We’re Not Broken - Changing the Autism Conversation

Overview

We’re Not Broken by Eric Garcia is a groundbreaking examination of how misinformation, parent-centered advocacy, and systemic barriers have shaped Autism discourse and policy in America. Through interviews, case studies, and personal narrative, Garcia challenges the deficit-based “cure” narrative that has dominated autism conversations, while documenting how Autistic self-advocacy is reclaiming the conversation around their own lives. This book is essential for newly diagnosed Autistic adults, parents seeking accuracy, policymakers, educators, and anyone wanting to understand autism through an autistic-centered lens rather than external expert perspectives.

The Foundational Myth: How “refrigerator Mothers” and Bad Science Shaped Autism for Decades

Leo Kanner’s 1943 landmark study of autism inadvertently created one of the most damaging myths in disability history. Kanner noted that Autistic children’s parents lacked “genuine warmth,” describing them as keeping their children “neatly in refrigerators which did not defrost.” Psychologist Bruno Bettelheim then explicitly blamed parents for their children’s autism, claiming they wished their Autistic children didn’t exist. Though Kanner later recanted and Bettelheim’s ideas were thoroughly debunked, the damage persisted for decades—parents blamed themselves, autism became framed as personal tragedy rather than a Neurological difference, and Autistic people were prevented from accessing the broader disability rights movement.

This foundational error illustrates a critical pattern: misinformation in autism discourse, once established, shapes policy for generations even after being scientifically refuted. Kanner’s study included only white children from affluent families, yet this limited sample became the template for understanding autism universally, creating Diagnostic and systemic disparities that persist today. The “refrigerator mother” myth demonstrates how expert-driven narratives that exclude Autistic people’s own voices inevitably produce harmful frameworks that prioritize external judgment over Autistic reality.

Misinformation Drives Policy: the Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy and Its Devastating Consequences

Andrew Wakefield’s 1998 fraudulent study claiming a link between the MMR vaccine and autism became the most consequential piece of medical misinformation in recent memory. Despite the study’s retraction and Wakefield’s loss of his medical license in 2010, the conspiracy found champions across the political spectrum: Republican Dan Burton held congressional hearings based on anecdotal evidence about his grandchildren; Democratic Senator Tom Harkin questioned vaccine safety despite being a disability rights champion; both Barack Obama and John McCain mentioned vaccine-autism links during the 2008 presidential campaign. Jenny McCarthy amplified false claims on CNN and Oprah, reaching millions.

The irony is devastating: while politicians debated vaccines, Autistic people faced unemployment, lack of services, and inadequate education. Federal autism research spending reflects these distorted priorities: 75 percent goes toward finding “causes” and “cures,” while only 6 percent funds services and supports that Autistic people actually need. This demonstrates how bad information from well-meaning (or opportunistic) advocates produces backward policy priorities. Misinformation doesn’t just spread false beliefs—it actively redirects resources away from what Autistic people need to survive and thrive.

The “high-Functioning” Vs. “low-Functioning” Binary Obscures Both Struggles and Capability

The functioning labels dichotomy—“high-functioning” vs. “low-functioning”—obscures more than it reveals. Someone perceived as high-functioning may face profound invisible struggles: Anxiety, Sensory overwhelm, executive dysfunction, chronic Burnout from Masking. Conversely, labels like “low-functioning” presume incompetence in nonspeaking Autistic people, denying their intelligence and capacity. Lawyer and activist Lydia X. Z. Brown argued that Autistic people on the “right of the middle” of the spectrum are “closer to anyone on the far Autistic end than anyone on the Neurotypical end.”

Hari Srinivasan, a nonspeaking Autistic person admitted to UC Berkeley, exemplifies why functioning labels fail: he couldn’t communicate verbally during traditional ABA lessons due to oral-motor apraxia and Sensory dysregulation, yet proved capable of university-level work with appropriate accommodations. Many Autistic self-advocates deliberately avoid these terms, instead using “higher Support needs” and “lower Support needs” to be more precise about actual assistance required rather than making value judgments about personhood. The critical insight: Autistic people exist on a spectrum of different needs and strengths, not a hierarchy of human worth. Independence takes many forms—wheels don’t make wheelchair users “incomplete”; Support workers don’t diminish disabled people’s agency.

Autism Speaks and the Cure Narrative: How Parent-Led Advocacy Without Autistic Input Perpetuates Stigma

Bob and Suzanne Wright founded Autism Speaks in 2005 after their grandson Christian’s autism Diagnosis, with a mission focused on finding a “cure.” For its first ten years, Autism Speaks had no openly Autistic board members. The organization produced an infamous 2009 ad directed by Alfonso Cuarón titled “I Am Autism,” depicting autism as a menacing force that would destroy families, bankrupt parents, and ruin marriages—language more suited to describing a disease like cancer than a Neurological difference. The ad faced massive pushback and was removed, but the organization’s internal culture fractured over vaccine conspiracy theories, with Katie Wright (the founders’ daughter) aligning with those claiming mercury in vaccines causes autism, prompting CEO Alison Singer to resign in 2009.

This history reveals a critical pattern: when parent-centered advocacy proceeds without Autistic self-advocacy as a counterweight, desperation justifies extreme measures. Parents frame autism as tragedy without Autistic people’s counter-narrative—“I wish my child did not have autism” becomes “I wish the Autistic child I have did not exist” (Jim Sinclair’s devastating observation). This creates the conditions for abuse to be defended as loving intervention, from shock Therapy at the Judge Rotenberg Center (defended by parents) to murder cases treated with sympathy for perpetrators rather than protection of Autistic lives.

The Neurodiversity Movement and Autism Self-Advocacy: Reclaiming Control of the Narrative

In 1993, Jim Sinclair of Autism Network International delivered a landmark speech titled “Don’t Mourn for Us,” fundamentally challenging parent-centered narratives. Sinclair introduced a revolutionary concept: “Autism is a way of being. It is not possible to separate the person from the autism. When parents say, ‘I wish my child did not have autism,’ what they’re really saying is ‘I wish the Autistic child I have did not exist.’” Sinclair argued that tragedy comes not from autism itself but from what happens to Autistic people due to societal barriers—inaccessible systems, discrimination, lack of accommodation. This sparked the neurodiversity movement, which views autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia as normal human variations requiring accommodation, not cure.

