Is This Autism?

by Donna Henderson, Sarah Wayland, Jamell White

Though our understanding of autism has greatly expanded, many autistic individuals are still missed or misdiagnosed. This highly accessible book clarifies many ways that autism can present, particularly in people who camouflage to hide their autistic traits. The authors take the reader step by step through the diagnostic criteria, incorporating the latest research as well as quotes from over 100 autistic contributors that bring that research to life. They also describe many aspects of autism that are not included in the current diagnostic criteria, such as autistic strengths and co-occurring disorders. Readers will learn about highly relevant topics, such as different types of empathy, sensory systems that are not well known, neuro-crash and burn out, and relative versus absolute thinking. This book provides a deep, current, and neurodiversity-affirmative understanding of the less obvious presentations of autism. It is relevant to all healthcare professionals, educators, family members, autistic individuals, and anyone who is curious about autism. A clinical companion guide, Is This Autism? A Companion Guide for Diagnosing , is available for clinicians who make mental health diagnoses.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Parenting, Health, Counselling

292 pages, Paperback

Published June 5, 2023

Reviews

[akemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A frustrating read, because while I applaud the authors for making a concerted effort to include neurodivergent voices (and contradictory ones, at that), I was persistently on edge over their essentialising take on autism. This stems from an uncritical alignment with neurodiversity (the idea that cognitive diversity is inherently good). Yes, neurodiversity gives us a plurality of positions to reside in, undoing the damage of neuronormativity (the idea that cognitive difference is a disease to be cured), but that doesn't mean we should blindly celebrate autists as simply "born this way."

I don't know a single autist who isn't affected by PTSD or cPTSD; their traumas manifest in depression, anxiety, dissociation, bipolar, BPD, IBS, and ADHD. We are not fucking born this way, and to admit that deepens our understanding of neurodiversity. This is something scholars of disability justice, complex PTSD, and critical theory have been doing for decades. This books doesn't engage with any of those fields.

I find it incredibly irresponsible that the authors try to distance autism from mental disorders, because though there is much that needs to be destigmatised about autism (stimming, eye contact, fixation), there are plenty of traits that I find disabling. Entering a room, feeling an overwhelming sense of emotion, but not being able to locate the meaning. I don't feel shame about this, but it's something I'm intimately aware of. I hate that this cognitive difference is collapsed into neurodiversity as if it's a beautiful thing. It's not. It fucking sucks. I spent my childhood standing near people I found comforting, without speaking, not knowing that this was strange. Luckily, everyone at my high school found me endearing. I have developed better communication skills, and this does not feel like masking. It feels like reciprocity, respect, and love.

This is my issue with accommodation models that place all the responsibility of change on neurotypicals. It's condescending to neurodivergents, because it says we can't change, nor should we be held accountable for our actions. Sure, we may not recognise certain behaviours as strange, rude, or harmful, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be held accountable for them. Don't use diagnostic labels to excuse harmful behaviour. You can use labels to explain behaviour, but the person who harms has to learn why their behaviour is unacceptable. I'm very sympathetic towards people with BPD, but that doesn't mean I will tolerate idealisation and devaluation (something the authors here call black-and-white thinking). I understand that this behaviour emerges from emotional dysregulation, overwhelming feelings of betrayal that mirror traumatic loss experienced during one's upbringing. That doesn't make the behaviour less harmful. Be sympathetic, reach out, but don't excuse.

Autists have been historically victimised; that doesn't mean we can't victimise. My ex, who I'm still best friends with, is intimately aware of how they've hurt others because they couldn't read social cues of hesitation and reluctance. These failures in recognition can be remedied by developing explicit communication rules on consent; being very clear before an advance is made, and very clear that a direct "no" is not rude, but fucking necessary. This is on the autist, as much as the person they're engaging with.

I get it: this is a book about recognition and validation, but don't put us on a pedestal. We can fuck up. We can fuck up really bad. Just because our autistic traits will be with us for life, it doesn't mean we can't relate to them differently, and grow new patterns of expressing them.

Please consider trauma-informed psychotherapy, transformative justice, and nonviolent communication as additional avenues of allyship.

—

See Corvus's review on Mad World: The Politics of Mental Health for further critiques of neurodiversity and the social model of disability. They make a great point about how debilitating their OCD is, and that it shouldn't be uncritically celebrated as cognitive difference.

