Although sensitivity and acceptance towards people with autism spectrum disorders has been increasing, there are many myths, stereotypes, prejudices and fears in the general population about people with autism.
Many researchers, psychologists, educators, family members and, especially, people with ASD have helped to raise awareness of this type of disorder through popular scientific works and testimonies about the daily lives of autistic people.
Next We will know several books about autism both novels and testimonies and popular scientific works based on research work, which aim to help affected people, their families and therapists understand what this disorder is.
There are many stereotypes, myths and false beliefs that are held about autism spectrum disorders (ASD). , the most widespread being that they cannot improve or that they are all the same. However, autistic people, whether children or adults, are very diverse individuals, with a multitude of different hobbies and interests and, of course, with conditions of different severity, which is why we talk about autism spectrum disorders. These are 20 works that we cannot miss if we want to know more about autism.
1. A different mind: understanding children with autism and Asperger syndrome, by Peter Szatmari (2004)
Peter Szatmari presents in this book the idea that, before trying to understand how people with autism think or feel, it is necessary find out why they don’t like being touched or don’t seem to show any type of emotion. In a manual way it tries to answer these questions, helping to build a solid foundation for families and teachers. Real cases are presented with which the author, a Canadian researcher specialized in this disorder, has been working for years.
2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon (2004)
Although this novel is relatively young, we can already consider it a classic in works that aim to make ASD visible. , specifically what is sometimes called Asperger’s syndrome. Mark Haddon introduces us to Christopher, a 15-year-old boy with Asperger’s who, one day, finds his neighbor’s dead dog. In the same spirit as Sherlock Holmes, the young man will try to solve this curious incident by facing a hostile and unknown world, difficult for any person with autism.
3. Born on a Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet (2006)
The author Daniel Tammet is a person with ASD but with an unusual condition, since He also has what is known as Savant or genius syndrome. This is an atypical autistic person with abilities and skills well above normal, and that is why it should be taken into account and not think that all autistic people are supergeniuses. Even so, the work is very interesting to learn about the case and understand the behaviors of any autistic person, whether or not they have above-average abilities, as well as to learn about savantism.
4. The Reason I Jump, by Naoki Higashida (2007)
Naoki Higashida is autistic but, unlike Daniel Tammet, has high support needs and to communicate, with a lot of effort, he does so through written text. With simple and direct language, Higashida asks and answers 53 questions that cover topics and stereotypes about people with autism, in addition to exposing some particular behaviors and manias. Among them is the one that gives its name to the book’s title: “Why do I jump?”
5. María and I, by Miguel Gallardo and María Gallardo (2007)
Miguel Gallardo presents us with his colorful comic what his 12-year-old daughter María is like, who has the disorder. In “Maria and I” we are taught the importance of using clear and simple images to establish communicative dynamics with people on the spectrum. The comic recreates a vacation in which the family, like any other with a child with autism, has to face obstacles.
To learn more about the book, click here.
6. Lorenzo’s Dipper, by Isabelle Carrier (2010)
Lorenzo, the protagonist of this book, drags a saucepan and doesn’t know how to get rid of it. It hinders him a lot: he has a lot of incidents, he gets stuck, he can’t move forward or run. The saucepan is a metaphor that reflects the sad daily reality of children with autism conditioned by the multiple difficulties in their environment, which they do not know how to cope with. The book explains how Lorenzo, without getting rid of the saucepan, manages to face adversity.
If you are interested in more details, click this link.
7. CuentAutismo, by Rubén Serrano (2010)
“CuentaAutismo” by Rubén Serrano is an analogy of 19 stories through which stories are presented that teach us to accept diversity. On many occasions we limit ourselves to defining autistic children based on their label, leaving aside the fact that they are still children who want to have friends, have fun, laugh and play like others. It is true that their way of being is a little special, but that does not mean we should deny them their right to childhood and to be happy.
To learn more about this work, access this page.
8. The Autistic Brain, by Temple Grandin (2013)
The author of this book, Temple Grandin, She is known for being one of the first people with autism to give her own voice to her way of being. , describing it in this work in the first person. She is currently a professor of Animal Behavior at Colorado State University and is probably the best-known non-fictional autistic person, especially for her informative work. This book is dense so it is not recommended as a first approach to ASD, although it is ideal for understanding its neurological bases.
If you are interested in more details, click this link.
9. The Spark, by Kristine Barnett (2013)
Kristine Barnett, the author of “The Spark” He tells us about his son Jacob, who has severe autism. Despite this condition, the little boy progressively becomes a genius in astrophysics. Kristine’s real fight is not against her son’s intellectual disability, but in favor of listening and discovering what motivates and what each person with autism is good at, trying to fan that flame or spark to make them thrive in life. life, being unique.
10. Maria turns 20, by Miguel Gallardo and María Gallardo (2015)
Seven years after having published “María y yo” Miguel Gallardo publishes the sequel. In “Maria turns 20” he shows us the life of her daughter now being a twenty-something and How do you relate to the world as an adult?. She explains to us the news in the young woman’s life and what things are still the same as they were in her adolescence.
Click here to read more about this book.