Ari Ne’eman cofounded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) in 2006 with Scott Robertson, adopting the disability rights mantra “Nothing about us without us.” ASAN successfully pressured NYU to remove dehumanizing ads depicting autism as kidnapping children and coordinated media campaigns that established ASAN’s influence despite having far fewer resources than Autism Speaks. When the Combating Autism Act faced reauthorization in 2014, Autistic self-advocates launched the StopCombatingMe campaign on Twitter, successfully renaming it the Autism CARES Act (Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support). This victory demonstrates that when Autistic people center themselves in advocacy, policy shifts from “cure-focused” to “Support-focused” priorities. Political candidates began consulting Autistic self-advocates rather than only parent advocates; Hillary Clinton’s 2016 autism platform evolved from 2007 language about “combating” autism to priorities like nationwide surveys of Autistic adults, banning restraints in schools, and promoting integrated employment.

Employment Barriers: Why 75-85% of College-Educated Autistic Adults Are Unemployed or Underemployed

A critical statistic highlights employment disparities: approximately 75-85% of college-educated Autistic people are unemployed or underemployed, and only 14% of Autistic adults receiving state services work in integrated employment (Drexel University’s National Autism Indicators Report). This contradicts the narrative that Autistic people simply need job training—the barrier is discrimination and poor systemic design, not inability.

Two dominant myths trap Autistic employment: (1) the “soft bigotry of low expectations” presuming Autistic people can’t work or only deserve subminimum wages, and (2) the inverse myth that Autistic people are hypercompetent STEM savants destined for Silicon Valley. Both narratives harm Autistic people existing between extremes. Corporate Neurodiversity hiring initiatives from JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, SAP, Salesforce, and Google have begun using alternative recruitment methods (Lego robot-building, modified interviews, skills-based assessments) that better identify Autistic talent. However, critical problems persist: programs concentrate exclusively on STEM, ignoring Autistic people in communications, groundskeeping, food service, graphic design, and countless other fields. This creates tiers of “worthy” Autistic people, excluding those with learning disabilities or non-STEM interests. Additionally, some programs create de facto sheltered workshops—isolating Autistic workers from colleagues and sometimes paying below minimum wage. The author, a political journalist, exemplifies how narrow STEM-focus hiring misses Autistic talent outside technology.

Sheltered Workshops and Subminimum-Wage Labor: How Section 14(c) Perpetuates Segregation and Devalues Disabled Work

Section 14(c) of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay disabled people below federal minimum wage if their “earning or productive capacity is impaired.” This 86-year-old provision persists despite bipartisan calls for elimination. In 2019, 383,941 Autistic people received SSI (Supplemental Security Income), the lowest safety net tier. Unlike SSDI (Social Security Disability Income—funded by workers’ contributions and viewed as “earned”), SSI is general-funded and stigmatized as “undeserved.”

Parent advocates defend sheltered workshops, citing respite care, transportation, and Medicaid services. However, Autistic self-advocates reject this framework: disabled people’s labor has inherent worth deserving fair compensation. Maxfield Sparrow’s experience illustrates the horror—standing in sweltering heat removing foam pieces, forbidden from using bathrooms except during breaks, earning insufficient income to afford housing, eventually sleeping in parks. This demonstrates how the framework of “subminimum wage as compassionate employment” actually perpetuates segregation and economic destitution.

Policy Movement: In 2020, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recommended Congress repeal Section 14(c) with phase-out Support. Vermont, which ended sheltered workshop funding and invested heavily in supported employment, achieved an 80% transition rate to supported employment and a 38% integrated-employment rate (double the 19% national average for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities). This proves that alternatives to sheltered workshops exist and work.

Housing, Community Integration, and the Waitlist Crisis

Autistic people institutionalized in the 20th century faced horrific conditions. Cal Montgomery, institutionalized in 1987 at Austin State Hospital, later endured electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts—“framed as an option, but it was not an option.” David Mandell’s research found 10% of 141 Norriton State Hospital residents had undiagnosed autism, misdiagnosed as “chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia.” The 1981 Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers and the 1999 Supreme Court’s Olmstead v. L.C. decision mandated community integration. By 2012, 70% of Medicaid long-term Support spending went to HCBS (versus 30% to institutions in 1995). However, HCBS waivers were designed for intellectual/physical disabilities, not autism’s specific needs (Sensory sensitivities, lack of driving skills, proximity to public transit requirements).

The Waitlist Crisis: 707,000+ people on HCBS waitlists in 48 states (2017 Kaiser Foundation report). New Mexico’s backlog: 5,000 people waiting 13 years for services. CMS’s 2014 “settings rule” defined which settings could receive HCBS funding, prohibiting settings that isolate residents. Four categories were identified: farmsteads (rural farm placements perpetuating subminimum-wage labor), gated/secured communities (disability-specific enclaves preventing community interaction), residential schools (facilities with documented abuse), and clustered group homes (multiple facilities operated by same entity). Parent advocate Amy Lutz defended congregate settings; however, Autistic self-advocates like Julia Bascom argue these are “shot-for-shot recreations of the first institutions”—just smaller.

Forms of Independence: The text distinguishes three valid models: (1) Full Independence: Rents room, hires cleaning, receives grocery delivery, no live-in Support; (2) Supported Independence: Lives with Support person; cannot handle grocery shopping independently but can go to stores for specific items; needs executive-function prompting; (3) Higher-Support Living: Requires 24/7 Support, cannot prepare meals independently. All three are valid independence. As activist Ruti Regan writes: when disabled people aren’t allowed to fail, they’re not allowed to succeed—growth requires failed attempts.

Guardianship Vs. Supported Decision-Making: Preserving Dignity and Autonomy

Guardianship—tracing to 14th-century British law—strips disabled people of legal rights: finances, residence choice, voting, marriage. Supported decision-making (SDM) preserves rights while providing assistance. States with SDM laws: Texas (2015), Delaware (2016), Indiana, Nevada, Alaska, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Rhode Island, DC. Maine required guardianship courts consider SDM first. Federal legislation (Money Follows the Person reauthorization) is essential—without funding, SDM choice is theoretical. SDM allows disabled people to retain legal rights (voting, marriage, finances) while receiving assistance. Unlike guardianship, SDM respects self-determination even in imperfect choices—the right to fail is the right to grow. Julia Bascom (ASAN executive director) had a meltdown at UN security but delivered a well-received speech—same person, both realities valid. If she “didn’t want to brush her teeth ever,” that would be her choice, even if cavities result—a freedom Neurotypical people take for granted.