See also my review on Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism for a more systemic critique of neuronormativity. Chapman's book has a section that goes into the social construction of autism, in relation to labour exploitation and burnout, that interrogates the darker side of neurodiversity.

[Sandra Landis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally thought I would purchase this book to use as a reference guide. However, as soon as I opened it I realized how inviting, readable, informative and enjoyable the book is. It makes sense out of the amorphous diagnostic criteria and so much more! Further, this book breaks down the subtleties of autism behaviors and challenges in understandable and relatable ways. Even if people don't formally have an autism diagnosis, the book creates an empathy in the reader for the myriad ways others communicate and possible explanations for them. Definitely a must read!!! Much gratitude to the authors!!!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-written and thoughtful book on the nuances of autism, especially in AFABs, POC and LGBTQ people, as well as men who didn’t fit the “stereotype”. It was well laid out and had great examples and vignettes from autistic folks. I was happy to hear that it mentioned common experiences like maladaptive daydreaming, alexithymia, and RSD. It also included POC and LGBTQ perspectives of autism which is so important. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about level 1 autism and recent issues explored.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book to read if you want a diagnosis of autism—or if you've been told you're not "really autistic" because you've learned to adapt. The authors put forward a very broad theory of autism, focused on less obvious autistic people who are not obviously low-functioning (although they wouldn't like that term!) Their theory is that diagnosticians should pay attention first and foremost to the potentially autistic person's personal testimony, so that if a person says they have social difficulties or sensory sensitivities, they might be autistic, even if there is zero externally discernible problem.

A major flaw of the book is its refusal to consider the harm that diagnosis can do. The authors state that "getting a proper diagnosis of autism, particularly when it is conveyed in a neurodiversity-affirmative manner, is a very positive and even life-changing experience" because it can mean accommodation, treatment, community, and understanding. But they do not consider the stigma, lack of opportunity, and decreased ambition that can accompany a diagnosis—not to mention forced and/or ineffective treatment, a very real risk especially for children and teens.

The authors believe that diagnosis is necessary because undiagnosed "autistics are chronically misunderstood in countless ways." But this logic doesn't work. Is there any reason to believe that *diagnosed* autistic people are NOT misunderstood? What about having a diagnostic label would prevent misunderstanding?

All in all, the book is a useful polemic tool for those who want to argue for more autism diagnoses, but lacking in balance or understanding of the harm reckless diagnosis can do, especially to children.

[this_eel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coherently puts together so many pieces of autistic traits and expressions that are under-discussed and under-synthesized in The Literature and in clinical settings, which on a personal level I found deeply humanizing and validating in fresh ways despite previously being validated by…Many things. But validated or not I have run into some unnecessary and major setbacks due to the kind of clinicians’ under education, anxiety and reluctance to diagnose anything outside their core interests/toolboxes described in this book. So I do yearn to mail the books to a specific list of professionals who will try anything but autism to explain someone with all the signs of autism. I am in fact a big believer in the potential utility of expert opinion, diagnosis and existing medicinal and skill based treatments. Yet there’s a hard stop on that for me, because from outpatient therapists to some of the most prestigious organizations of the country you can find clinicians who are so siloed in their diagnoses of interest and their areas of expertise that it’s not uncommon for patients to walk away with useless labels and treatment plans. For many clinicians, autism just isn’t the same thing as psychiatry, they don’t know it well, and they won’t diagnose, treat or study up on it to effectively assess and assist patients/clients. Even clinicians who are open to the idea of their autistic client often have no idea what to do with that information. It would be nice if the only experts most people can access could read even this one short book and get over the deeply annoying hump that has profound effects on the people who come to them for help. If I have a chip on my shoulder about people who don’t do this, well, it’s a god damned hassle to talk to people who follow fads and outdated data instead of listening to patients, and unfortunately that’s not too uncommon.

[Gerry Sacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well put together book. Not only did they do a ton of research, you can tell by the amount of sourcing done, they also worded it in a very easy to read manner. This book is extremely approachable.

