Written by Lília
As the mother of a neurodivergent girl who discovered her neurodiversity in her late teens, I suddenly saw myself with this big hot potato in my hand: how to help my kid navigate life better without having to drown herself in the demands of daily life? How to help her to deal with life in general? And how else could I help her?
Since I work in a bookstore, I started looking for interesting books on the subject.
Some books are a bit dry, others a bit short, but they all offer something to learn from. I came up with a list of the titles I found most interesting, but there are a lot more available depending on what you’re looking for.
Self-care for Autistic People by Dr. Megan Anna Neff made me think about all the ways many autistic people live in survival mode instead of living mode. And all the things we can do to help with them.
Presented in nice bite-sized topics, it’s easy to digest and can be read in any order.
Sensory: Life on the Spectrum edited by Bex Ollerton, “is an autistic comics anthology featuring comics from autistic creators about their experiences of living in a world that doesn’t always understand or accept them.”
Relatable and very real, it has a playful way of presenting the difficulties autistic people have in their daily lives.
Unmasking Autism by Dr. Devon Price presents the old question of “what is autism?” It shows us that there are a lot more “masked” autistic people in the world, presenting a façade of “normalcy” while fighting with their internal demons.
“A powerful call for change, Unmasking Autism gifts its readers with the tools to uncover their true selves and build a new society – one where everyone can thrive on their own terms.”
Camouflage by Dr. Sarah Bargiela is an “engaging and informative short graphic book” that provides insight and explanations about the hidden lives of autistic women.
Nowadays we’re discovering more about autistic women, and how differently they deal with their autistic traits in comparison with men in general. “This graphic novel explores the experiences and difficulties faced by women on the spectrum, such as late or incorrect diagnosis and having to master the art of pretending to be “normal”. A fascinating insight into an under-represented condition.”
Autism in Heels by Jennifer Cook O’Toole tells the story of a woman diagnosed in her thirties, and how much that diagnose changed her life for the better.
“Beyond being a memoir, Autism in Heels is a love letter to all women. It’s a conversation starter. A game changer. And a firsthand account of what it is to walk in Jennifer’s shoes (especially those iconic red stilettos).”
Magnificent Minds by Suzanne Goh brings a different perspective to autism, a new “whole-child approach”.
In her book Dr. Goh “demystifies diagnostics and therapies and offers new insights into all the factors that play a role in success outcomes, and is a great resource for understanding all of autism.” It shows different approaches that help parents and children alike.
Spectrum Women: Autism and Parenting by Renata Jurkevythz, Maura Campbell and Lisa Morgan presents the question “What does it really feel like to be an autistic parent?”
The authors reflect on their own experience growing up as undiagnosed autistic women and their adventure in embracing motherhood.
The book is divided in 3 parts, and each part is presented in smaller bite-sized topics that help you navigate the issues you might be more interested in knowing at any given moment. With this book the authors offer advice, reflection, and explanation of many situations an autistic mother might encounter.