Cult of “cure” and Why Healthcare Should Focus on Holistic Well-Being, Not Elimination

Autism discourse is trapped between medical model and social model. The medical model treats autism as pathology requiring “cure”; the social model recognizes society’s inaccessibility as the problem. Neurodiversity adds: atypical brains deserve respect and dignity, not elimination. Autistic people faced electroconvulsive Therapy, insulin shocks, metrazol-induced convulsions, and LSD experiments. President Trump (2017) called autism’s “tremendous increase” “a horrible thing to watch.” Senator Cory Booker equated autism with cancer and asthma—diseases to eliminate. Yet Autistic people don’t universally want “cure”; many reject the premise that neurodivergence is pathology.

The Neurodiversity vs. Disability Paradox: Jill Escher, cofounder of the National Council on Severe Autism and parent to nonspeaking Autistic sons, rejects what she sees as “cherrypicking naive, feel-good stories” while acknowledging autism as “severe Neurodevelopmental disability.” John Elder Robison articulated the balance: “Our duty in autism is not to cure but to relieve suffering and maximize each person’s potential.” Acceptance doesn’t mean ignoring comorbidities like epilepsy (affecting 20-30% of Autistic adults by adulthood) or gastrointestinal issues. Yet research priorities are backward: of the $364 million spent on autism research in 2016, only 2% funded lifespan issues; 35% went to biology and 24% to risk factors—over half the budget on “what causes autism” rather than “what Autistic people need now.”

Applied Behavioral Analysis (aba): Debate, Complexity, and Autistic Perspectives

Ole Ivar Lovaas pioneered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the 1960s using aversive methods—slapping, screaming, electric shocks—featured in Life magazine’s 1965 “Screams, Slaps and Love.” Though Lovaas later removed punitive methods, critics argue ABA still focuses on “eradicating Autistic behavior” rather than supporting Autistic people. Hari Srinivasan reported being trapped in repetitive ABA lessons for years despite Sensory dysregulation and oral-motor apraxia making traditional ABA ineffective. However, some Autistic people like Amy Gravino pursue ABA careers, believing they can bring Autistic perspectives into the field. By 2017, 46 states and DC required insurance coverage of ABA, though the core tension remains: should Therapy normalize Autistic people or Support their well-being as Autistic people? This is not settled; the field remains contested between those who view ABA as coercive conformity-forcing and those pursuing Neurodiversity-informed ABA that respects Autistic communication and needs.

Healthcare System Failures for Autistic Adults: Diagnostic Bias, Dismissal, and Systemic Breakdown

Lydia Wayman’s story exemplifies systemic breakdown. In 2012, she developed gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), autonomic dysfunction, and erythromelalgia (“man on fire syndrome”—painful blood vessel dilation). Her Medicaid waiver required goal-building activities (grocery shopping, social cue practice via Friends) incompatible with severe illness, causing her to lose coverage. She fell into a “crack that isn’t supposed to exist”—too medically complex for adult autism waivers, ineligible for physical disability waivers because her “primary” Diagnosis was autism. She spent 15 months in a nursing home not designed for her needs. Worse, her primary care physician dismissed her symptoms as attention-seeking because she was “too happy to be sick” and possessed too much medical knowledge (which Wayman used as a coping mechanism against fear). Her gastrointestinal specialist was warned she was “obsessed with getting sick.”

The Solution Through Advocacy: When Lydia contacted Dr. Arvind Venkat, an emergency physician who published on autism in emergency departments, interventions transformed her care. The ED now limits staff interactions, dims lights, speaks softly, asks before touching, waits for answers, and allows her mother’s presence while speaking directly to Lydia as capable. “Night and day” improvement resulted. However, Venkat notes medical schools provide little autism training; emergency departments are “purposely designed [as if] for people with ASD, you could not do worse. It is loud. There’s bright fluorescent lighting.”

Research Gaps: The CDC’s first adult autism study (May 2020) estimated 2.2% of U.S. Adults are Autistic—but this was an estimate using child projections, not direct research. A 2015 Swedish study of 27,000+ Autistic adults found both “low-functioning” and “high-functioning” groups had higher mortality than the general population; leading cause of death for “low-functioning” group was epilepsy; for Autistic adults without intellectual disabilities, circulatory conditions and suicide led. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) with majority-Autistic researchers is changing this: a 2012 Journal of General Internal Medicine study surveyed 209 Autistic and 228 nonautistic individuals, finding Autistic adults scored lower on patient-provider communication, general healthcare, and chronic condition self-efficacy. They were less likely to receive tetanus vaccines or (if female) Pap smears in three years, and twice as likely to use ERs annually.

Relationships, Sexuality, and the Myth of “Autistic Lack of Empathy”

Multiple studies refute the stereotype that Autistic people lack empathy. Chris and Cori Williams, both Autistic, married in 2007 after meeting online in 2004. Both recognize benefits to their shared neurology while acknowledging they are Neurodivergent to different degrees. They have three Autistic children and demonstrate that Autistic people form lasting partnerships based on mutual understanding. Cori noted Autistic people “sometimes have this need for sameness,” attracting them to each other’s “quirkiness.”

Chris struggled with how much of himself to reveal even in previous relationships. With Cori, he felt authentic reciprocity allowed them to “settle into each other very quickly.” Cori wore a mask in her England relationship, reinventing herself; she later asked Chris, “Did you fall for my mask in some ways?” Attempting not to “seem Autistic” on dates means constantly monitoring stim behavior (fidgeting, Eye contact avoidance), information dumping on topics, and deciding what version of yourself to present. The critical insight: Masking exhausts Autistic people and prevents authentic connection; relationships thrive when both partners can be themselves.

Consent, Sex Education, and the Sexual Abuse Crisis

Autistic people are often infantilized, receiving no sex education despite having sexual desires. A Belgium/Netherlands survey found half of 43 parents didn’t know their Autistic sons had masturbated or experienced orgasm. Lindsey Nebeker, development specialist at the Autism Society of America, notes Autistic people “tend to learn differently,” requiring curriculum designed specifically for them. However, she is a survivor of sexual abuse by a high school teacher, as are disproportionately high numbers of Autistic people. A 2016 study of 14 Autistic women diagnosed later in life found more than half experienced sexual abuse, often feeling “obliged” or “gradually pestered” into sex, uncertain they could refuse.

