Eric Garcia (2) (1990–)

I like that this book featured perspectives from autistic people all over the spectrum and with different support needs. It did a really good job of demonstrating that the "high functioning" "low functioning" labels aren't useful. I learned about different ways autistic people can receive support for their needs. Also contains good information on the history of the autism diagnosis, and issues autistic people face (such as institutionalization and the sheltered workshop program in the US). I show more appreciated that it also talked about the intersections between autism and other identities like race or gender/sexuality, especially addressing the myth that naive autistics are being brainwashed into thinking they're queer. The author seems to have some hope for the trajectory of rights autistics will gain, although knowing what is currently happening in the US makes that seem depressing. 
The narration in the audiobook can get a little rough in places, however since I think it was valuable for this to be read by the author, I don't subtract any points for that.  show less

03 June 2023

P 64

Quality reporting shifting the conversation around people on the autism spectrum from disability to normal variation found in the population.

But it makes me incandescent with rage that all the attention has gone to pleasing rich white parents of young boys while the girls, transgendered, racial and ethnic minorities, poor, rural and adult populations are underdiagnosed and pushed to the side again. Why, yes, this is exactly the same pattern as in ADHD which, fun fact, has a show more very high level of comorbidity with autism.

And the rage tires me out and distracts me, and requires soothing cat time, or falling down a rabbit hole on the internet, or something. Which means I can only read a little and this is already the third or fourth time I have had to return it and check it out again.

***

Ultimately Garcia has done a great job of showing both the current situation and the activism, mutual support, and clever solutions that are shaping the future of autism in the US. There is much to be hopeful about. Many adults in groups disproportionately not diagnosed in childhood are now being identified or are identifying themselves. Apparently many people are diagnosed when their child is. These newly identified adults, and the swelling ranks of adults who were diagnosed as children, are finding the right questions to research, and demanding greater focus on accommodation and support. Almost nothing is known about aging with autism, for example. There is hope and bloody-minded persistence to back it up, which is all to the good.

Library copy show less

Mostly Solid Work A Bit Misguided By Its Own Biases. This is one of the more comprehensive books I've found about the actual issues facing Autistics in the current world (circa 2020) - well, in the US anyway. Discussions of education, gender, housing, personhood, etc are mostly solid and mostly problem free, focusing on numerous interviews the author has conducted over several years combined with well documented (roughly 32% of the text of this Advance Reader Copy I read) research.

It even show more has two *extremely* good points:
1) "We don't know what Autism in and of itself looks like. We only know how autism informed by trauma presents itself." -Cal Montgomery
2) From the close of Chapter 9: "People who are not Autistic often assume they are acting benevolently by hand-holding those on the spectrum. But despite their best intentions, there is an element of condescension in thse actions because it assumes that non-Autistic people know what's best. But it is Autistic people who live with the condition of Autism - for all of its positives and negatives - as well as the consequences of any collective action meant to help them. If there is going to be policy that has seismic impact on their lives, they deserve to have a say it in, no mater how they communicate. Furthermore, while many parent advocates, clinicians, and other "experts" may have good intentions, centering their voices continues to give them power that should lie with the Autistic community. To achieve any true sense of freedom, Autistic people need to take this power back."

HOWEVER, the fact that the discussion routinely ignores and even outright dismisses the needs and challenges of white Autistics and/ or Autistics who *do* find meaningful employment in the science and/ or technology sectors means that the book fails to have truly the comprehensive discussion of the condition that it seems to seek to have. In ignoring these facets, it doesn't truly "change the Autism conversation" in any truly helpful manner, as it blatantly ignores and dismisses a key component that can actually do quite a bit of good in trying to address all of the other issues the narrative does go in detail on. We Autistic technologists can create the very technologies Garcia sometimes points to as being needed, in part because we ourselves truly do live with these very same issues - and thus, we don't actually need a neurotypical trying to approximate some solution, as we can create a solution that works for our own particular case and allow for it to be customized to fit other cases as well.

Ultimately this truly is a very strong look at the state of Autistic society today and the issues Autistics face in trying to fully integrate into larger neurotypical societies, it simply missed its potential to be so much more. Very much recommended. show less

Using examples from his own life and from persons he has interviewed, Garcia shows that neuro-diverse persons can be contributing & interactive members of society. There are no solutions here for overcoming the challenges of housing and companions that are necessary for persons with almost constant support needs. It does include a good example of one person who found a friend to be their companion, and of a couple whose support needs allow for being each other's support.
As a parent of an show more adult child with autism, I fall into the category of "people who try to control our lives", according to the author. The book pays little more than lip service to nonverbal persons (altho it is quite possible the author is much more accepting and involved in the full spectrum).
Just as Garcia's starting point, a lot of messages I received 20 years ago was "of course you would want to try anything/everything possible to help your child be able to live a full life", and while I had the good sense to avoid the more invasive and punitive procedures, I don't see what is wrong with nutritional supplements or dietary modifications to help some of the digestive issues that are often co-occurrant with autism. How does he suppose Baggs learned to use a communication board unless someone had made if available to them & presented it in a manner they could understand. One aspect Garcia is silent on is what medications or supplements or therapy do people with autism choose on their own initiative to use? What do they see as helping them feel better or accomplish goals? Or perhaps that is a pointless question, because his thesis is that they are all fine as they are.
This book is still good for helping neurotypical people to expand their acceptance, and just maybe, someday, decide they can be a friend with someone who is not like them. show less