The Overall Impression

Devon Price is exactly the kind of person we need to be hearing from right now. Price is a trans, autistic, social worker whose work really speaks for itself. These are the voices that have been dismissed and shut down throughout human history, but Price is a perfect example of just how much we would miss out on if we continue to do so. His books on Autism, Shame and Laziness are corner stones to mental health workers everywhere. Or if they’re not, they should be. In this way, he really does practice what he preaches. His whole presence demonstrates the very arguments he writes about. Wow, we love an authentic author.

I’ll admit, first off, that this book resonated with me on a level that isn’t relevant to everyone. Reading this was a journey in self-discovery, validation, and affirmation of many things I was already starting to understand. It was one of the most positive reading experiences of my life, which is saying something for such an avid reader like myself. This book didn’t just teach me about what autism means, it taught me how to be my successful, thriving, autistic self.

“Gradually learning to see that the sides of ourselves that we were told were too loud, too stilted, too weird, or too much are actually completely fine, even wonderful, and absolutely deserving of love.” pg. 140

The Breakdown

Unmasking Autism delves into the history of the Autism diagnosis: The ways research has been cherry picked to create an autistic identity that doesn’t fit everyone on the spectrum; The ways that queers and women and ethnic and lower-class families have been consistently left out of the research which forms the assessments and language we still use today; The stereotyping so many people are still breaking away from; The down-sides of the medical model approach still used by health care workers across Western Society; That ‘disability’ isn’t a bad word, but a call for societal accountability. Unmasking Autism is also one of the only pieces that speaks about Autism from an adult’s point-of-view - while most tend to treat it as a childhood disorder that disappears when we come of age. 

“We were defined by only what we seemed to lack, and only insofar that our disabilities presented a challenge to our caregivers, teachers, doctors, and other people who held power over our lives.” pg. 7

“The medical model of disability has given many of us…  the idea that human suffering is best understood as a problem to be fixed through individual changes… Where the medical model of disability fails is in making sense of disabilities that come from social exclusion or oppression. Sometimes what society… considers to be an individual defect is in fact a perfectly benign difference that needs accommodation and acceptance instead.” pg 229-30

This couldn’t be more appropriate for a time when adults across the globe are realizing that just because they are older, doesn’t mean their autistic identities are invalid. Throughout his book Price breaks down and examines the word ‘Autism’, then lays the groundwork for redefining it.

“There was an entire movement led by Autistic people who argued we should view the disability as a perfectly normal form of human difference.” pg. 5

“There’s little room for Autitics who are sensitive, emotionally expressive, artistic, or uninterested in academic success.” pg. 37

Unmasking Autism takes a deep look at the ways society creates restrictive and unhealthy living for Autistics (who are sometimes queer and sometimes brown and sometimes black and always, always brilliant). He explains how Autism can be, and often is, viewed as a gift and a strength. He gives potent examples of how autism is a valuable characteristic to have. But those benefits come with challenges that often get dismissed or ignored by neuro-typical society, leading to burnout and shame. All throughout Unmasking Autism Price offers resources and communities to help expand autistic supports and spaces. He explains how transformative having a place to let go of shame can be.

“Autistic people deserve acceptance, not because we can’t help but have the brains we have, but because being autistic is good.” pg. 23

The Mask Price describes is a built-in and learned survival device that sometimes gives more than it takes. It’s also something that can be taken off, dismantled, and reconstructed. It has a place on the shelf, for when we learn to live authentically and freely without it.

“A big part of unmasking will mean facing those qualities you loathe the most in yourself.” pg. 95

“Though I wish I could present unmasking as a singularly positive experience where you unburden yourself of all anxiety and venture out into an accepting, enlightened world, I know for a fact this isn't the case. Often it will be nerve-wracking and awkward. We have to choose to unmask because we recognize masking is hurting us, and that is worth being subjected to neurotypical disapproval in order to call our way out of that trap.” pg. 194

Price describes radical visibility: the way that expressing our autistic selves unapologetically doesn’t just set us up for better support and well-being, it also challenges the world around us to evolve into a place that can accommodate these beautiful differences. Being visibly autistic is uncomfortable, of course, but the rewards often outweigh the costs. And who better to push boundaries than the ones who are being the most restricted? Price also explores the ways the relationships in autistic life styles have different contexts and needs, and autistic people sometimes need different supports. He offers guidance on how to go about building relationships that last and give back – especially after so many masked autistics have learned to people-please and over-perform to make up for perceived faults. 

“Refusing to perform neurotypically is a revolutionary act of disability justice.” pg. 11

Recommendations

This book is needed dearly in our health-care fields: there is so much we don’t know we don’t know about the autistic experience, but this book can fill those gaps. So many of us have neuro-diverse characteristics but have never considered that that’s what they are - likely too busy trying to cover them up. This book, to me, represents the beginning of a new way of thinking about neuro-diversity: that it is everywhere and in everyone. And so I do not believe there is anyone who would not benefit from reading this book. But this is especially true for anyone who knows anyone who is neuro-diverse. I have not met one person who read this book and described it as anything less than fantastic.

“Most therapists are not trained to work with Autistic adults, and many of them harbor very shallow, out-dated understandings of what the neutotype is.” pg. 43

Other Favorite Quotes

“Most interactions left me feeling irritated and unheard” pg. 1

“The developer of the first therapeutic ‘treatment’ for Autism… was Ole Ivar Lovaas, who also invented anti-gay conversion therapy.” pg. 36

“Our hyperliteral, analytical minds recognize that the rules of the gender binary are arbitrary and entirely made up, so making up our own gender identities and rules of presentation seems like fair game.” pg. 58

“Within the Autistic self-advocacy community, people with ADHD are usually treated as honorary members by default. And the more we learn about the two neurotypes, the less they seem like distinct categories.” pg. 80

“Some people don’t ‘function’ independently in any area of life at all and that shouldn’t detract from their value and the respect that receive” pg. 82

“We say the wrong thing, misread a situation, or fail to play along with a neurotypical joke, and our difference is suddenly laid bare for all to see.” pg. 93

“Some research suggests that Autistics who disclose their disability at work often regret having done so” pg. 127

“Masking is a reflex that comes out most intensely when we experience uncertainty or social threat… Accepting ourselves as Autistic does free many of us (perhaps for the first time) to question whether it’s fair that we be expected to live in such a concealed, apologetic way.” pg. 140

“There is some research to suggest that people who are used to being disliked and going against the social grain are more likely to speak out and blow the whistle on injustice.” pg. 146

“After all, neurotypical people step on conversational toes and continue breezily along all the time. Neurodivergent folks should, at the very least, be given the latitude to be flawed, fully present humans as well.” pg. 193

“Often, when a person from the majority group encounters information that runs against their stereotypes of an oppressed group, they respond by either by discounting the information… or by subgrouping the people who deviate from stereotypes.” pg. 197

“Other people don't need to understand me, or understand everything about Autism, in order to treat me with respect.” pg. 200

“Though autistic people have a reputation for being “bad” at communicating, the data shows that really isn't the case.” pg. 211