This reflects a systemic failure: the same lack of education about sexuality that leaves Autistic people unprepared for healthy relationships also leaves them vulnerable to exploitation. Autistic people are less likely to recognize boundary violations and more likely to comply with unwanted contact out of social obligation. Nebeker’s partner Dave Hamrick asks consent “every time before we get sexually intimate”—a model of respectful partnership that Autistic people deserve as standard, not exception.

Lgbtq+ Representation in Autism: Higher Rates, Compounded Erasure, and Intersectional Harm

A 2018 Autism Research study of 309 Autistic and 310 typically developing individuals found 69.7% of Autistic people reported being nonheterosexual (vs. 30.9% of typical group), with higher bisexuality, homosexuality, and asexuality rates. Yet media focus on Autistic men erases queer Autistic people’s dual identities. A 2014 Archives of Sexual Behavior study found gender variance 7.59 times more common in Autistic participants; a 2019 LGBT Health study found Autistic-diagnosed children four times more likely to experience gender dysphoria.

Historical Trauma: Ole Ivar Lovaas—who pioneered ABA with electric shocks—also ran UCLA’s Feminine Boy Project, “treating” a five-year-old “Kirk Murphy” (real name) by rewarding masculine play with praise/poker chips and punishing feminine behavior with spankings. Kirk later joined the Air Force to mask his homosexuality and killed himself in 2003; his brother blamed the treatment trauma. Efforts to force Autistic conformity and LGBTQ+ conformity to heteronormativity share identical DNA—both are attempts to eliminate “deviance” through coercive normalization. This history demonstrates why Autistic self-advocates, particularly queer Autistic people, reject “normalization” frameworks entirely.

Gender Identity, Diagnosis Bias, and the Camouflaging Crisis

Diagnostic Bias Toward Males: Autism affects cisgender men at higher reported rates (26.6 per 1,000 boys vs. 6.6 per 1,000 girls per CDC), but this reflects Diagnostic bias, not biology. Leo Kanner’s original 1943 research included only 3 girls of 11 subjects. Hans Asperger (1944) called autism “an extreme variant of male intelligence” and studied no girls. Simon Baron-Cohen’s 2002 “extreme male brain theory” posited male brains “systemize” (autism trait) while female brains “empathize” (falsely claiming Autistic people lack empathy). Diagnostic criteria themselves are gendered: “special interests” examples cite cars/trains (boy-coded) not ponies (girl-coded), so a boy’s train obsession signals autism while a girl’s One Direction fandom doesn’t. A 2018 Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology study found girls with ASD had greater Social communication problems than boys; a 2012 study found girls needed “low cognitive ability and/or additional behavior problems” to reach Diagnostic threshold, suggesting a higher bar for girls.

Camouflaging and Hidden Struggles: A 2016 Autism study found women had higher Camouflaging scores than men. Liane Holliday Willey noted Autistic women blend easier because “society makes excuses for our wanting to be alone or not wanting to go to a dance.” She was misdiagnosed with ADHD/OCD despite “throwing rocks, breaking windows, burning things, cutting myself”—hidden self-harm. She wasn’t diagnosed until after her daughter was diagnosed. A 2016 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders study of 14 women diagnosed late found almost all experienced Anxiety, Depression, or eating disorders; many were dismissed by professionals about suspected autism.

Late Diagnosis and Lived Experience: Ashia Ray, biracial mother, went undiagnosed until age 30 (pregnant with first son); behaviors coded as Chinese heritage quirks or single-mother effects were overlooked. Without Diagnosis, she “was forced to say yes to everyone” as patriarchal conditioning demands women be “collegial and not too disruptive.” Upon Diagnosis, Ray learned she could “set boundaries,” something Autistic people rarely learn. This illustrates how gender and race compound Diagnostic bias—girls and women of color are even less likely to be identified as Autistic because their traits are explained away through cultural or gender stereotypes.

Transgender and Nonbinary Autistic People: Freedom from Arbitrary Norms and Compounded Discrimination

Eryn Star (they/them, nonbinary) experienced verbal abuse from a choir director who knew they were disabled. Their high school trauma and others’ attempts to regulate their gendered presentation (“cis-women in my life trying to regulate how I dressed”) complicated their gender identity. When performing male roles, their performance Anxiety disappeared; “My brain was like, ‘Maybe you and your gender need to have a chat.’” Star’s mother viewed autism as her fault, believed vaccines caused it, and thought Star had “recovered” through Masking—until Therapy helped Star embrace autism, halting generalized Anxiety. Kris Harrison, University of Michigan professor, notes: “If I miss a social cue, it’s like I’m falling down on the job of being [an] emotional caregiver society expects of most women.” She wanted to joke about “Biggus Dickus” from Life of Brian but that “realm of humor was off-limits” for girls. She doesn’t have gender dysphoria but “want[s] to be able to talk like myself in this body and not have people go, ‘How dare you!’”

Charlie Garcia-Spiegel noted Autistic people “often don’t pay attention to the same set of societal norms” and thus “can see that a lot of the social rules around gender are bullshit, basically.” However, transgender Autistic people face compounded discrimination. Transphobic and ableist rhetoric—including J.K. Rowling’s claims of a “4400% increase in girls being referred for transitioning treatment” with “Autistic girls hugely overrepresented”—implies Autistic people are incompetent, confused victims of delusion. Kris Guin (Autistic trans man) called this “noxious mix of transphobia and ableism.” Garcia-Spiegel’s professor implied he wasn’t “qualified to be at college” despite three AP classes and highest scores, “just like this whole cycle of kind of not being taken seriously as a trans Autistic person in a queer space because [I am] Autistic.” Yet Autistic people know their own identities; they need affirmation, not skepticism rooted in ableism.

Parenting and Reproductive Autonomy: Infantilization and the Anti-Natalist Bias

Edward Ritvo’s 1988 paper “Eleven Possibly Autistic Parents” required “Possibly” in the title or it would have been rejected—“Nobody believed Autistic people could grow up and marry and have children.” Judith Newman’s 2016 book To Siri with Love stated, “I do not want Gus to have children,” citing her Autistic son’s “solipsism” preventing him from understanding others’ needs—infantilizing him and assuming he cannot comprehend caring for someone. Autistic writer Kaelan Rhywiol vomited reading this and “cried myself to sleep.”

A 2014 Iowa Supreme Court case involved a mother arranging a vasectomy for her 21-year-old Autistic son Stuart without court approval (later ruled illegal). Yet Chris and Cori Williams demonstrate Autistic parenting excellence: their awareness of autism makes them attentive to children’s needs and fierce advocates, while Cori emphasizes “assumption of intelligence and competence necessary in raising her” nonspeaking daughter Cassidy Luna—“We don’t have any idea what she’s capable of yet.” This contrast reveals that Autistic parenting concerns stem not from autism itself but from systemic lack of Support, societal skepticism about Autistic competence, and legal frameworks that enable rights violations.

