, the Litsy Reading Challenge.

Reggie Lol, nice pic idea!!!! 7y

Crystallinegirl @Reggie We just redyed my hair, the previous purple was pretty faded, and when I saw the cover for Queens of Geek I knew what needed to be done, LOL. 7y

Cailey_Mac Oooo I‘ve been meaning to read this! 7y

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Cinfhen Sounds like a great read and your hair 😍 7y

Cinfhen Tagging @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft 7y

BarbaraTheBibliophage Great pick!! 👏🏻📚🎉 7y

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Sace

Untitled | Unknown

#teachersoflitsy, parents anyone...

We have an autistic student at our school and he has approached me a couple of times to tell me how excited he is that he might be in my Spanish class next year. Honestly I am nervous becasue I don't feel like I understand autism enough and I want to be the best teacher I can be for this student. What books can you recommend?

Sace I probably sound like an ass. Our Sp. Ed person is great but she's assigned to several schools and can't always meet with us over the summer. So I want to educate myself over the summer so I can start the year out right for this student. 7y

IamIamIam I don't think you sound like an ass at all! You sound like a teacher who wants to do right by a student who may need alternative learning methods. 😉 That's the sign of a true educator! 7y

ShookBelf How wonderful that you want to invest your own time in order to make this student's experience a great one. As a parent to a child with special educational needs, we need more teachers like you! I have never read it but heard nothing but good things about The Reason I Jump.

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy With Autism

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Sace @IamIamIam awww thanks! 7y

Sace @ShookBelf thank you! That does sound good! 7y

GatheringBooks you may want to read any of temple grandin‘s picture books or memoirs. there‘s also the nora raleigh baskin title and for picture book luke‘s way of looking. i teach our allied educators here in singapore who are supposed to provide in-class support and withdrawal classes to students with special needs who are enrolled in mainstream schools. :)

Anything But Typical

tournevis That very fact that the student approached you is a good sign! In addition to all the previous comments, I would add that you should remember that autism is not one single thing. It's as diverse are people with autism. If I may, I approach my students with autism as individuals with singular needs first, as autistic second. They are individuals first, with needs that may be different for most you encounter, but individual needs nevertheless. 7y

Sace @GatheringBooks *head smack* of course! Temple Grandin! All add her and your other selections to my list! Thanks! 7y

Sace @tournevis Thank you for the check. You're right. He is an individual and I shouldn't get hung up on the autism. I just worry because I honestly don't know enough. And I feel sh***y about it. It's 2018 FFS. 7y

alisiakae You don‘t sound like an ass at all. You sound like an excellent teacher who wants to do right by all of her students. You want to go out of your way to make sure the classroom experience is great for this student. 👏👏👏 7y

Andrea4 Would it also be helpful to ask his other teachers if they have found him unresponsive to certain techniques or more responsive to others or how he excels or struggles? 7y

Bostonmomx2 In addition to what @Andrea4 said, maybe meet with his parents As well as they know him best and can help you understand his specific needs the best 😊 7y

LibrarianJen I work in special ed! 1. You don‘t feel like an ass. The fact that you are wanting to prepare for the challenges you might face is awesome. The student already sounds high functioning if he approached you on his own. Things to look for are anxiety. Does he get anxious or act out working in groups? Let him opt out working with people. Does he lose focus? Have him write vocabulary words. 7y

LibrarianJen Most importantly he should have an IEP and it will lay out his educational goals, his behavior patterns etc. You can always email me if you have any questions. I love the kids I work with they are so much fun! Maybe even more so than regular ed. Cartasporjen@gmail.com 7y

LibrarianJen Oh and @Cupofjo also works with autistic kids. 💖 7y

Sace @Andrea4 I might. Gonna be honest and tell you I don't get along with many of the teachers he has. 7y

Sace @Bostonmomx2 his dad is our tech guy and I plan on reaching out to him. I just don't want to come off like an idiot or put my foot in my mouth. 7y

Sace @LibrarianJen he'll definitely have an IEP Unfortunately its sometimes weeks into the school year before we see them. I might see if I can talk to our Sp Ed person now. I know she can't give me specifics, but maybe she'll be willing to meet with me next year during pre-planning. 7y

sloanghost My recommendation would be to talk to and/or read content from autistic adults. Many of us were badly failed by the education system, so we tend to have a lot of thoughts on what might have helped us/worked better. 7y

sloanghost Remove "high functioning" and "low functioning" from your vocabulary--they are ultimately pretty meaningless to most of us and create expectations rather than allowing you to see the individual person in front of you. Of course you should try to see the human being you're working with and not regard him as a Walking Autism, BUT regarding him as a "person who just happens to have an autism hanging around" isn't great either-- 7y

sloanghost autism is a pervasive condition. It IS part of who he is, not an unwelcome appendage, metaphorical kidnapper, or wall/cage/other entrapment metaphor. Some good stuff to check out might be Autistic Hoya, Emma Zurcher Long (blogs), Amythest Schaber (youtube), Neurotribes (book), Loud Hands (if it's still available for download), and #redinstead/#walkinred and #actuallyautistic (twitter). 7y

Sace @sloanghost thanks for those recs! 7y

sloanghost @RestlessFickleBookHoarder yw! 7y

[DELETED] 3803335244 I think the important thing besides books is just remember he‘s just like any other kid. We all have quirks, we all have wonderful abilities, and we all just need reaffirmation we are loved or treated with kindness. Nothing scary. I have 2 children with autism myself. A book that comes to mind that my son loved is tagged. There is a character with autism but he‘s written wonderful. If you‘ve met 1 kid with ASD, you‘ve met 1. We are all unique. 7y

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Navigating Early

Ddzmini The best thing you can do is stay calm 7y

Ddzmini And research 7y

Cupofjo @LibrarianJen thanks for the tag! And give my email too! I‘ve worked with children with autism for 15yrs... they are just the best! ❤️ each child is unique and has their own special shine! Don‘t stress, and be positive with corrections. Like any child, they can feel your stress levels rise! Also, talk w/ this students teachers of this year and get the scoop of his/her favorite things! 7y

Ottergirl My eldest is autistic and I‘d love it if his teachers were this conscientious about him moving into their class. I‘d say talk to his siblings or friends as well because he may not know al the things that work for him but they will be better able to express them. Find out what his ‘thing‘ is - it will be a way to talk to him. Once you have his trust it will be easier to get him working with you. (edited) 7y

kgriffith My former partner is autistic, late diagnosis (36), and recommends this as the book that made them feel seen. They also hold a PhD and are highly esteemed in their field.

NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently

Sace @kgriffith thank you! I will stack it! 7y

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