Ido in Autismland: Climbing Out of Autism's Silent Prison

by Ido Kedar

Ido in Autismland opens a window into non-verbal autism through dozens of short, autobiographical essays each offering new insights into autism symptoms, effective and ineffective treatments and the inner emotional life of a severely autistic boy. In his pithy essays, author Ido Kedar, a brilliant sixteen year old with autism, challenges what he believes are misconceptions in many theories that dominate autism treatment today while he simultaneously chronicles his personal growth in his struggles to overcome his limitations.Ido spent the first half of his life locked internally, in silence, trapped in a remedial educational system that presumed he lacked the most basic comprehension, and unable to show the world that he understood everything. But at the age of seven, Ido was finally able to show that he had an intact mind and could understand. This led to the quest to find a system of communication that he could use despite his impaired motor control. Through the use of a letter board, and now an iPad, Ido has triumphed communicatively, enabling him to flourish in a regular high school in all general education classes.But Ido has a larger goal. He does not want to be seen as an isolated autistic exception with miraculously advanced cognitive and communication abilities. He wants people to see that thousands of other severely autistic individuals have the same capacity, but remain trapped and locked-in, as he was, unable to show their true capacities. These individuals desperately need new theories and new methods to help them break free too. Of importance to neuro-researchers, educators, psychologists, doctors, parents, friends, family and people with autism, Ido in Autismland will change our collective understanding of severe autism.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Psychology, Disability, Education

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2012

Reviews

[Blaire Malkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give this book a bad review. I had really looked forward to reading the thoughts of a non-verbal individual with autism who could communicate via typing and explain what it was like to be non-speaking in a world that is so verbal. While several of the essays were very insightful the book is extremely repetitive. It also heavily endorses the rapid prompting or facilitated communication method which studies have found to be essentially pseudoscience and not supported by evidence. Ido can clearly type and express his own thoughts but others that use this method essentially have others typing for them. I also found the book’s manner of speaking about people who do have intellectual disability to be disheartening. There seems to be an assumption and not only in this book but in a lot of fiction and non-fiction writing featuring characters with a disability that if only neurotypical folks understood them we would see brilliance. There is not value placed on those who may not secretly be geniuses but who have intellectual disability and simply experience the world differently but still have the potential and capacity to grow and learn.

[Iveta Ozola - Cirule]

Ilgi domāju, kā formulēt savu atsauksmi. Protams, lasīju ar kritisku aci un varētu izvērst plašas diskusijas par dažādiem aspektiem. Man būtu arī ļoti daudz jautājumu pašam Īdo – par viņa pieredzi, viņa skatījumu uz dažādām tēmām un to, kā viņš šobrīd raugās uz savu pagātni un attīstību. Taču tad, iespējams, es pati nonāktu tajā kategorijā, kurā Īdo ir ievietojis daudzos "speciālistus", ko sastapis savā ceļā. Tāpēc, neiedziļinoties analīzē, vēlos uzsvērt, ka šī grāmata piedāvā aizraujošu un vērtīgu perspektīvu, kas ļauj mums ieraudzīt pasauli no cita skatpunkta.

Pēc grāmatas izlasīšanas meklēju Īdo blogu un video, jo ļoti vēlējos vizuāli pieredzēt to, par ko viņš stāsta. Diemžēl neatradu iemeslus, kāpēc viņš kopš 2022. gada vairs neraksta, taču labprāt uzzinātu, kā viņam klājas šobrīd. Grāmatā Īdo izklausās apņēmības pilns turpināt trenēt gan savu ķermeni, gan prātu, un viņam pašam šis progress bija ārkārtīgi svarīgs.

Šo grāmatu noteikti varu ieteikt ne tikai kolēģiem un pedagogiem, bet ikvienam, kurš vēlas iepazīt Īdo stāstu. Tā sniedz dziļāku izpratni par bērniem un pieaugušajiem, kas saskaras ar grūtībām, un atgādina, ka aiz tā, ko redzam ārēji, var slēpties daudz vairāk, nekā nojaušam. "Būt citādām mūsu vienaudžu vidū ir visļaunākais no visiem grēkiem," raksta Īdo, uzsverot, cik sāpīgi var būt neatbilst sabiedrības gaidām. Taču viņš arī atgādina, ka īstie ierobežojumi ne vienmēr slēpjas cilvēkā, kas tiek uzskatīts par atšķirīgu: "Daži cilvēki nespēj saskatīt, kas ir iekšpusē, bet tas nav mans ierobežojums. Tas ir viņējais." Šis ir izcils empātijas treniņš, kas liek pārdomāt mūsu uztveri un attieksmi pret citiem.

Lai gan pēdējie grāmatā iekļautie ieraksti nāk no 2012. gada dienasgrāmatas un zinātne kopš tā laika ir gājusi uz priekšu, daudzas no Īdo aktualizētajām tēmām joprojām ir ārkārtīgi nozīmīgas. Viņa pieredze un skatījums uz autisma pasauli paliek svarīgs un vērtīgs arī šodien.

