We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation

Me furiously writing this review in a Google Doc:You ever read a nonfiction book so good that not only do you give it five stars, but you also remove ratings for multiple novels which poorly featured its subject? Looking at you, [a:Angie Kim 18035146 Angie Kim https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1679593689p2/18035146.jpg].We're Not Broken is penned by Eric Garcia, a journalist currently at The Washington Post, with a lengthy CV. Garcia covers the history of autism, primarily in the United States: past and present Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria, shifting cultural attitudes about disability and neurodiversity, controversial practices and organizations (ABA, Autism Speaks), and more.He describes the inherent limitations of the business case for diversity (do not get me started), and how diverse hiring efforts fizzle out after recruitment, when retention is the real test. I learned a lot about sheltered workshops, many of which pay disabled people below federal minimum wage, which is already nowhere near a livable wage (do not get me started). Someone smarter than me should write a book about this and prison labor and undocumented labor.Garcia also discusses language, pointing out a myriad of issues with labels like “high functioning,” “low functioning,” and “special needs.” He explores the strong focus on finding a cause of and/or cure for autism, citing specific ads and PSAs drawing parallels between autism and cancer, or autism and criminals holding our children hostage. He looks at how the suffering and opinions of an autistic persons' family often take precedence over asking the person with the diagnosis how they feel and what they need. Garcia zeroes in on this while also researching how broader stereotypes about gender, race, age, and class factor into the ability to obtain a diagnosis in the first place.Especially for its length, the book is a wealth of knowledge. It is nuanced but not dense, and it flows together well. Garcia himself is autistic. Like Angela Chen's [b:Ace 52128695 Ace What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex Angela Chen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580804471l/52128695.SX50_SY75.jpg 73599792] (and works by [a:Devon Price 15184474 Devon Price https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1601572773p2/15184474.jpg]), personal anecdotes and experiences of the author are included, but they are surrounded by quotes from scientific studies and interviews with dozens of experts. I really like this approach. Instead of “objective” scholarship from a sterile distance, the author has skin in the game.I also loved that Garcia narrated the audiobook himself. I liked his cadence, introspection, and especially the way he says acronyms so I can actually hear and remember the letters. Still, it would be nice to own a hard copy. There are some great quotes and an index at the back.I have got to read [b:NeuroTribes 22514020 NeuroTribes The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity Steve Silberman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421707890l/22514020.SY75.jpg 41957894]. And also [b:Sincerely, Your Autistic Child 54615849 Sincerely, Your Autistic Child Sharon daVanport https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605573791l/54615849.SY75.jpg 49605219]. And also [b:All the Weight of Our Dreams 29360622 All the Weight of Our Dreams On Living Racialized Autism Lydia X.Z. Brown https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500318509l/29360622.SY75.jpg 49605278]. And also