We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation

“When it comes to dispelling myths, I’m beginning with myself,” writes Garcia, a journalist who is on the autism spectrum, in his thoughtful debut. Aiming to show what it’s like “to be autistic across America,” Garcia puts his own experience against “the larger context of autism’s narrative.” He profiles a wide array of people with autism (and some without): for example, Julia Bascom, executive director of the Autism Self Advocacy Network, describes how many employers mistakenly assume autistic people will thrive in STEM jobs. University of Texas graduate Cal Montgomery, meanwhile, recounts his experience being institutionalized and writes of how difficult it is to find “appropriate housing for autistic people.” Garcia also covers gender and race disparities that plague those with autism: there is a “perception that autism is a white condition,” he writes, and, as a result, “Black and brown people on the spectrum are overlooked.” Garcia’s strength is his ability to potently mix policy analysis (he covers the pros and cons of Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services Waivers, for example), reporting, and personal experience. This powerful account is packed with insight. (Aug.)