Looking for books on autism
October 7, 2024 8:32 AM Subscribe
Having recently been diagnosed "officially", at age 59, as on the autism spectrum (following an earlier diagnosis in 2022 not accepted by my insurance), i would very much appreciate your book recommendations.
What i am looking for specifically are books for/by older women.
I am currently 59. I am a bit disappointed that "late" diagnosis" seemingly often refers to people in their thirties or twenties.
If you were diagnosed at over 50, what book was useful to you?
Specifically i am interested in longterm effects of camouflaging, masking and the resulting burnout.
I have read Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women, but i am looking for something deeper.
I do not do podcasts or videos, eBooks etc. Physical books vastly preferred, or websites.
Thanks,
What i am looking for specifically are books for/by older women.
I am currently 59. I am a bit disappointed that "late" diagnosis" seemingly often refers to people in their thirties or twenties.
If you were diagnosed at over 50, what book was useful to you?
Specifically i am interested in longterm effects of camouflaging, masking and the resulting burnout.
I have read Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women, but i am looking for something deeper.
I do not do podcasts or videos, eBooks etc. Physical books vastly preferred, or websites.
Thanks,
Best answer: I also violate your criterion (47, not formally diagnosed), but I'm going to suggest:
Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum by Sarah Hendrickx with Jess Hendrickx, which is subtitled "Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age", and includes input from a great many women, some of whom were diagnosed in middle age or beyond. I read the first edition, and found it excellent, but am recommending the second edition, which has a lot more content, including a few pages about burnout.
Arriving Late by Jodi Lamanna, subtitled "The lived experience of women receiving a late autism diagnosis". One chapter from each of seven women, diagnosed at ages 32, 38, 44 (x2), 45, 58 and 70.
Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Donna Henderson and Sarah Wayland with Jamell White. It's not exclusively about or for late-diagnosed women, but it's the closest thing I've found to the reference I really want, which is "Here are all the ways your brain probably differs from the standard model, and the unspoken assumptions about how people's brains work that may not hold true for you". There's a companion volume with a very similar name (Is This Autism? A Companion Guide for Diagnosing): the one I'm recommending has a green cover, the other is blue.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 9:45 AM on October 7 [3 favorites]
Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum by Sarah Hendrickx with Jess Hendrickx, which is subtitled "Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age", and includes input from a great many women, some of whom were diagnosed in middle age or beyond. I read the first edition, and found it excellent, but am recommending the second edition, which has a lot more content, including a few pages about burnout.
Arriving Late by Jodi Lamanna, subtitled "The lived experience of women receiving a late autism diagnosis". One chapter from each of seven women, diagnosed at ages 32, 38, 44 (x2), 45, 58 and 70.
Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Donna Henderson and Sarah Wayland with Jamell White. It's not exclusively about or for late-diagnosed women, but it's the closest thing I've found to the reference I really want, which is "Here are all the ways your brain probably differs from the standard model, and the unspoken assumptions about how people's brains work that may not hold true for you". There's a companion volume with a very similar name (Is This Autism? A Companion Guide for Diagnosing): the one I'm recommending has a green cover, the other is blue.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 9:45 AM on October 7 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Cynthia Kim, author of Nerdy, Shy and Socially Inappropriate was diagnosed in her forties (according to her author bio).
posted by demi-octopus at 9:58 AM on October 7 [1 favorite]
posted by demi-octopus at 9:58 AM on October 7 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I am not yet over 50, but have been pay attention to autism related materials for myself as I age, and you may the book Understanding Autism in Adults and Aging Adults to be a useful resource. The author's website, including her blog, may be of interest as well.
posted by chiefthe at 10:33 AM on October 7
posted by chiefthe at 10:33 AM on October 7
Best answer: Caveat: at age 48 I was told by a credentialed and experienced neurodiversity professional that I might be on the spectrum (specifically that a dual ADHD-Bipolar2 diagnosis suggested so), but I have not been formally tested
Here are some resources including book recommendations, at least two of which are by autistic women authors, at least one of which fits your age criteria
Also, Insights of a Neurodivergent Clinician, Megan Anna Neff
Thank you for creating this AskMe.
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 10:59 AM on October 7
Here are some resources including book recommendations, at least two of which are by autistic women authors, at least one of which fits your age criteria
Also, Insights of a Neurodivergent Clinician, Megan Anna Neff
Thank you for creating this AskMe.
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 10:59 AM on October 7
Best answer: You might find what you're looking for in the book lists featured on ASAN and The Autism Books by Autistic Authors Project. e.g.:
* Knowing Why: Adult-Diagnosed Autistic People on Life and Autism
* The "women and girls" list, with books like the above mentioned Arriving Late: The lived experience of women receiving a late autism diagnosis
* The "older autistics" list
posted by splitpeasoup at 4:55 PM on October 7 [2 favorites]
* Knowing Why: Adult-Diagnosed Autistic People on Life and Autism
* The "women and girls" list, with books like the above mentioned Arriving Late: The lived experience of women receiving a late autism diagnosis
* The "older autistics" list
posted by splitpeasoup at 4:55 PM on October 7 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I was DXed at age 53. Two books that helped shortly before AND after my diagnosis:
* Women From Another Planet? Our Lives In The Universe of Autism, ed. Jean Kearns Miller
* Drama queen: one autistic woman and a lifetime of unhelpful labels, Sara Gibbs
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 1:09 AM on October 8
* Women From Another Planet? Our Lives In The Universe of Autism, ed. Jean Kearns Miller
* Drama queen: one autistic woman and a lifetime of unhelpful labels, Sara Gibbs
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 1:09 AM on October 8
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posted by heatherlogan at 8:57 AM on October 7 [1 favorite]