We're not broken Changing the autism conversation

"When it comes to dispelling myths, I'm beginning with myself," writes Garcia, a journalist who is on the autism spectrum, in his thoughtful debut. Aiming to show what it's like "to be autistic across America," Garcia puts his own experience against "the larger context of autism's narrative." He profiles a wide array of people with autism (and some without): for example, Julia Bascom, executive director of the Autism Self Advocacy Network, describes how many employers mistakenly assume autistic people will thrive in STEM jobs. University of Texas graduate Cal Montgomery, meanwhile, recounts his experience being institutionalized and writes of how difficult it is to find "appropriate housing for autistic people." Garcia also covers gender and race disparities that plague those with autism: there is a "perception that autism is a white condition," he writes, and, as a result, "Black and brown people on the spectrum are overlooked." Garcia's strength is his ability to potently mix policy analysis (he covers the pros and cons of Medicaid's Home and Community-Based Services Waivers, for example), reporting, and personal experience. This powerful account is packed with insight. (Aug.)

In his first book, a journalist on the autism spectrum combines memoir and a wide-ranging critique of how America is failing autistic children and adults. Noting that autism advocacy has become a minefield of conflicting views, Garcia plunges into the fray with two broad but blunt messages for the families and friends of people with autism. First, "stop trying to cure autistic people and instead help autistic people live fulfilling lives." Second, include autistic adults in policymaking decisions that affect them. Drawing on his experiences as a millennial third-generation American of Mexican ancestry and on sources ranging from the TV show The Good Doctor to journals like Molecular Autism, Garcia explains why he believes attitudes or policies must improve in seven areas of society that are rife with myths or misimpressions: work, housing, education, health care, relationships, gender, and race. At times, the author overgeneralizes and repeats or appears to contradict himself: He faults the media's "single-minded focus on autistic men" but says that for years Temple Grandin "was perhaps the most famous autistic woman in the world" and that today, Greta Thunberg is "perhaps the most famous autistic person in the world." But the media have given both women far more attention than most autistic men. Nonetheless, Garcia makes solid points when he recalls his personal challenges with dating and work or demystifies government programs, such as Medicaid's Home- and Community-based Services waivers (which has such a heavy backlog of applicants that in New Mexico, people have waited 13 years to enroll). The author also chronicles his interviews with experts such as Julia Bascom, executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and autistic adults who are Black, LGBTQ+, and married and single. Although he documents his sources clearly, there are sure to be readers who disagree with some of his arguments. Given that the issue is such a "battleground," that's to be expected. A well-researched survey of autism that will spark debates among autistic people and their allies. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.