Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity

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Typically for nonfiction, I have between ten and twenty highlights, maybe thirty if there are a lot of cool facts I want to remember. I also would’ve liked more high-support-needs voices to have been interviewed/included. I understand that the book focuses on autistic people who mask which is often those with lower support needs, but especially as Dr. Price emphasizes that unmasking can be a political goal that furthers acceptance of all autistic people, not just those who mask, I think it would’ve benefited the book overall to invite more people with high support needs into the discussion. Unmasking Autism" is a book that stimulates intellectually and resonates emotionally. I found myself often diving deeper into topics while also often stopping to shed a tear or two. As an adult with Spina Bifida, a birth defect often associated Autism, and someone who works in the field of Autism, I have often found myself doing exactly what Dr. Price identifies here as "masking." They explain everything beautifully and with a tenderness that reveals deep respect and something resembling a literary warm hug.

Unmasking Autism, The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Unmasking Autism, The Power of Embracing Our Hidden

While masking is employed by many autistic people, people in marginalized groups, including women, people of color and LGBTQ+ people might feel even more compelled to camouflage their disability.For] most autistic people, we get the message from a really young age that we need to tone it down – that it's weird to be too excited and too enlivened by the things that we care about, which is so sad," Price says. Unfortunately, this coping mechanism often comes at the expense of one's mental health and with "Unmasking Autism" Dr. Price offers a surprisingly straightforward and accessible path toward unmasking with exercises that encourage self-expression including celebrating special interests, cultivating Autistic relationships, reframing Autistic stereotypes, and rediscovering one's own values.

Unmasking autism – unlearn shame and nurture a more - NPR

Ob man nun Autist, ADHSler oder einfach neurodovergent ist - man lernt sich selbst nochmal neu kennen, fühlt sich verstanden und bringt mehr Verständnis für die eigenen Eigenheiten auf. So zumindest in meinem Fall!

Those who embrace a more ABA approach to Autism may be most likely to struggle with "Unmasking Autism" as it's clear Dr. Price sees ABA as part of the enforced masking journey. If there's a weakness in the book, perhaps, it's that Dr. Price never really delves into this issue more fully and it's an area that deserves deeper exploration. Unmasking Autism is at once a most deeply personal and scholarly account of the damage caused by autistic (and all) people leading masked lives, and how unmasking is essential to creating a self-determined, authentic life... This is a remarkable work that will stand at the forefront of the neurodiversity movement.' - Dr Barry M. Prizant, author of Uniquely Human This was such an incredible book! Written by an autistic trans social psychologist, this focused on high masking autistic experiences. He begins by talking about who is more likely to mask/less likely to be diagnosed as a child, what traits get overlooked, issues with how autism is "treated". Then, he goes into what masking can look like, how we might decide to unmask, and ending with what we need to do as a society to make it a safe place for people to live unmasked. I really loved that he talks so much about the social - not just ableism and stigma, but also aspects of racism, impact of poverty, and transphobia, among other things.

Unmasking Autism - Google Books Unmasking Autism - Google Books

This is where compensation comes in. Price does this, for example, through scheduling ghost meetings on his calendar to give himself time to recharge. Devon spends the first few chapters emphasizing how straight white males have been overly favored in research, diagnosis, and aid. Which is probably true. But the degree to which this is emphasized felt a little brow-beating after a while. When my GR friend Ashley rated this book five stars shortly afterwards, I immediately placed a hold on it. Ashley is also to thank for that wonderfully descriptive and fun new adjective I've adopted - neurospicy. (Thanks, Ashley!)The author of this book does a fabulous job explaining what autism is and how so many people mask it. He includes a lot of reflection exercises for helping Autistic people figure out who it is they are when they're not masking. He explains how masking helps us get by but also harms us, and offers suggestions for living a more authentic life. I am so grateful for this book and Mr. Price and the people who allowed themselves to be interviewed for this book and for all that I learned. The little anecdotes get old! There’s so many of them peppered in throughout the book, and it starts to feel less like stories to support Price’s point, and more like Price was shouting out each of their friends.