Race, Diagnosis, and the Persistent Racism in Autism Recognition

The White Archetype Problem: Autism’s public image is shaped almost entirely by white representation in media and research, creating a dangerous “perpetual child” perception that only extends to white Autistic people. This archetype traces back to Leo Kanner’s 1943 foundational study, which included only white children from wealthy families. Kanner explicitly stated that “all but three of the families” were represented in Who’s Who in America or American Men of Science, implying autism only affected the upper classes. This myth persists despite being scientifically unfounded. The consequence: Autistic people of color are not given the “benefit of the doubt” afforded to white Autistic people.

Diagnosis Gap: Statistical Evidence: A 2007 study found African American children had 2.6 times the odds of receiving alternative diagnoses (adjustment disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder) instead of autism compared to white children. Black children are 5.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with adjustment disorder than ADHD, and 2.4 times more likely to receive conduct disorder diagnoses. Even as the Diagnosis gap has narrowed (2016 CDC data showed no difference between Black and white children by age eight), Hispanic children remain 1.2 times less likely to be diagnosed than white children. Critically, when Black and Hispanic children are diagnosed, it happens later: Black children at 7.9 years versus white children at 6.3 years. This delay compounds disadvantage as undiagnosed Autistic children receive no services.

Language and Access Barriers: For Latino immigrants and English-language learners, Diagnosis becomes even more elusive. A 2013 study of California pediatricians found only 17.7 percent offered general developmental screenings in Spanish and only 28.7 percent offered Autism spectrum disorder screenings in Spanish—despite autism Diagnosis requiring communication Assessment. Katharine Zuckerman, coauthor of the study, emphasizes the cruel irony: “If you go in to have your communication assessed by someone who doesn’t even speak the language that your family speaks, [and] they use an interpreter, it’s such a confusing situation for kids.” Most Assessment instruments aren’t validated in Spanish, meaning clinicians use tools “we don’t know how good they are, usually used by people who aren’t doing it in the appropriate language.”

Intersectional Identity and Compounding Invisibility: Autistic people of color face a unique burden: proving they are “sufficiently” Autistic to clinicians while simultaneously proving they are “sufficiently” Black, Latino, or otherwise nonwhite to their communities. Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, chairwoman of the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network’s Committee on Autism and Ethnicity, describes the experience as trying to “participate in [their] own culture while also feeling completely out of place.” Timotheus Gordon, a Black Autistic man from Chicago, felt compelled to prove he was sufficiently masculine and Black by engaging with hip-hop and sports, spending years Masking before meeting other Autistic people. Finn Gardiner (Black, Autistic, diagnosed as a toddler) faced “disproportionate disciplines” in school for Meltdowns from stress and bullying—experiences pathologized rather than accommodated. Even as a gifted and talented student, Gardiner was treated as a “troublemaker” due to race and disability intersecting. A. J. Link, a Black Autistic law student, wasn’t diagnosed until his early twenties despite being tested in childhood, precisely because his “weirdness” was attributed to behavioral problems rather than neurotype.

Police Violence and the Racialized Dangers of Autistic Traits

A 2017 study found 20 percent of Autistic people had been stopped and questioned by police by age twenty-one, with 5 percent arrested. Autistic people of color face lethal consequences when their neurotype intersects with racialized policing. Stephon Watts, a fifteen-year-old Black Autistic boy, was killed by police in Calumet City, Illinois, in 2012 after police claimed he lunged with a steak knife (family said it was a butter knife); courts ruled in favor of police. Ricardo Hayes, an eighteen-year-old unarmed Black Autistic man, was shot by Chicago police in 2017; dashcam footage captured the shooting. Hayes’s family initially called police for help after he went missing. Though Hayes survived and the city paid his family $2.25 million, the officer received only a six-month suspension. Elijah McClain, a young man in Aurora, Colorado, was killed in August 2019 after police stopped him for “acting weird” and “waving his arms around.” McClain told police “I’m just different” and “I’m an introvert,” asking them to respect his space. Police applied a carotid hold, paramedics administered ketamine, and McClain died en route to the hospital.

Why Autistic Traits Become Threats: A 2014 American Psychological Association study found that young Black boys are “perceived to be older than they are and are viewed as less innocent than their white counterparts.” Autistic behaviors—Stimming mistaken for reaching for weapons, lack of Eye contact interpreted as disrespect, echolalia perceived as evasiveness—compound this danger exponentially. Charles Kinsey, Black behavioral aide, was shot by Miami police while lying on the ground with hands raised, trying to de-escalate a situation involving Arnaldo Rios-Soto, Latino Autistic man who had wandered from care with only a toy truck. Despite bleeding for 20 minutes without medical attention, Kinsey survived. The police union justified shooting him (not Rios-Soto, the actual target), devastating the author because proximity to Autistic people became a vulnerability. Ron Hampton, a Black former DC police officer with an Autistic son, told the author: “When our children have episodes, we call each other,” referring to community members rather than police—a recognition that traditional policing endangers rather than protects.

The Author’s Racialized Fear: As a Latino college student, the author experienced firsthand how race and perceived “otherness” trigger police suspicion. While reporting at North Carolina’s state legislature, he was approached by uniformed police officers who questioned his presence. Despite showing student ID and proper identification (issued in California), the officers grew suspicious. The author panicked, acutely aware he was “a kid without enough identification… At a government building in North Carolina, and… Latino,” with Confederate monuments serving as reminder he was “a guest there.” He notes having Arabic textbooks in his backpack (for a foreign language requirement) amplified his terror—he worried police would suspect him of plotting terrorism. The encounter lasted five minutes but left him “absolutely terrified.” He reflects: “To this day I wonder what would have happened if I had started to exhibit Autistic behaviors. What if I had started Stimming to calm myself down, as I occasionally do when I am scared or frustrated?… If I had made one false move, they could have put cuffs on me or worse.”

