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whimsykat's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
3.75
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
3.5
This is an informative yet mostly accessible book about neurodiversity and neurodivergence. I agree with a lot of the arguments, such as how it is discriminative to pathologize autistic people, identity-first language ('autistic' instead of 'person with autism') makes sense when it comes to autism, functioning labels are unhelpful and harmful, and ABA is an abusive practice that needs to end. One argument I strongly disagree with however, is that "autism is not a disability, but autistic people are disabled." Even in a world that adopts the social model of disability, and in which I get accomadations, me being autistic would still make me a disabled person. The accomadations would just help to make me feel more comfortable. Overall this is an insightful book insight for anyone regardless of their neurotype.
baileysmusical's review against another edition
4.25
An enjoyable nonfiction that centers on liberation of neurodiverse folks. Spends a lot of time on definitions and proper language. I really liked the section that focused on allowing people to stim, as well as creating a classroom that allows for multiple modes of learning and being.
pocketfulofginkgoleaves's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
a wonderful collection on neurodiversity, neurodivergence, the neurodiversity paradigm versus pathology paradigm, the social model of disability versus medical model, all of these intertwining factors, and neuroqueer in in relation to queering and the inextricable interwoven nature of queering neuronormativity and heteronormativity. great condensed yet nuanced and very clear, moving from the very basics for someone who hasn’t a lick of a clue of anything beyond the pathology paradigm and medical model, up to radical greater thoughts of neuroqueering and fucking with normativity.
daniofthewood's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Racism, Transphobia, and Homophobia
panickedhonking's review
challenging
informative
fast-paced
3.0
My opinion of this book slammed shut about 75% of the way through when Walker said with her whole chest "tame autistic" without irony to refer to people like Temple Grandin who gained approval (a dubious claim) from neurotypical society.
I think a lot of the underlying ideas are great, but ultimately Walker hypocritically employs a somewhat prescriptive view of how people are allowed to see autism. I do agree with the premise of neurodiversity as she outlined in the book, however I also think that it's an issue to say that anyone who employs any pathologizing self-identification is simply oppressed and their opinions by extension are invalid.
As a final note, she sure employs race as a comparison a whole lot for a white person while talking at length about who's allowed to speak for autistic people in academia, a category which does not include all autistic people.
I think a lot of the underlying ideas are great, but ultimately Walker hypocritically employs a somewhat prescriptive view of how people are allowed to see autism. I do agree with the premise of neurodiversity as she outlined in the book, however I also think that it's an issue to say that anyone who employs any pathologizing self-identification is simply oppressed and their opinions by extension are invalid.
As a final note, she sure employs race as a comparison a whole lot for a white person while talking at length about who's allowed to speak for autistic people in academia, a category which does not include all autistic people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism