Autism Resources
Autism is a word that describes a type of brain functioning, a “neurotype.” Having an Autistic brain will mean an individual communicates, interacts with other people, and processes internal and external experiences differently than individuals with other neurotypes. Autism is neurodevelopmental, meaning that individuals are born Autistic and continue being Autistic throughout their lives. “Autism Spectrum Disorder” is the diagnosis given to Autistic people using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), however under the Neurodiversity Paradigm Autism is not considered a “disorder” so “Autism” and “Autistic” are preferred to “ASD” or “person with Autism.”
This page contains a variety of neurodiversity-affirmative resources about Autistic ways of being. The resources listed here are far from comprehensive but it’s a good starting point to learn more about Autism. [note: this page contains affiliate links for the books suggested – your purchase through this page earns me a small commission at no additional cost to you]
Written word resources
Online Articles
- “Autism is a spectrum” doesn’t mean what you think
- Why you need to stop using the puzzle piece to represent autistic people
- Autistic people more likely to identify as LGBTQ
- Autistic burnout: an often-misunderstood element of autism
- Meltdowns: how autistic humans experience crises
- Creating autistic suffering: in the beginning there was trauma
- An autistic social butterfly’s guide to making friends
- Females and autism / aspergers: a checklist
Books
- Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Donna Henderson and Sarah Wayland (2023)
- I Will Die On This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World by Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards (2023)
- Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, PhD (2022) [highly recommended!]
- The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide: A Practical Handbook for Autistic Teens and Tweens by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman (2020)
- Connecting with the Autism Spectrum: How to Talk, How to Listen, and Why You Shouldn’t Call It High-Functioning by Casey “Remrov” Vormer (2020) [suggested for allistic/neurotypical allies]