Police Training Gaps and Moving Forward: Recent efforts to address police-autism interactions have included mandatory training in some states. In 2017, a year after Charles Kinsey’s shooting, Florida passed legislation requiring autism training for police, including guidance on recognizing autism symptoms and appropriate responses. Pennsylvania and New Jersey passed similar bills. However, a 2016 study found 23 percent of surveyed police agencies had not mandated autism training. Illinois began mandating autism training for new officers in 2008, yet the Stephon Watts shooting occurred four years after the law passed. The author emphasizes: “This does not mean that police are inherently bad or evil; rather, police are often ill-equipped to handle situations with Autistic people.” Some have proposed alternatives to police response—psychiatric services, mental health intervention, crisis teams—which could benefit Autistic and disabled people more effectively than traditional policing.

Practical Strategies & Techniques

Understanding and Rejecting the Deficit Narrative: Reframing Autism As Difference, Not Tragedy

The foundational practical shift is internal: rejecting the premise that autism is a tragedy requiring cure. For newly diagnosed Autistic adults, this often means unlearning years of internalized shame. For families, this means shifting from “How do we fix this?” to “How do we Support this person?” and “What accommodations help them thrive?” The Neurodiversity framework provides language: autism is a different neurotype, not a defective one. This reframing transforms how you approach every decision, from healthcare to employment to relationships. Instead of asking “How can we make them seem normal?” ask “How can environments and systems adapt to their needs?” This single shift—from deficit to difference—unlocks self-compassion for Autistic people and more effective problem-solving for families.

Advocating for Accommodation and Accessible Environments Rather Than Conformity

Rather than forcing Autistic people to change behavior to fit systems, advocate for systems to change to accommodate Autistic needs. In educational settings, this means requesting specific accommodations: Sensory-friendly testing environments (separate room, reduced lighting, breaks), extended time for exams, permission for movement/Stimming during classes, access to notes if auditory processing is difficult, written instructions rather than solely verbal directions. In employment, this means negotiating workspace setup (noise-canceling headphones, dim lighting, quiet break spaces), flexible meeting formats (some remote, video optional, time to process questions), clear written communication alongside verbal, and advance notice of changes to routine. In healthcare, this means requesting appointments with providers trained in disability/autism awareness, bringing a trusted person to appointments, providing written descriptions of symptoms, requesting Sensory modifications (dim lights, quiet waiting rooms, no surprises), and being direct: “I have difficulty with Eye contact, phone calls, or unexpected changes.”

The critical practice: Ask Autistic people what they need. Don’t assume. Different Autistic people need different things. One Autistic person thrives with highly structured routines; another feels trapped by them. Some need complete silence; others focus better with background noise. Some need written communication; others prefer in-person conversation. The only way to know is to ask and listen.

Employing Supported Decision-Making: Preserving Autonomy While Providing Assistance

Rather than guardianship, which strips legal rights, supported decision-making allows Autistic people to make decisions with trusted advisors’ input while retaining legal authority. To implement SDM: (1) Identify trusted decision-makers (family, friends, professionals) the Autistic person chooses; (2) Clarify specific areas where Support is needed (finances, healthcare, residence choice); (3) Document the arrangement (many states have SDM agreements); (4) Ensure the Autistic person has final say, even if advisors disagree; (5) Review periodically to ensure it’s working. The practice respects autonomy—the right to make imperfect choices is the right to grow.

Building Authenticity in Relationships: Recognizing and Reducing Masking

For Autistic people in relationships, the practical shift is reducing Masking—the exhausting performance of neurotypicality. This requires: (1) Identifying which behaviors feel “fake” (Eye contact, specific Facial expressions, energy level, stim suppression, information-dumping restriction); (2) Gradually revealing more authentic self to trusted people; (3) Finding partners who accept your authentic self (this may mean expanding dating pools beyond Neurotypical-centered spaces—Autistic communities, disability spaces, LGBTQ+ spaces where people are accustomed to diverse neurotypes). For parents or partners of Autistic people, the practice is: (1) Never punish or suppress Stimming; (2) Accept unusual communication styles; (3) Accommodate Sensory needs (if they prefer less Eye contact, don’t demand it; if they need quiet time, provide it; if they fidget while thinking, welcome the fidgeting).

Accessing and Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Healthcare

Identifying providers trained in autism: (1) Search specifically for “neurodiversity-affirming” practitioners; (2) Ask if they view autism as a different neurotype or as pathology; (3) Request providers with disability/autism training; (4) When meeting new providers, be explicit about your needs and communication style; (5) Bring written symptom descriptions if describing verbally is difficult; (6) Request Sensory accommodations (dim lights, advance notice of procedures, explanation before touching). For significant health issues, consider seeking evaluation at academic medical centers or specialists with published work on autism/Neurodiversity and the specific condition.

Using Community-Based Resources and Peer Support

Autistic self-advocacy networks, online Autistic communities, disability rights organizations, and peer Support groups provide knowledge and connection that formal services often lack. Practically: (1) Seek out Autistic-led organizations (ASAN, the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, local autism peer groups); (2) Join online communities (Reddit r/autism, Discord servers, Facebook groups specific to your interests/needs); (3) Attend Neurodiversity conferences or workshops; (4) Connect with other Autistic people—their lived experience is invaluable expertise. For newly diagnosed adults, peer connection often transforms understanding more than professional Diagnosis alone.

Navigating Employment With Self-Advocacy and Disclosure Strategy

Develop a personal disclosure strategy: (1) Identify which roles/contexts require disclosure (accommodations usually require some disclosure; casual workplaces may not); (2) Prepare a brief explanation of how autism affects your work and what accommodations help; (3) Frame as strengths: “I think deeply about problems and often catch issues others miss, and I do best with clear written expectations rather than in-meeting instructions”; (4) Request specific accommodations (quiet workspace, email summarizing meetings, no surprise meetings, flex time for overload recovery); (5) Assess whether current/potential employers are worth the vulnerability of disclosure (do they have history of supporting disabled employees? Do they listen when you request accommodations?). For interviews, (1) practice extensively beforehand; (2) consider requesting accommodations before interview (separate room, video option, written questions provided in advance); (3) prepare answers to likely questions; (4) have a trusted person available to debrief afterward.

Key Takeaways

1. Misinformation drives policy more than data, with devastating consequences for Autistic people’s actual needs: For decades, false theories—refrigerator mothers, vaccine links, violent tendencies—shaped autism discourse and policy spending priorities. 75% of federal research funds target “causes” and “cures” while only 6% Support actual services Autistic people need, reflecting how bad information from well-meaning advocates produces harmful policy outcomes. This backward prioritization means Autistic adults lack employment Support, housing options, and healthcare while billions chase mythical cures.

