Hello! I’m Lauren. I’m a more recently diagnosed Autistic mom of two bright children. My son was diagnosed with Autism in 2015 at age 3, and my daughter is awaiting an assessment she will receive later this year at age 9. I’m a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), and I’m currently in school with the goal of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). In December 2022, I decided to start my blog and Facebook page so that I can be more active and involved within my communities of Autistics and ABA professionals. Since then I’ve expanded to sharing content on TikTok and I’m also on Instagram and Twitter, though I haven’t used those as much yet.
I’m thrilled to share with you some of the best blogs, books, communities, and other resources I and others in the Autistic community have come across and recommend. Wherever and whoever you are in this world of Autism, there are resources out there for you. Whether you are Autistic, think you may be Autistic, or if you work with or love someone who is Autistic, I hope you will find community and other resources that will be helpful for you on your journey.
This is not an exhaustive list, as there are so many resources out there. These are ones that I and others I’ve reached out to in the Autistic community recommend, particularly for those wanting to learn more about Autism in general and for those who are more newly diagnosed or self-diagnosed/realized.
Please bear in mind that throughout this list of resources, there will be some that touch base on ABA in a less than positive light. Remember that in any field there will be both excellent and lacking therapists, educators, etc. This is why it is of the utmost importance to research your chosen therapists’ practices, as well as remain informed throughout the duration of you or your loved one’s time receiving support services of any kind.
Books
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, PhD.
In this book, Dr. Devon Price lays out his experiences with masking and offers exercises throughout the book to help you along your way in your journey of unmasking. The book also uncovers the experiences of other people within the Autistic community throughout the text.
What I Actually Mean When I Say I’m Autistic by Annie Kotowicz
Diagnosed later in life, Annie Kotowicz unveils life from her perspective as an Autistic woman. Derived from stories told on her blog Neurobeautiful, this book will inspire both Autistic people and those around them who want to learn more.
Autistics on Autism by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Contrary to what the media often portrays, Autism is not a children-only neurotype. Autistics on Autism is a collection of stories told by Autistic adults. This piece of literature offers a look inside the experiences of 100 Autistic people in order to offer the world a better understanding of us.
Sincerely, Your Autistic Child by the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network; edited by Morenike Giwa Onaiwu, Emily Paige Ballou, & Sharon daVanport
Most books targeted toward families of Autistic children are written by Allistic psychologists, educators, and doctors, offering limited insight into Autism. This anthology is described as “part memoir, part guide, and part love letter.” The book holds a collection of stories told by Autistic people, making this an authentic resource for families.
Contributors to the book pause and reflect on what they have learned while growing up on the Autism spectrum, as well as provide insight as to how families can do best for their children by avoiding common mistakes. The book also provides information on how to overcome some challenges that may arise throughout their child’s life.
Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg
Divergent Mind is an inspiring book directed toward women who have gone through life feeling that they are “different,” never knowing why. This book shares stories from a collective of Neurodivergent women, shedding light on the differences in how these brain variances present in women and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB).
This book also serves as a guide to put the reader on a path forward, offering discussions on practical changes in how we communicate and how we can better support divergent minds. Divergent Mind is a timely and much-needed piece of literature dedicated to informing people about the differences in our brains.
Start Here: A Guide for Parents of Autistic Kids by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
This booklet is an excellent resource for parents of Autistic children. It serves as a guide to help readers learn about Autism itself, how to understand their child better, how to find good services, and what particular rights children have in school. Most importantly, this book helps the reader learn how to best support their Autistic child as they grow older.
Blogs and Websites
AutisticAdvocacy.org
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a nonprofit organization, run by and for Autistic people, dedicated to empowering those in the community and advancing the principles of the disability movement. On their website you can find a collection of over 100 pages of various types of resources as well as information on identity-first language and general information explaining what Autism is.
AWNnetwork.org
The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network’s mission is to provide community support and resources for women, girls, trans and nonbinary people, Two Spirit People, and anyone of a marginalized gender identity. The website offers a resource library, blog, and webinars. Stay up to date by clicking on the Updates tab or by signing up for the AWN newsletter.
Neuroclastic.com
Neuroclastic offers a plethora of information and resources for Autistic individuals, their families, and their employers.