I loved all the quotes from all the patients/survey takers.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive insight into all the factors of autism diagnosis and how vast the spectrum can be. I feel like there is still a lot to be understood about autism, especially since there are so many scenarios where opposite things can apply to different people on the spectrum. Makes it very difficult to decipher what it means to be autistic vs non-autistic. You would have to be exceptionally well-informed and scrutinizing to be in a position of diagnosing it. I am in the "everyone else" category of the title so this was more of a personal exploration for me than an effort to understand the demographic and I liked how each chapter prompted me to examine my own experience with these traits and how some things were quite relatable and validating. I will be going in for my own assessment in March, and still don't really know which way it will go, but am interested in knowing either way.

[thosemeddlingkids]

Therapy homework that I actually resonated with :)

Lots of interesting info and tidbits. Appreciated that they interviewed and included thoughts and first hand experiences from autistic individuals throughout every chapter. A mix of education, tying shared experiences, and all the different ways of masking, how misdiagnoses happen, and lots of other topics.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I have heard from actually autistic people that the way these authors recruited autistic people for their input for this book was not great. I’m always skeptical of books about autism that are written by non-autistic people. In general, this book is fairly affirming, until you get to the chapter about co-occurring challenges with autism. Then the tone shifts, and there’s a lot of deficit-based language, such as disorder, etc. I didn’t even finish that chapter because honestly it felt like it didn’t fit in with the rest of the tone of the book. I appreciate the chapter on autistic strengths, but I wonder if that could’ve come earlier in the book. Overall, this was OK, but I would recommend reading a book written by an actually autistic author instead.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for all readers

As a non-specialist I found this book incredibly readable, insightful, and engaging. As a teacher, I've learned a great deal that enriches my understanding my students' full range of learning needs and life skills and challenges. And as a researcher in gender studies, I was happy to see the impressively nuanced and up-to-date understanding of gender and genderqueer issues as they pertain to autism, particularly, though not only, in the attention to differently-presenting autistic girls.

The book is also culturally sensitive and inclusive; meticulously organized, with helpful underscoring of key ideas; and consistently affirming of neurodivergent people, foregrounding their voices throughout.

[Markus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for a rigorous, logical examination of this topic but instead I’m bombarded with terms like "lived experience," "neurodiversity affirming speech," "intersectionality," "inclusivity" and sentimentality so exaggerated that it would be too much if used in a book for toddlers. All this denotes a penchant for dogmatic ideology, far from the free flow of ideas that is the basis for science.

Now I’m glad that we have a tool to better understand this kind of human condition but this tool is still only useful to create a separate class to lump these people into in terms of diagnoses. When it comes to understanding them, the best that these super experts can do is to say “they have a different nervous system so I’m going to list all these symptoms that might characterize them so that we can affirm their existence and shape the world around them according to their needs.”

Explaining a psychological/psychiatric condition by saying that they have a different nervous system is as useful as……. well it’s just useless. While neurodevelopmental deficiencies can be a part of the diagnosis of autism, it’s definitely not a requirement and the authors throw the label of autism around like a hot new fashion item naming celebrities and telling stories of people that identify with it.

My issue with this vigorous labelling is that it seems to take away much of the agency of these people that identify with it – "I don’t have to deal with my social anxiety or my difficulties in advancing at my career because I have a different nervous system and It’s unfair that I have to submit myself to these neurotypicals. It’s what my psychologist and psychiatrist told me so it’s true."

I’m not saying they have it easy but the assertion of these authors that the world is shaped to the needs of neurotypicals and that these “normies” hardly know what social anxiety is, displays a level of understanding so low it boggles the mind.

What we do learn here is that autism usually comes with many comorbidities, they are heavily traumatized, they are 7 times more likely to have gender dysphoria and they are more likely to delve into new trendy social justice issues, like Greta Thunberg, for example. They have a much higher likelihood to have depression and anxiety and a moderately higher likelihood to have OCD, eating disorders and at least one co-occurring mental health condition.

As I said, I’m glad we have label to explain some bizarre human behaviors and this can save patients from faulty diagnoses or excessive medications. That said, I’d say we can still be careful with labelling these people and we can try to understand them more deeply. If it comes to pass that it’s discovered to be a solely a neurological condition, then I’ll gladly stand corrected but until that happens, we can explore other avenues. One logical path could be to explore the trauma/disassociation connection with the social/emotional difficulties. Therapy is known to promote healing through neuroplasticity, I don't think we should advocate the belief that people will be stuck with a mental health label for the rest of their lives.