2. Autistic people have been systematically excluded from conversations about autism, producing Stigma that prevents access to rights and resources: From Leo Kanner through Autism Speaks’ first decade, experts, parents, and researchers dominated autism discourse without Autistic input, perpetuating Stigma and preventing Autistic people from accessing the disability rights movement. This exclusion persisted even as Autistic people proved capable of self-advocacy and policy influence. The consequence: Autistic people’s actual needs remain invisible in policy while expert predictions about Autistic “tragedy” justify coercive interventions.

3. The “high-functioning” binary obscures both invisible struggles and actual capability, creating two forms of erasure: Labels suggesting some Autistic people are “less disabled” delegitimize the needs of Autistic people who can pass while falsely presuming incompetence in nonspeaking Autistic people. Autistic self-advocates across Support needs recognize shared experiences and advocate together, understanding that differences are smaller than society assumes. This binary also prevents appropriate accommodations—“high-functioning” Autistic people don’t receive services they need because they’re assumed capable, while “low-functioning” Autistic people aren’t believed capable of any autonomy.

4. Employment barriers reflect discrimination and poor system design, not inability—yet 75-85% of college-educated Autistic adults remain unemployed or underemployed: This massive gap exists despite Autistic people’s education and capability, indicating that the problem is ableist hiring, poor interview formats favoring Neurotypical communication styles, and inadequate workplace inclusion post-hiring. Alternative recruitment methods (skills-based assessments, modified interviews) successfully identify Autistic talent; the barrier is employers’ willingness to accommodate, not Autistic people’s competence. Worse, narrow STEM-focused hiring initiatives exclude Autistic people in countless other fields—communications, arts, service work, groundskeeping—erasing the diversity of Autistic potential.

5. Subminimum-wage labor under Section 14(c) perpetuates segregation while devaluing disabled work, yet persists because of parent-centered advocacy without Autistic input: Allowing disabled workers to earn pennies per hour, this 86-year-old law treats disabled labor as inherently worth less. Parent advocates cite respite and Medicaid access as justification, but this framework contradicts the principle that disabled people’s work has equal value. Vermont’s elimination of sheltered workshops and investment in supported employment achieved an 80% transition rate and 38% integrated-employment rate (double the national average), proving alternatives work.

6. Parent-centered advocacy without Autistic input can enable abuse, ranging from coercive “treatments” to police violence: When parents frame autism as tragedy without Autistic people’s counter-narrative, desperation justifies extreme measures—from shock Therapy at Judge Rotenberg Center (defended by parents) to murder cases treated with sympathy for perpetrators rather than protection of Autistic lives. Additionally, underdiagnosis of Autistic people of color, combined with racialized police bias, creates lethal encounters when Autistic traits (Stimming, lack of Eye contact, echolalia) are misinterpreted as threats by officers trained without Neurodiversity awareness.

7. The Spectrum Generation represents a policy-driven shift in autism’s social meaning, with unprecedented opportunity but persistent challenges: Born after the ADA (1990) and IDEA, the Spectrum Generation received legal protections and diagnoses that previous generations were denied, making college attendance and policy participation possible. Their emergence in politics (Jessica Benham), journalism, and academia signals that autism’s meaning is being rewritten by Autistic people themselves. Yet challenges persist: misinformation about vaccines, incomplete pop-culture portrayals, restraint and seclusion in schools, Diagnostic bias affecting children of color. This generation has unprecedented role models; they need sustained investment in access.

8. Relationships, sexuality, and gender expression are genuine aspects of Autistic life, yet systematic infantilization denies Autistic people autonomy, education, and justice: The myth that Autistic people lack empathy or cannot love is definitively false; Autistic couples successfully navigate relationships through explicit communication and mutual understanding. Yet Autistic people receive no sex education, are vulnerable to sexual abuse (disproportionately high rates among Autistic women), and face barriers to parenting and gender expression. The problem is not Autistic incapacity but societal infantilization and denial of autonomy.

9. Autistic women are dramatically underdiagnosed due to male-biased Diagnostic criteria and higher Camouflaging rates, leading to decades of undiagnosed struggle, mental health crises, and self-harm: Diagnostic criteria themselves are gendered (special interests examples cite boy-typical obsessions); girls’ Stimming and special interests are explained away as personality or cultural traits. Girls camouflage at higher rates due to socialization pressures to be “collegial and not disruptive.” The consequence: almost all women diagnosed late experienced Anxiety, Depression, or eating disorders; many engaged in hidden self-harm. This represents a massive public health failure—decades of preventable suffering because Diagnostic systems were built without women in mind.

10. Autistic people of color face compounding invisibility and danger due to racialized Diagnostic bias and police violence rooted in misunderstanding of Autistic traits: The white-dominated autism narrative means Black and brown Autistic children are diagnosed later (7.9 years vs. 6.3 years for white children) or misdiagnosed with behavioral disorders, preventing access to services. Worse, Autistic traits (Stimming, lack of Eye contact, echolalia) are criminalized when exhibited by people of color, with police perceiving them as threats rather than disabilities. This intersection of Neurodivergent and racialized marginalization has resulted in deaths.

11. Supported decision-making and community living models preserve dignity while providing necessary Support—and are cheaper than institutions, yet remain chronically underfunded: Over 700,000 people wait for HCBS waivers enabling community living; guardianship laws strip rights from high-Support-needs Autistic adults; yet alternatives exist and work. Supported decision-making allows autonomy while providing assistance; community-based living with Support workers costs less than institutions while offering dignity. The barrier is political will and funding, not feasibility or cost.

12. Justice requires centering Autistic agency in all policy and practice, not benevolent expertise from nonautistic people: Mel Baggs’s statement—“There are people being tortured, people dying because they are considered non-persons”—articulates what’s at stake. Centering parent and clinician voices while marginalizing Autistic voices denies Autistic people personhood and self-determination. Policy affecting Autistic people must include Autistic people in decision-making, regardless of communication method. This is not about gratitude for benevolence; it’s about justice. Like Frederick Douglass’s demand for Black Americans—“Do nothing with us without us; nothing about us without us”—Autistic people demand agency over the decisions shaping their lives.

Memorable Quotes & Notable Statements

• “Autism is a way of being. It is not possible to separate the person from the autism. When parents say, ‘I wish my child did not have autism,’ what they’re really saying is ‘I wish the Autistic child I have did not exist.’” — Jim Sinclair, Autism Network International (1993). This foundational statement reframes the problem: grief about autism is actually denial of an Autistic child’s existence. It’s the most important challenge to parent-centered “tragedy” narratives in autism discourse.

