May Tomorrow Be Awake: On Poetry, Autism, and Our Neurodiverse Future

May Tomorrow Be Awake: On Poetry, Autism, and Our Neurodiverse Future by Chris Martin

The author is a poet that works with many neurodivergent people, especially non-verbal autists. He talks about the benefits of treating people with the benefits that they can provide to society rather than trying to pigeonhole them into certain roles. Then he comes across as a "savior" who seems to be above the people he is creating poems with. On one side, he says there is "no normal", while on the other he wants people to be part of "his ideal". It felt like a "difference" fetish rather than a true respect. How can we really allow different people to achieve their full potential rather than talk about one's personal "privilege" because of certain characteristics that they think make them better?

Waiting for Fitz

Waiting for Fitz by Spencer Hyde

The protaganist is a teanager with sever OCD. She goes to an inpatient treatment center in Seattle in hopes of getting better treatment. There she meets other patients with different challenges. Discussion of Waiting for Godot occupies some of their time. With a friend, Fitz, she escapes for a little excursion around. Eventually they get separating, and get the police and family to help them. Fitz was in one of his different personalities digging a grave. They all get back and work on different solutions. She decides to go outpatient, but not before seeing a rare bird that they are interested in. The people displayed her all have great challenges, yet are also very intelligent. It is difficult being "different" in this world.

Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels

Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels by Sara Gibbs

If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person. Sara Gibbs was diagnosed with autism in adulthood. Her version was a very social type of autism. She talked too much. She constantly had crushes on people. She lived in a dream world. Her boundaries were not good. She struggled with all social activity. However, she grew up in an "odd" environment, with a family that was very much into new age anti-vax and Waldorf education. Her father had multiple affairs and was distant from the family. However, he was the one that helped her when times were the hardest, and they grew closer in adulthood and she cared for him near his death. She seemed to have a constant stream of boyfriends, with plenty of drama and obsessiveness. She eventually landed with a caring husband and found a job writing comedy. Her outgoing nature likely helped her to manage - even if it also the source of her problems. The book ends with her diagnoses with autism. This helped her to vanquish some of her "problems" and better understand herself.