[Meike Kroes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Echt super interessant, heb ‘m gelezen voor de professionaliseringslijn op school. Zo wordt ik stapje bij beetje de beste ergo ooit🕺

[Jennifer Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is This Autism?
I have had the pleasure of reading Is This Autism: A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else and Is This Autism, A Companion Guide for Diagnosing by Drs. Donna Henderson and Sarah Waylan. These books, and their associated training by the authors, should be considered the gold standard in texts on neurodiversity-affirming evaluations of Autistic individuals across the lifespan.

Anyone providing Autism assessments or supports should read and follow the guidelines provided in these thoughtfully written works. Many Autistic individuals were interviewed and included in the process of informing the author’s work for these books, and they treated this process with the respect and care that the Autistic community deserves.

To clinicians involved with assessment and support for Autistic and/or other Neurodivergent individuals (which includes almost all providers-- whether they know it or not), this set of books should be required reading to guide and inform your clinical practices.

To my fellow Neurodivergent tribe, Congratulations! The mental health field is finally starting to understand. I also recommend this book to you; I believe this book will be an invaluable guide in your process of seeking identification or validation of your lived experience. This book will also help you to be a more informed consumer of clinical evaluations of Autism and Autistic mental health care and supports.
—Neurodivergent Neuropsychologist

[cactodocus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely validating book. As the subtitle suggests, it's a guide for clinicians and everyone else that, in my opinion, shouldn't be missed. It's a good introduction to what autism is and is not.

There are books out there that go more in depth in some of the areas mentioned in this book, like Unmasking Autism by Dr Devon Price, which focuses mostly on camouflaging and the importance of intersectionality in the neurodiversity paradigm. Both books are invaluable and must reads, but this one is particularly good to get a general sense on the topic and identify areas in which you would like to dive deeper.

[Beck Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I wrote in a progress update, this is one of the most affirming (as a late-diagnosed autistic person) and intellectually-invigorating - unlike any other highly researched and qualitative - books I've ever read especially about autism. ❤️ When I was reading it, I felt like my psyche was bouncing off the walls, unable to pause for even a moment which I'm sure will unfortunately result in very little knowledge absorption. Nonetheless it was such a powerful and emotional read, a clear passion project and love letter towards all autistic folk and the ways we continue to change the world with our brilliance.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on autism, especially for high-functioning autistics, girls with autism, and people who present with more nuanced forms of autism. I thought this was one of the most respectful and inclusive books I have read on neurodivergence, and I also really appreciated how they included quotes from people who are autistic. This book is not difficult to read (even though it is a guide for clinicians), and I highly recommend it for anyone who has seriously thought, "Is this autism?"

[alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️ ik heb de nederlandse editie van dit boek gelezen, maar deze kan ik niet hier op goodreads vinden. dan maar de originele versie gebruiken.

dit boek was ontzettend interessant! het licht een hele hoop verschillende aspecten toe van autisme op een fijne manier. ook focust dit boek erop dat er een hele hoop mensen ongediagnosticeerd zijn of een verkeerde diagnose hebben en hoe dit kan. heel verhelderend boek.

[beatriz]

Yes

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am probably autistic, cool

[Brian Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. The author is a bit woke but I won't hold that against her.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Was hoping for a more comprehensive work on autism. A lot of subtopics are only briefly touched upon. What I missed is how comorbidities of ASD such as depression, anxiety, burnout, etc differ from same conditions in non-autistic individuals. Here and there I felt like too much emphasis is put on autistic children and not enough is mentioned about adults. What about these autists that do not have visible symptoms, ie who mask all the time, don’t seem to stim, etc. What about unmasking and the impact on the unmasking individual - it is always good, or can it be bad too? And so forth
Also, it was somewhat boring/not very eye opening.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful. I was not diagnosed until I was an adult; for most of my life my autism hid behind the much louder ADHD, and I’m quite good at looking “normal” from the outside, so nobody except my family suspected. People - apparently even doctors - have a stereotyped and extremely limited concept of what autism looks like, and as a result many people who struggle daily go undiagnosed and misunderstood. This book explains how understanding of autism - both its outward manifestations and the experience of living with autism in a non-autistic world - has expanded and changed, and I found it quite helpful.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guidebook to the multitude of expressions of autism. I picked this up because several of my friends have been diagnosed with autism and I wanted to learn more about the subject. I had initially started reading „Unmasking autism“, another rather acclaimed book, but I found the writing of that one to be unnervingly meandering, repetitive, unscientific, self-righteous, and lacking structure. So I dropped it. This tome here was well thought out and accessible, despite its highly scientific background. I learned a lot, much recommended.