• “Our duty in autism is not to cure but to relieve suffering and maximize each person’s potential.” — John Elder Robison, Autistic self-advocate. This articulates the Neurodiversity-affirming approach: Support Autistic well-being and autonomy, not elimination of autism itself.

• “Nothing about us without us.” — Disability rights mantra, adopted by Ari Ne’eman and ASAN. The core principle that policy and practice affecting disabled people must include disabled people’s voices as definitive authorities.

• “Failure to learn your language is seen as a deficit but failure to learn my language is seen as so natural that people like me are officially described as mysterious and puzzling.” — Mel Baggs, Autistic advocate (from In My Language video, 2007). This statement flips the deficit frame: Neurotypical people’s failure to understand Autistic communication is presented as an Autistic problem rather than a societal failure to accommodate.

• “There are people being tortured, people dying because they are considered non-persons because their kind of thought is so unusual as to not be considered thought at all. Only when the many shapes of personhood are recognized will justice and human rights be possible.” — Mel Baggs, Autistic advocate. This articulates the stakes of Autistic exclusion from discourse and decision-making.

• “If there is going to be policy that has seismic impact on their lives, they deserve to have a say in it, no matter how they communicate.” — Eric Garcia. The practical application of disability rights principles to autism policy.

• “I’m just different” and “I’m an introvert.” — Elijah McClain, to police officers, August 2019, hours before being killed. These simple statements reveal the incomprehension that cost McClain his life—asking for space and acceptance for neurodivergence, only to be met with force. The tragedy is not that McClain was Autistic, but that society couldn’t accommodate difference.

• “When our children have episodes, we call each other.” — Ron Hampton, Black former DC police officer with an Autistic son, speaking to Eric Garcia. This reflects the reality that traditional policing endangers rather than protects Autistic people, particularly people of color. Communities caring for their own offers more safety.

• “I’m not loyal; I’m stuck.” — Twitter account comment on Autistic workers in corporate Neurodiversity programs. This reframes the narrative: Autistic “loyalty” is actually limited employment options. When Autistic employees prove only marginally more productive, employers feel cheated, breeding resentment.

• “We don’t have any idea what she’s capable of yet.” — Cori Williams, Autistic mother, regarding her nonspeaking Autistic daughter Cassidy Luna. This articulates the principle of “assumption of intelligence and competence”—refusing to set limits on Autistic people’s potential before giving them the chance to demonstrate it.

• “The problem is that most people think of autism as a disease. Autism is not a disease—it’s a different way of thinking. My brain is wired differently. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just different.” — Conceptual theme throughout the book, articulated variously by different Autistic self-advocates. This is the core Neurodiversity principle that reframes the entire conversation.

Critical Warnings & Important Notes

On Self-Diagnosis and the Risk of Confirmation Bias

While the book affirms Autistic self-advocates and supports Autistic agency, it doesn’t encourage unvetted self-Diagnosis. Many conditions present similarly to autism (ADHD, Anxiety, trauma, intellectual disabilities, medical conditions). Self-reflection and community connection are valuable; formal Diagnosis from trained professionals provides clarity about what Support you need and eligibility for services. Self-Diagnosis can provide community belonging and explanation for lifelong patterns—both valuable—but may miss comorbidities or other explanations. The practical balance: trust your insights about yourself AND pursue professional evaluation if seeking accommodations, services, or clarity about comorbidities.

On Controversial Treatments and the Risk of Pseudoscience

The book documents dangerous pseudoscientific treatments (bleach consumption, chelation Therapy, hyperbaric chambers) promoted as autism “cures.” These cause direct harm. Yet the book doesn’t comprehensively address all treatment options, so readers should maintain healthy skepticism. Any treatment claiming to “cure” autism should be viewed with extreme caution. Any treatment causing pain, suppressing Stimming, or forcing “normalization” warrants concern. Conversely, therapies supporting Autistic well-being (occupational Therapy for Sensory needs, speech Therapy for communication goals the Autistic person chooses, mental health Support) can be valuable when Autistic-affirming.

On Healthcare System Limitations

The book reveals healthcare system failures but doesn’t comprehensively address how to navigate them. The practical reality: healthcare access varies dramatically by location, insurance, and socioeconomic status. The book’s strategies (seeking autism-aware providers, requesting accommodations, bringing Support people) are helpful but not universally feasible. People in underserved areas, without insurance, or with multiple marginalized identities face compounded barriers. This book provides direction but can’t solve systemic healthcare inequity; systemic change is required.

On Police Encounters and Personal Safety

The book documents police violence against Autistic people and suggests alternatives to traditional policing. Yet for Autistic people in immediate danger from police, this book provides limited practical guidance for survival. Crisis intervention training, knowing rights, having emergency contacts, and community networks provide more immediate protection than policy change. For safety: know your rights, have trusted people available, consider ID cards indicating autism, and be cautious in situations where Neurodivergent traits might be misinterpreted.

On Mandatory Reporters and Child Protection

The book documents abuse (shock Therapy, medication denial, physical restraint) often defended by parents as appropriate intervention. Mandatory reporters (teachers, healthcare providers) have legal obligations to report suspected abuse. However, the book also reveals how disability-related differences are sometimes misinterpreted as abuse. The practical reality: mandatory reporters must understand Neurodiversity to accurately distinguish between appropriate disability Support and actual abuse. Training is essential.

On the Limits of This Book

“We’re Not Broken” centers Eric Garcia’s perspective and experience as a Latino Autistic journalist. The book excels at policy analysis and documenting Autistic self-advocacy history but has limitations: it doesn’t deeply address nonspeaking Autistic people’s perspectives (relying partly on communication device users and advocates speaking on their behalf), doesn’t comprehensively cover all Autistic experiences (including cultural variations in how autism presents), and focuses primarily on U.S. Policy. International readers or Autistic people with very different life circumstances may find less direct applicability.

On the Neurodiversity Movement’s Diversity

The book documents Autistic self-advocacy but also notes internal debates within autism communities. Not all Autistic people agree on policy priorities, accommodations, or whether Neurodiversity framework adequately addresses severe Support needs. Additionally, some families with high-Support-needs Autistic members feel that Neurodiversity discourse inadequately acknowledges genuine suffering and need for intensive Support. This book represents self-advocate perspectives; it’s not neutral expertise, and readers should engage with multiple perspectives within disabled communities.