The website contains a section dedicated to educating viewers about Autism. From a drop-down menu you can find information about what Autism is and a list of Autistic traits broken down by category. This is a great place to start whether you are new to learning about Autism or if you already have a good amount of knowledge in your mental database. There is always more to learn.
The website also offers sections on culture and identity, justice, and health. Another drop-down menu will take you to resources such as infographics and directories as well as topics broken down by who needs them — those who are neurodivergent, families, educators, physicians, therapists, or employers.
Finding a specialist in diagnosing Autism can be hard, especially when you’re looking for one that specializes in adult diagnosis. That’s why Neuroclastic has a directory available that offers lists of diagnosticians so that people can locate one in their area. The lists are compiled of several different countries, so viewers are likely to find somewhere that is close to them.
ReframingAutism.org.au
Reframing Autism will soon offer a suite of Autistic wellbeing courses, tailored to fit three audiences — Autistic people, their families, and professionals. At this time, Reframing Autism is reviewing courses, so they are not yet available, but you can complete a form on the website to be notified of future offerings. The Autistic Wellbeing for Autistics course will be free!
Under the Resources tab you can find a collection of resources in a variety of formats primarily designated for diagnosed or self-realized Autistics. These resources cover a wide range of topics such as communication, diagnosis, masking, and many more. From blogs and videos to podcasts and infographics, Reframing Autism has something for you.
ThinkingAutismGuide.com
The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism is a one-stop source for information from Autistic people, their families, and Autism professionals. This website offers resources ranging from books, communities, and family perspectives to topics such as advocacy, accessibility, and communication. The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism also offers lists of Autism organizations they do support as well as ones they do not support. You can also find on the FAQ page a list of myths and truths about Neurodiversity.
Neurobeautiful.com
Owned and operated by Annie Kotowicz, the author of What I Actually Mean When I Say I’m Autistic, this website offers both community and information about the authentic Autistic experience. The many blog posts available to read offer insight into the mind of an Autistic woman. If you’re not sure where to start, there is a button on the main page that will select a blog post for you to begin reading. I found this feature so handy as I sometimes get overwhelmed with deciding what to read first.
Annie offers three different levels of donation-based community you can get involved in by contributing your choice of $1, $3, or $7, depending on what you would like to see. This is a great way to support her work! The top-tier community level features her newsletter, advance notice of her live events, transcripts to all live events (including past ones), and an even more unfiltered look at her writing. All community levels come with bonuses, such as stickers and free chapters of her book. Annie also sells shirts and stickers in her shop.
TempleGrandin.com
Temple Grandin is one of the world’s most accomplished and well-known Autistic adults. She holds a PhD and is currently a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She is a prominent author and speaker on both Autism and animal behavior. She has written books such as Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets for Helping Kids on the Spectrum and the national bestseller Thinking in Pictures. Her website offers articles, webinars, and a page where you can find all her books.
Recommended Communities and More
Joining communities is beneficial as you can offer help to others as well as receive help and friendship, rather than reading information from a static page. Both are great and serve their own purposes, but if you’re seeking to become more involved and active in your communities and want the interaction, here are some great Facebook pages, communities, podcasts, and YouTube channels that will keep you learning and communicating:
- The Autistic Self Advocacy Network [Facebook + Website]
- The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network [Facebook + Website]
- Neuroclastic [Facebook + Website]
- Reframing Autism [Facebook + Website]
- Neurobeautiful [Facebook + Website + Community]
- Bearded Behaviorist [Facebook]
- The Autistic Teacher [Facebook]
- I’ve Been Autistic All Along? [Facebook + Website]
- Autism from the Inside [Facebook + YouTube]
- The Neurodivergent Woman [Podcast]
- Being Autistic [Podcast + YouTube]
- You Don’t Sound Autistic [Podcast + Facebook]
- Mind Your Autistic Brain [Podcast + Facebook + Website + YouTube]
In Conclusion
It has brought me great pleasure to be able to share this variety of resources with you all, because I know how valuable it is for you to have this information in your hands. Through these resources you will find education, services, and community, and for that I am so excited for you!
This blog post was originally written for Waypoints who contacted me because they wanted to hear about resources from Autistic voices, and I am so happy to now be able to share this list of resources with you all!