Kurchak, Sarah. I Overcame My Autism and All I got was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder: A Memoir (Madeira Park, British Columbia: Douglas & MdIntyre, 2020).
Increasingly, educators are recognizing the importance of understanding Autism Spectum Disorders from the perspective of those who carry this label. This very readable memoir offers useful insights in the social and emotional difficulties faced by the author as she worked to create a meaningful life for herself. In doing so, she challenges assumptions that neurotypical individuals make about the importance of eye contact, the “dangers” of obsessive interests, the inability to understand emotions, and a host of other preconceptions.
When “normal” is narrowly defined and educators see their job as fitting autistic students into preconceived boxes, they risk marginalizing and demeaning those whom they are meant to serve.