Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity

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In Unmasking Autism, Dr. Devon Price shares his personal experience with masking and blends history, social science research, prescriptions, and personal profiles to tell a story of neurodivergence that has thus far been dominated by those on the outside looking in. For Dr. Price and many others, Autism is a deep source of uniqueness and beauty. Unfortunately, living in a neurotypical world means it can also be a source of incredible alienation and pain. Most masked Autistic individuals struggle for decades before discovering who they truly are. They are also more likely to be marginalized in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and other factors, which contributes to their suffering and invisibility. Dr. Price lays the groundwork for unmasking and offers exercises that encourage self-expression, including: A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, giving individuals the tools to safely uncover their true selves while broadening society’s narrow understanding of neurodiversity It does sound very Bravely Inspirational to say that we should “focus on what people can do and not on what they cannot,” but sometimes the subject of the discussion is in fact the stuff people can’t do. Nothing wrong with that. If somebody doesn’t speak English, we just say he doesn’t speak English. Life Kit You aren't lazy. You just need to slow down Get to know who you really are by identifying your values We have to look at who has been the face of Autism advocacy. Many of these organizations are not led by Autistic people; they are mostly nondisabled parents of disabled children. It’s hard to find a therapist who works with Autistic adults. In terms of the research and funding, everything is for making life easier for the nondisabled people in the disabled person’s life.

Reading this felt like being at home—I didn’t realize how much I masked. What an incredible book that I know will be re-read many times over.” —Dr. Camilla Pang, author of An Outsider’s Guide to Humans Unmasking Autism" is a book that stimulates intellectually and resonates emotionally. I found myself often diving deeper into topics while also often stopping to shed a tear or two. As an adult with Spina Bifida, a birth defect often associated Autism, and someone who works in the field of Autism, I have often found myself doing exactly what Dr. Price identifies here as "masking." They explain everything beautifully and with a tenderness that reveals deep respect and something resembling a literary warm hug. The fact that a disability has some biological markers does not mean it is more real or legitimate than a disability that you can only observe in a person’s behavior. And Autism is still diagnosed based on a person’s behavior and reported challenges, not on a brain scan. I really enjoyed Laziness Does Not Existas a “grind/productivity culture is a big pile of garbage” manifesto, and I also really like Dr. Price’s writing. I didn’t think I was the audience for this book, which is about the masking Autistic people do to conform with neurotypical expectations, and is written by an Autistic person for fellow Autistic people.Dr Hannah Belcher is a lecturer, researcher, speaker and author. Here Hannah discusses masking in autistic people, based on research and her own personal experience. It’s vitally important that in addition to all the individual-level work we put into unmasking and demanding our needs get met, that we also find and cultivate supportive relationships with people who make it a lot easier to do so.

Those who embrace a more ABA approach to Autism may be most likely to struggle with "Unmasking Autism" as it's clear Dr. Price sees ABA as part of the enforced masking journey. If there's a weakness in the book, perhaps, it's that Dr. Price never really delves into this issue more fully and it's an area that deserves deeper exploration.Unmasking Autism" will, of course, deeply resonate with those who are Autistic or who identify as someone who does "mask" or at least someone who can relate to "masking." However, "Unmasking Autism" is also a valuable resource for those who work in the field of Autism, those support or simply love someone with Autism, or even someone, myself included, who has always felt neurodiverse yet never officially been "diagnosed." I have been embarking on this journey for over a decade and it has involved plenty of ups and downs. In my book, ‘Taking off the Mask’, I have described some of the techniques I have found useful. I also included the lived experience of other autistic people to create a collection of resources that help improve the mental health and wellbeing of those who mask. I found out I was Autistic in my late 20s, after years of avoiding other people, gritting my teeth through daily sensory issues and meltdowns, and letting my productivity determine my worth. If you're a girl, if you're a person of color, if you're gender nonconforming," Price says, "you're more likely to be seen as a problem to be contained." Because autistic people often spend their whole lives trying to fit into a specific societal mold, it can be easy to lose touch with who you really are or what is really important to you. Price suggests trying the Values-Based Integration process, an exercise from autistic life coach Heather R. Morgan.

That’s a common issue with people trying to be sensitive. One academic style guide I read said that you should describe people with what they can do, and not with what they cannot do. For example, the method I found most useful was recording in my journal those situations in which I masked, and how that made me feel. I then set about doing some behavioural experiments where I would consciously unmask myself in safe environments, and record whether my worst fears were met and how it made me feel. More often than not my worst fears of being judged or embarrassing myself were not met. Autistic people may find it helpful to speak to a therapist or professional for support if thinking about using these types of behavioural experiments. Further information Note: the author emphasizes that lists are sometimes unclear and vague, and that women with autism can feel ‘male’ autism traits and vice versa, or any combination thereof. This is not a definitive list, but some of you might relate to these. I found this to be an incredibly thoughtful, thorough, insightful, and interesting book that is deeply compassionate and built on a foundation of pride and of deep empathy. Books like this one which write from within an Autistic perspective that is grounded in research and experience are vital.However, for us autistic folk the strategy is often much more ingrained and harmful to our wellbeing and health. Because our social norms are different to others around us, we often experience greater pressure to hide our true selves and to fit into that non-autistic culture. More often than not, we have to spend our entire lives hiding our traits and trying to fit in, even though the odds of appearing ‘non-autistic’ are against us. Autism is a neurological condition that is developmental in nature. It is largely genetically heritable, but it is also multiply determined, meaning it has no single cause. Every Autistic person’s brain is unique and exhibits its own distinct patterns of connectivity. Ask yourself, "What do these moments have to say about what I actually value?" This could be as simple as valuing time you spend with people you love, getting outside and communing with nature or advocating for less privileged people.