WHERE TO GET THE BOOK: http://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=F6B31A8DAFD6BD39A5986833E66293E6
People have been kind enough to link the audiobook in past posts, so hopefully they'll do that here, too.
CHAPTER ONE: WHAT IS AUTISM, REALLY?
In this chapter, Dr. Price discusses what the popular perception (read: stereotype) of Autism is, as opposed to what it actually is, and how it is just as much a social thing as it is a medical thing. How Autism often goes undiagnosed in people of color, women, gender nonconforming people, etc. He discusses the concept of neurodiversity and how it applies to ASD and ADHD people, AuDHD people, schizophrenics, BPD people, people deemed "low intelligence" or "low-functioning," etc. and how neurotypicality is not so much a described set of behaviors as an oppresive social ideal that literally everyone deviates from in some small way at least.
There's a heartbreaking passage in here where Dr. Price recounts his father tearfully revealing his cerebral palsy and seizure disorder to him as if it was a source of secret shame, how this is tragically rational because if he didn't hide it it might lead to losing his job or other forms of discrimination that disabled people of all stripes face. How avoiding a label can be a social asset in a world that deems you unfit for public life in many ways if you're labeled autistic. How even a late diagnosis can open you up to a world of new possibilities, and get rid of toxic shame you've had for a long time.
There's discussion of how the stereotype of Rainman Bazinga Sheldon 
is tied into the roots of Autism's first descriptions in medical literature, and how Hans Asperger played a role in this with his eugenicist beliefs and willing cooperation with the Nazi regime to exterminate children dubbed Autistic (as opposed to "useful" ones that could be trained to fit in as a lower class of person -- essentially "Asperger's" meant you got to live) and how that harms minority Autistics, causing them to go undiagnosed or forcing them to mask in more fundamental, soul-crushing ways, to avoid social misunderstandings that can literally be deadly for them.
From there we get a medically and socially up-to-date definition and breakdown of what Autism is, a simple explanation of some of the neurobiology involved, the neurological markers like focus on details and diminished ability to prioritize and differentiate stimuli and delayed emotional processing, and the various medical, psychological, and social impacts Autism has on those who are Autistic. There's a lot in here on neurodiversity, intersectionality, how stereotypes were formed, how to start recognizing them as such. There's also a lot on how unfairly the medical community and especially health insurance treats neurodivergent people, and so on.
Most importantly, this is where Dr. Price first advocates for the notion of Autistic self-determination. He stresses "self-determination" or "self-realization" over "self-diagnosis" because of the social aspect of Autism, and promises to expand on this notion further, which indeed he does.
So, discussion questions:
- What did you think of this chapter? Is there anything new you learned? Anything that really activates those almonds, gets the noggin joggin'?
- Are there any passages that really stuck out to you? Something you think warrants deeper discussion or really crystallizes something you were struggling to express or share?
- Any certified "literally me" moments that touched you?
- Anything you hope to explore further in upcoming chapters?
Tag post to follow, plus my thoughts in another post.
One thing stuck out like a sore thumb, and that is label avoidance. My parents underwent the strangest transition from being evangelical anti-vax bush-supporting republicans when I was younger to (ostensibly) agnostic liberal CNN-watchers. And with the former era came being terrified of anything that would be seen as weak or inferior. Holy shit my life would be so much different if I knew the reason I was different as a kid. Godamn
So the discussion about Aspergers- this really could be a stretch, but I’ve met more than a few people who have identified with Aspergers, and some of them have been guys who have claimed to be loners and they don’t seem like particularly happy people. Most of them are generally older, so I’m assuming (I know I shouldn’t but here I am) that they were sort of given that identity without an opportunity to say it fit. Idk I just want to know that everyone with agency had a choice.
I say this because I was sorta given this assignment, but now I’m learning there are other options. And I’m very sad I’m learning it now because I feel like I’ve missed out on life 🥲 but all we have is now I suppose.
Autistic burnout is probably why my head is where it’s at today
I didn’t see anyone mention of how all of the memories you have repressed throughout your life will attack you. Can anyone confirm whether this is normal
For the memory part I actually asked my mom what I was like as a kid just the other day, hoping to jog memory and she just said I was a "normal kid" id not a little bit too goofy. I doubt that's super accurate because I can remember having outbursts and meltdowns. But I also think both my parents are undiagnosed ND.
I too was a "normal kid", despite choking colleagues, trying to push bullies off windows or having random meltdowns because "the rug is the wrong colour for today" or "that plant is the wrong texture". Pretty normal stuff.
I very mistakenly asked my mom and she said I was a normal kid but something suddenly changed when I became a teen and “they didn’t know what to do with me”
Didn’t get much empathy from my family when bringing this up lol
But the more I try to talk about this stuff openly, the more the mask of liberalism comes off. They’re all OK with autism acceptance until it personally inconveniences them or might have some impact on the bottom line. I also truly don’t know if people understand what a spectrum actually means. I get a lot of “oh maybe but you don’t have any of these traits so you’re not autistic.”
Might just have to get a diagnosis
Idk if it's "normal," but it certainly happens to me too
I can guarantee you those men aren't really loners by choice. I'd probably describe myself as a loner but the loneliness is killing me inside, and I've just gotten so used to being rejected I usually don't bother trying to pursue friendships. Doesn't help that the RSD makes rejection feel like I'm being stabbed in the heart.