[Jess Vermette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! I appreciated the science-basis, impressive collective clinical experience, and autistic voices that are woven together to create an accessible read for professionals and laypersons alike. This work will leave many feeling validated and empowered. If we can get this book in the right hands (teachers, practitioners, parents, etc) - so many kids stand a chance at being understood which will significantly improve their wellbeing. 
Jess V, Psy. D.

[Heatherjoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A top notch book on subtler presentations of autism. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand autism better - teachers, parents, pediatricians, clergy, teachers psychologists, and more. I was expecting it to be a bit heady since it’s from an academic press but it was highly readable. I especially appreciated all the intentionality of fulfilling “nothing about us without us” and the embrace of autistic strengths.

[David Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for a parent and grandmother.

As the mother of a daughter who was only diagnosed with both ADHD and Autism at age forty, and with a grandson who is also probably autistic, means I needed good solid information. It took a long time to read this, as memories flooded with the different descriptions.
It’s such an important and emotional book to read.

[Cristina Costache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty well written and well informed, and always honest about not knowing everything which meant a lot. The neuro affirmingapproach was also very welcomed.
Plus, asexuality and healthcare trauma was mentioned too which again was very appreciated 💙

[Sam Peeters · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an autistic adult, I approached Is This Autism? with cautious optimism. Books about autism often either oversimplify our experiences or drown them in clinical jargon. This book manages to avoid some of those pitfalls, presenting a nuanced and research-based look at autism while incorporating voices from the autistic community. Yet, for all its merits, it left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied—like a well-intentioned conversation that didn’t fully land.

The book’s greatest strength lies in its attempt to bridge the gap between the medical model of autism and the neurodiversity paradigm. Its structure, which moves from the diagnostic criteria to co-occurring challenges and autistic strengths, reflects a thoughtful effort to provide a holistic perspective. I particularly appreciated the focus on less obvious presentations of autism. As someone who masks extensively, the sections on camouflaging resonated deeply. The toll of hiding one’s true self, the exhaustion, and the persistent self-doubt were captured with sensitivity and understanding.

The inclusion of quotes from autistic individuals is another highlight. These personal insights added an authenticity that many books in this genre lack. Reading their words was like hearing fragments of my own inner monologue brought to life. For clinicians and educators, these first-hand accounts could provide valuable insights into the lived experience of autism.

However, the book also has its shortcomings. While the authors’ neurodiversity-affirmative stance is commendable, their balancing act between the medical and social models of autism occasionally feels strained. This tension, while reflective of broader debates in the field, is never fully resolved. For readers seeking a definitive perspective, this ambiguity might feel frustrating.

Moreover, while the book aims for inclusivity, its focus on Western clinical frameworks and predominantly white, English-speaking autistic voices limits its scope. The sections on cultural and gender diversity are a step in the right direction but felt underdeveloped. Autism is a global phenomenon, and a broader lens could have enriched the book’s narrative significantly.

Another issue is its accessibility. While it is written for clinicians and lay readers alike, parts of the book lean heavily into clinical terminology, making it less approachable for a general audience. For an autistic reader without a background in psychology or mental health, these sections might feel alienating—ironically replicating the very sense of exclusion the authors aim to address.

Despite these criticisms, Is This Autism? is not without value. It offers a compassionate, if imperfect, attempt to broaden understanding of autism and challenge stereotypes. For clinicians, educators, and families seeking a starting point, it provides a solid foundation. For autistic readers, it may validate some experiences but might leave others wanting more.

In the end, Is This Autism? is a book that tries admirably to cover an immense, complex topic. It succeeds in some areas but falls short in others. For all its effort to center autistic voices, it sometimes feels like it is still speaking about us rather than with us. It is a good book, but not a great one—thought-provoking, yet not transformative.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autism is not my primary interest, rather, it’s early developmental trauma. However, while taking one of Dr. Wayland’s classes on parenting challenging children, I noticed that most of the parents in the class either had children who were autistic or had adopted children who had experienced trauma. Many of the challenges with which some (not most!) adoptive parents like me and (some?) autism parents struggle are strikingly similar.