11. M for Autism, Limpsfield Grange School and Vicky Martin (2016)
The protagonist of this story is called M, a teenage girl who makes us understand the important role that anxiety plays in people with ASD. It is through her fears, dreams and goals that M brings us closer to her way of thinking and feeling, and teaches us what helps her and what doesn’t. This book written by students at Limpsfield Grange School in collaboration with Vicky Martin gives visibility to the work of professionals, especially psychologists, as well as the colleagues and families of people with ASD.
To access more information about the work, go here.
12. Lucas has superpowers, by Ana Luengo (2016)
In “Lucas has superpowers” we are explained what an afternoon in the life of Lucas is like. Unlike what it would be like for other people, Lucas has to make a great effort, but he also tells us how, from whichever way you look at it, what is a strange behavior for some can be a great skill for others. Through the reflections of another child, the book shows us that it is the value of judgment itself that determines whether something is right or wrong, not the way each person is or how they are.
To learn more about this work, access this page.
13. The boy who forgot how to look, by Juan Martos and María Llorente (2017)
Written by psychologists from the DELETREA team, “The Child Who Forgot How to Look” offers a global but profound vision of autism. Although it is suitable for families and professionals, it must be said that uses specialized language and is especially geared towards psychologists and specialists in the disorder. At the end of each chapter it offers important keys about what has been read in it to establish knowledge well, making reading quite enjoyable and productive.
If you are interested in more details, click this link.
14. Autism, current explanatory theories, by Rubén Palomo (2017)
This book is more investigative in nature, ideal to learn about the journey of research on autism, going from the most classic models to the most current ones. It has a format typical of a scientific article, which is not exactly the most ideal if you want to have a general idea about what the disorder is, but it does allow you to thoroughly study the topic.
Click here to read more about this book.
15. Having a child with autism, by Melisa Tuya (2017)
In this book Melisa explains to us her particular vision of her son Jaime’s disorder, exposing her own experience. Full of experiences and reflections on what it means to be a student with autism, the objective of this book is to approach families and teachers in a direct way. She describes the journey that Melisa followed with her son, from the diagnosis, the progression of the disorder, the myths that surround it and the vision of other people who also live with it.
You want to know more? Access this page.
16. The Boy Who Wanted to Build His World, by Keith Stuart (2017)
This story tells us about the life of its author, Keith Stuart, a 30-year-old man who sees that his life is falling apart and, to make matters worse, discovers that his son Sam has autism. After several disappointments and overwhelmed by how his life was going, one day Keith unknowingly said the magic words that would allow him to get closer to his son: “Sam, let’s play Minecraft.” The message of the book is that we must get involved in the interests and hobbies of children with ASD to communicate with them.
To learn more about this work, access this page.
17. The man who collected coins with his mouth, by J. Francisco Guerrero López and Ana Paula Zaragoza Moyano (2017)
The authors of this book are doctors in pedagogy who explain autism from two perspectives. First they focus on showing cases of autism, both real and fictitious, to exemplify what this disorder is. Figures related to ASD research appear in the work, such as Hans Asperger or Lorna Wing, and film characters such as Raymond Babbitt (from Rain Man). In the second part, the author Ana explains her observations of an autistic child placed in a classroom with children without the disorder.
More information is available on this page.
18. Development of conceptual categories in students with autism spectrum disorders, by Manuel Ojea Rúa (2018)
In the RELATEA program, a project is carried out that has the objective of facilitate the creation of relationships during perceptual-cognitive development in students with the disorder. This manual exposes this program, which offers content and activities with content from various subjects. It is intended that students with autism learn by developing semantic memory, grouping content into different categories of concepts or relating them in new categories, among other skills.
Click here to read more about this book.
19. Unique Human Beings: A Different Way of Viewing Autism, by Barry M. Prizant (2018)
With Unique Human Beings Barry M. Prizant presents us several testimonies, examples and experiences that allow us to approach different autism profiles through the protagonism of people with ASD and their families. Presenting it more as a way of being than as a terrible pathology, Prizant presents us with an enjoyable read in which values such as understanding, respect and the desire to help people with this pathology emerge.
If you are interested in more details, click this link.
20. Bet and TEA, by Anna Gusó and Joana Bruna (2019)
Very briefly and simply in “Bet and TEA” We are introduced to Bet, who teaches us very accurate guidelines on how adults should behave towards people with autism. This book is ideal for a first approach to the subject, plus it is easy to read for the little ones in the house, with many colorful images.
To learn more about this work, access this page.
Bibliographic references:
Grandin, T. & Panek, R. (2014). The autistic brain: the power of a different mind. Barcelona: RBA Books.
De Ajuriaguerra, J (1973). Manual of Child Psychiatry, Editorial Masson, Barcelona, 4th edition.
Hobson, P. (1995) Autism and development of the mind, Madrid, Editorial Alianza.
Lozano, J. (2000). The diagnosis of autism, Cuban Journal of Pediatrics.
Klin, A., Volkmar, F., Lord, C., Cook, E. (2002) Autism and the Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
Ozonoff, S., Dawson, G., McPartland, J (2002). A Parent’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism. The Guilford Press. NY.
I’m Emily Williams Jones, a psychologist specializing in mental health with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. With a Ph.D. in psychology, my career has spanned research, clinical practice and private counseling. I’m dedicated to helping individuals overcome anxiety, depression and trauma by offering a personalized, evidence-based approach that combines the latest research with compassionate care.
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