“Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement” - December Book Review

What is the history of Autistic advocacy? Who were its key figures? Learn more about this and the Neurodiversity movement in this open-access book!

I don't believe there has ever existed a book before that discussed Autistic advocacy history so thoroughly, straight from the pens of said advocates.

If you’re involved in any kind of Autistic advocacy and activism, it’s worth knowing who came before you in the work that you’re doing.  Who were the people who created the term “neurodiversity” and popularized our current cultural understanding of Autism? Who created the first Autistic acceptance groups on the internet?

This is a beautiful historical review of how we got to where we are today. 

All but 2 of the 22 contributors to this book identify as Autistic. Written in 2020, it’s a very current and beneficial book to read to educate yourself about our shared culture, identity, and path forward based on the past. 

Table of Contents

1. Strengths

2. Weaknesses

3. Would I recommend this book?

4. Would Autistics like this book?

5. Would allistics like this book?

6. Overall score

7. Final thoughts

   
   

Strengths

This book shines in its thoroughness. At once both a historical review, a scientific article, and a manifesto on the creation of Autistic acceptance and the Neurodiversity movement, this book is an amazing resource for pretty much anyone. Whether Autistic or an ally of the community, this book is so informative about our history.

Not only that but it's interesting too!

Many of us remember Autistic advocacy as what has happened in our lifetime, however this book serves as a very useful reminder that this movement started in the 1980’s or, arguably, in the 1960’s. Being 40 or nearly 50 years in the making, we’ve come a long way from the institutions of the past that our progenitors were fighting. However there are many fights yet to come, such as the continuation of the Judge Rotenburg Center's tortuous shock behavioral modification "therapy" practices that continue to this day.

This book is conveniently organized from past to present. It shines in its interwoven stories and successes from advocates who have worked side-by-side.

Weaknesses

However, this book struggles a bit in its ponderous nature. I was able to read rather quickly due to my familiarity with the terms being used, and with the organizations and people detailed. If a reader was less familiar, they may find the scientific diction and the subject matter difficult to parse. 

There were definitely some parts where I had to really focus and read slowly to understand what was being said. However, this varies in intensity from chapter to chapter. Some chapters are more academic, while some are more conversational.

I’m unsure if my scientific background made this book easier for me to read, but this book could benefit from being translated into a more accessible format. If someone were to undertake transforming this book into more casual articles, or even a zine, I could see more people appreciating its subject matter and undertaking the task of reading it.

Would I recommend this book?

I would definitely recommend this book for pretty much everyone. It may be a more difficult read, but it’s worth the effort and focus. 

I think anyone invested in the world of Autism would benefit from this book. It’s interesting, and, beyond that, it’s useful if your field is within the world of psychology, or if you’re learning to advocate for yourself or others who are Autistic.

Although it is (overall) a challenging, slow-paced read, I recommend it!

Would Autistics like this book? 

Autistics would love this book for its solidification of the Autistic community’s thoughts, desires, and beliefs– the entire variation of them, from believing that Autism is just a difference to Autism being a disability. 

Autistics, I think, would appreciate that there is such a large, comprehensive, and recent book detailing our collective feelings towards Autism. The amplified voices of successful Autism advocates are deeply cathartic to read as well.

Would allistics like this book?

Allistics would find this book interesting, both for its historical context and for providing an in-depth examination and explanation of #ActuallyAutistic modes of thought.

This book would be more interesting for those looking for the history of Autistic rights in the context of disability rights. 

Overall score

I would give this book a 3 out of 5 total.

Storytelling: 4/5 stars, a compelling read if you like learning more about all things Autism, but the diction can be challenging.

Format: 3/5 stars, standard scientific article format, but more difficult formats exist.

Accessibility: 1/5 stars, not everyone can read scientific or academic articles. Commissioning an artist or writer to translate the subject matter into another format would have been incredibly useful.

Style: 2/5 stars, again, difficult to read.

Diversity: 5/5 stars, there was an amazing display of opinions and voices throughout this book. I really appreciated the effort they went through to find as many Autistic activists as possible and amplify their voices. If I could give a 6 out of 5 I would.

Final thoughts

While this book is so interesting and informative about Autistic history, it’s not for everyone. I would recommend it personally, but if you struggle with reading more academic articles this book is not for you. 

Have you read any good books with Autistic authors recently? Give them a shout!