I am also a researcher in the field of social science. So, the first thing that impressed me was the approach the authors took toward developing the book. They relied not only on research, but also on their own clinical experience and on extensive input and reviews from autistic individuals. This is a terrific example of community-based participatory research. Researchers are increasingly recognizing the limitations of traditional, western research methods as well as the validity of information coming from individuals with “lived experience.” (Personally, I don’t like the term “lived experience,” because all people have experience living. The issue is WHOSE lived experience we take into account; too often, it isn’t that of the population of focus). I appreciated the authors’ use of the straightforward term “experts” to describe their autistic contributors. We need to acknowledge individuals from populations being studied as having equal–if not more–expertise compared with researchers or providers (clinicians). One equity question I have, though, is whether autistic contributors were compensated in any way. This could have been a challenge, if the authors didn’t have any grant funding for the book (which may have been the case).

The authors were intentional in taking an equity-based approach–another increasing and important goal in social science research. At the beginning of the book, they explain wording choices they have made. Many authors recommend using “person first” language (e.g., an individual with autism), to suggest that a particular characteristic does not define an individual. However, I think what really matters is how members of the population of interest want to be referred. Sometimes a characteristic or experience is a key part of their identity. For example, I have talked with a number of individuals who consider foster care as a key part of their identity, so they would prefer to be referred to as “former foster youth” rather than “a person who has experienced foster care.” Based on input from autistics, the authors often use “identity first” language (but not always, since preferences varied among the autistic experts.)

In addition, while adhering to DSM and ICD diagnostic criteria, the authors clearly describe the many varying ways in which autism can present. It probably wouldn’t have been appropriate for this book, but I’d be interested to hear the authors’ thoughts on the diagnostic criteria and whether they think any should be changed. I’d also be interested to learn more about people who have some of the neurodivergent characteristics of autism, but who don’t meet the diagnostic criteria (again, outside the scope of the book.)

Another important equity piece is the authors’ intentional inclusion of research on girls. In the past, most medical research has focused on White males (excepting research that was highly risky for study participants, such as developing gynecological medical procedures or learning about the long-term effects of syphilis; in these and other studies, researchers exploited Black people). Research that focuses only on White males can put females and BIPOC individuals at risk, if findings are generalized to them. For example, heart attack symptoms can be very different for men versus women. Relying only on men’s heart attack symptoms means that heart attacks are more likely to be missed in women than in men.

The book is very readable–not too technical (or boring!), with many quotes from autistic experts. It is also very well edited–in part, thanks to detail-oriented autistic reviewers. Part one includes separate chapters on features of autism. Part two discusses both challenges for and strengths of autistic individuals.

I won’t list the similarities in the symptoms, behaviors, challenges, and strengths that I noticed were common across people with autism and those who’ve experienced early developmental trauma (there were a lot!) but now I’m intrigued to learn more about WHY these similarities exist (though I don’t think the research is there yet!) I also think it’s important to consider that many of the supports and services that benefit autistic individuals could also benefit individuals affected by early developmental trauma. This could be an efficient way to increase the quality and breadth of supportive services to more than one population.

[Daniel Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.
I definitely plan to get the companion clinician's guide, but although this book says that it's targeted for clinicians and everyone else,i definitely would encourage (especially, undiagnosed, late diagnosed, high masking, questioning, or doubting) autistic folks to read this book.

Don't fail to read the notes, intro, and forward before the book, it helps set the tone for why a book like this is needed, how it's best used, and the authors' worldview. If you're most familiar with the medical model of disability, or autism as depicted on TV, you need these pieces to properly give you the 101 you need to use the rest of the book to it's best use.

I love the structure - it goes chapter by chapter through the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria. For each chapter it explains (my summary)
1- what folks assume the trait looks like
2- other ways it often shows up
3- multiple quotes from autistic folks who experience the trait in multiple ways
4- research specifically on autism and women, which they explain is relevant to folks of all genders, as it helps to shine light on the variety across presentation.
5- FAQs
The final chapters are about co occurring conditions and autistic strengths. I love that they closed the book with a chapter on strengths.

My main criticism of the book is that they didn't make point 4 clear enough in the intro that they are specifically talking about cisgender girls and women, despite being otherwise good at acknowledging gender diversity.

I would absolutely recommend this book. To anyone in the first paragraph above, or to folks who may know autistics.