The difference that being female makes to the diagnosis, life and experiences of a person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has largely gone unresearched and unreported until recently. In this book Sarah Hendrickx has collected both academic research and personal stories about girls and women on the autism spectrum to present a picture of their feelings, thoughts and experiences at each stage of their lives.
Outlining how autism presents differently and can hide itself in females and what the likely impact will be for them throughout their lifespan, the book looks at how females with ASD experience diagnosis, childhood, education, adolescence, friendships, sexuality, employment, pregnancy and parenting, and aging. It will provide invaluable guidance for the professionals who support these girls and women and it will offer women with autism a guiding light in interpreting and understanding their own life experiences through the experiences of others.
If you want to know more about women on the autism spectrum or think you, yourself may be on the spectrum I recommend reading this book and discussing the possibilities with your doctor!
I haven't finished the book I'm not going to lie (perhaps my adhd brain there, as I can never finish anything I start), so I'm not sure if it discusses anything about how to live on the spectrum or how to manage life better. But I hope one day I can manage to sit down and finish it!
There are small sentences or paragraphs included on how women who are on the autism spectrum feel about certain things in their life. I could relate to so much of it. Thank you so much for writing this book! I’ve always known I was different. Thirty years ago I thought I was “kind of” autistic. I stopped telling anybody that because they would laugh at me. “You can’t be kind of autistic” But I had several traits. I did not bang my head And I did not flap my hands but I’m still autistic nonetheless. It all just came together with this book. I am who I am and now I’m not going to listen to any more bullying because someone else’s false beliefs of who they think I am or should be. There’s nothing wrong with me. I just think & react differently than others.
TEN ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ to Sarah Hendrickx!
What I enjoyed most about the book is the mix of personal and research-based accounts. Since there is not much research based data about women with AS it was great to read the real life experiences woman young and old have gone through. This book is an important starting point hopefully having more understanding and compassion for getting folks accomodations and support where needed.
Required reading for any female human who thinks they may be autistic, anyone who knows a female with autism, or who has recently been diagnosed with autism. This book exhibits peer reviewed science frankly (and often humorously) mixed with personal anecdotes, and this gives the book a warmth and clarity that's hard to find in other books on the subject.
Furthermore, it addresses the entire lifetime of a woman on the autism spectrum, putting forth an ambitious array of autism expression, and various individual testimonies.
I cannot recommend this book enough.