Autism Society Newfoundland and Labrador

This is mostly a great book. I wish I could like it.

Published by the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, it consists of a series of essays by people connected with autism -- people who themselves have the condition, or parents or relatives, or therapists or educators. Most of them are people somehow connected with Newfoundland and Labrador, but a few are from other parts of Canada, and one section is an excerpt from one of Temple Grandin's books.

With only a few exceptions, the essays are well-written, and most will give you a good insight into some aspect of autism or another. And the fact that there are so many of them will give you an idea of the range of traits in autism, from those who show great promise, like Olivia Goodreault and Michael McCreary, to the seemingly hopeless cases, like Maggie Rose Parsons. It describes a number of therapies, mostly good (although a few are "special case" therapies that I can't recommend for the general population).

So what's not to like?

Cures. The last essay, by Dr. Stephen W. Scherer, has a big section on cures.

In other words, into turning us -- yes, us, because I have autism too -- into someone else. Why should you have the right to turn me into someone else, and I not have the right to turn you into someone else, Dr. Scherer? Preferably someone with enough empathy to realize that we don't need or want to be cured.

Once I'm off my high horse, I can point out that several of the essays here, such as Dawn Haire-Butt's "I Don't Have a Disability, I Have a Special Ability" and Tom Jackman's "Asperger's Syndrome: Disability or Different Ability? 'Normal' Shouldn't Be the Only Acceptable Realm" make that very point. Autism brings problems. It brings gifts. People with autism are far more diverse than a similar population of "neurotypicals," and that is a strength. For the most part, the essays in this book show that.

Just stay away from the ones calling for cures. Physician, heal thyself.… (meer)