I Am Autistic

October 5, 2022

I Am Autistic by Chanelle Moriah is a beautiful book designed to inform and educate people on Autism, teaching us about it in an interactive and positive way.

This book is deliberately written so anyone can read it and learn from it. Autistic people can find out why they do certain things and act certain ways, and that others do as well, so they feel less alone. It also educates non-autistic people more about autism.

It is very helpful for those who are unsure whether or not they are autistic as it has space for you to write down your own experiences and feelings which can paint a clearer picture on whether or not you should be diagnosed. It has a very strong message: that autism is part of someone’s personality and not something to be ashamed of.

The clear descriptions of how, and why, autistic people may feel a certain way is extremely helpful. This book shows how we can help make things more manageable for someone with autism but also how they can grow independence and be less reliant on others.

It also clearly explains how things will differ for each person as some will relate to different things because everyone is unique.

The book is a hardcover with beautiful illustrations and watercolour. It is very engaging and an easy quick read. The boxes for you to write down how you feel are a great addition for those who are or might be autistic, however, are not very useful for those who just want to learn more about it.

I love that there is not too much information on each page, and it is limited to just one thing, such as routines or sensory overload. Each page is also labelled easily, so if you want to find something specific it is relatively easy to do so.

The wording makes this book an easy read and an interesting one. As it is based on personal experience, the author also puts in some of her views and perspectives which make it more genuine. The terming is also good, and she explains how to refer to someone being autistic without it being offensive. The way that it is written like 'most autistics' is inclusive for those who may not have that particular trait.

This book is great for schools as it can extend the knowledge of both teachers and fellow students of autistic people so they can better accommodate and understand an autistic student.

Autism can be discovered late and is difficult to diagnose, which is why this book is a great start for you to find traits you may have. It will help you learn more about yourself and/or others with autism and show us how autism doesn’t have to be a liability and should be viewed in a positive light.

Thora lives in Nelson.