Autistic-Coded Representation and Autism Stereotypes: Looking for the Spectrum takes a fresh approach to examining autism representation in literature, film, and television by looking particularly at characters who are not directly identified as falling on the Autism Spectrum. As autism becomes an increasingly popular topic to explore in literature and visual media, it is important that representations present people with autism as real humans with complex interior lives. Too often autistic characters fall into broad stereotypes – victims, villains, fools, or heroes – and autism emerges as the defining aspect of their personality. This book looks at autistic-coded characters, both classic and contemporary, to examine the benefits of looking for the spectrum in characters not explicitly labeled. Autistic audiences see a diverse and fully fleshed representation of themselves and neurotypical audiences gain a greater understanding of ASD though exposure to characters who defy stereotypes.

This volume, the first scholarly book on autism and the humanities, brings scholars from several different disciplines together with adults on the autism spectrum to investigate the diverse ways that autism has been represented in novels, poems, autobiographies, films and clinical discourses, and to explore the connections and demarcations between autistic and "normal" creative expression.

A bestselling modern classic—both poignant and funny—narrated by a fifteen year old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions. Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. At fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbour’s dog Wellington impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing. Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer, and turns to his favourite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As Christopher tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, the narrative draws readers into the workings of Christopher’s mind. And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotions. The effect is dazzling, making for one of the freshest debut in years: a comedy, a tearjerker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.

This New York Times–bestselling book upends conventional thinking about autism and suggests a broader model for acceptance, understanding, and full participation in society for people who think differently. What is autism? A lifelong disability, or a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference akin to certain forms of genius? In truth, it is all of these things and more—and the future of our society depends on our understanding it. Wired reporter Steve Silberman unearths the secret history of autism, long suppressed by the same clinicians who became famous for discovering it, and finds surprising answers to the crucial question of why the number of diagnoses has soared in recent years. Going back to the earliest days of autism research, Silberman offers a gripping narrative of Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger, the research pioneers who defined the scope of autism in profoundly different ways; he then goes on to explore the game-changing concept of neurodiversity. NeuroTribes considers the idea that neurological differences such as autism, dyslexia, and ADHD are not errors of nature or products of the toxic modern world, but the result of natural variations in the human genome. This groundbreaking book will reshape our understanding of the history, meaning, function, and implications of neurodiversity in our world.

LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI CHILDREN'S & YA BOOK PRIZE 'An essential guide' LIZZIE HUXLEY-JONES 'This book is perfect' WENN LAWSON 'One of the most important books in autism literature' CHARLOTTE AMELIA POE 'Wonderfully diverse and vibrant' FOX FISHER In this empowering and honest guide for LGBTQIA+ autistic teens, Erin Ekins gives you all the tools you need to figure out and explore your gender identity and sexuality. From coming out to friends and family, staying safe in relationships and practicing safe sex, through to self-care and coping with bullying, being out and about in the LGBTQIA+ community and undergoing gender transition, this book is filled with essential information, advice, support and resources to help you on your journey, and also works as a primer on all things LGBTQIA+ for non-autistic teens who are just figuring it all out. Written by an inspirational autistic queer woman, this is a must-read for every autistic teen wanting to live their very best queer life.

Kristy looks for a way to help a little girl with autism in this special entry in the classic hit series. Kristy’s newest baby-sitting charge is Susan Felder, who goes away to a special school. Susan isn’t like most kids. While she can play the piano and sing beautifully . . . she can’t talk to anyone. Susan is autistic. She lives locked inside her own secret world. Kristy thinks it’s unfair that Susan has to be sent off to school and is treated differently from everyone else. But Kristy’s going to try to change that—by showing everyone that Susan’s a “regular” kid, too. And then maybe Kristy’s new friend can stay in Stoneybrook for good. The best friends you’ll ever have—with classic BSC covers and a letter from Ann M. Martin!