Kopumā šī grāmata ir spēcīgs atgādinājums par cilvēka iekšējo pasauli, kuru mēs no malas neredzam. Tā rosina pārdomas ne tikai par autismu, bet arī par komunikāciju, izpratni un sabiedrības attieksmi pret atšķirīgo. Īdo balsij ir vērtība, un viņa stāsts ir vērts, lai to sadzirdētu.

[DW Rowlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book consisted of a series of short (roughly one page each) essays and comments that Ido Kedar--a non-speaking autistic boy--wrote from late elementary to early high school. His thoughts and feelings about life and autism were interesting to read, and it was interesting to see how his experiences changed as he got older and was able to have a more mainstream school experience, eventually being entirely out of the special education program.

One thing that I thought was particularly notable was his conviction that autism and Asperger's syndrome are different in kind and not only degree. This is the opposite of what I am used to hearing from autism activists, who tend to be opposed to distinguishing between types of autism-spectrum disorders or levels of functioning; I would have been curious to hear more of his reasons for thinking that they are different conditions and not just different degrees of the same basic sort of brain variation.

[Krista Leskevica · Rating 5 out of 5]

ĪPAŠA grāmata, kuru vērts izlasīt. Tā pārsteidz, aizkustina, liek līdzi dzīvot. Paplašina redzesloku un zināšanas. Sevišķi, ja ar autismu, cilvēkiem ar autiskā spektra traucējumiem, nav bijusi nekāda saistība (mans gadījums). Viss, ko es pa ausu galam biju dzirdējusi, domājusi par autismu, izrādās, ir visai šķērsām 🙄

Grāmatas autors Īdo Kedars ir 15 gadus vecs (grāmatas sarakstīšanas brīdī) puisis ar smagiem autiskā spektra traucējumiem. Viņš nerunā. Viņš neraksta. Viņš nedara vairumu lietu, kas viņa vecumā tiek uzskatītas par “normālām”. Īdo ķermenis to neļauj. Neiroloģisko traucējumu dēļ viņš nespēj likt rokām klausīt tā, kā vajadzētu, reizēm - arī kājām. Un viņš nespēj izveidot vārdus, tikai neskaidras, neizprotamas skaņas. Viņa seja nerāda emocijas. Un - visiem šķiet, ka viņš ir dumjš un atpalicis…

Taču iekšēji Īdo ir pilnīgi normāls zēns. Ļoti gudrs zēns. Viņš lasa, rēķina, domā un spriež. Viņš grib draudzēties un jā, viņam patīk meitenes 💔 Tas, kas viņu pieviļ ir ķermenis. Tas ir kā cietums, no kura nav iespējams izkļūt. Godīgi sakot, lasot, brīžam uznāca drebuļi, domājot par šo 🫣 Smagi autiskā spektra traucējumi ir kas tāds, par kuriem varētu teikt - šo pat savam ienaidniekam nenovēl…

Un vienīgais cilvēks, kas Īdo noticēja, ir viņa mamma. Kura juta. Kura zināja - tur iekšā IR vairāk, kā, no ārpuses skatoties, šķiet 🙏 Pateicoties mammai un modernajām tehnoloģijām (burtu tāfele, iPad) Īdo ir spējis “izkļūt” no savas klusēšanas cietuma. Viņš spēj sazināties, stāstīt, komunicēt. Tas notiek lēni, bet NOTIEK 🔥 Un tas, ko Īdo stāsta ir WOW 🫶

Un Īdo māk stāstīt - grāmatā ir gan humors, gan vietas, kur gribas dusmās bļaut (uz tā dēvētajiem “ekspertiem”, kas strādā ar bērniem autistiem), gan brīži, kas var izsist arī kādu 🥲

[Lisa Fierro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a small news clip about Ido last week which led to me reading a sample of his book online. I was immediately drawn to his words, purchased the ebook online and didn't put it down until I finished it. As a mental health professional it opened my eyes to a whole new world. I do not work with people with Autism but have been exposed to a higher number than average children with Autism in my children's school as the school which was well known for how well it worked with children with this diagnosis. Ido's experience reminds me of a young man, diagnosed with severe autism. He too was non-verbal, appearing to be in his own world all of the time. For his grade 7 graduation, his support team assisted him to put together the most amazing video of him sharing his thoughts and feelings about atteding our school which was made using a similar text to speech program that Ido used. There wasn't a dry eye in the gym as we realized how much this young man, who appeared so severely cognitively impaired, had to say. He was so articulate! His language was so sophisticated! He described how lonely he was until he was given the technology to communicate.

Ido's story solidified for me how I had prejudged that most autistic children, aside from the rare savants, were severely cognitively impaired. Clearly professionals and non-professionals alike need to put aside our previous understanding of Autism, recognize that there are ~48 million people in the world locked in a world where they have full comprehension of all that goes on around them, have average to above average intelligence but have no way to communicate with us and teach them how to speak to us. Even if Ido turns out to only represent a small percentage of those diagnosed with Autism, a small percentage of 48 million is a lot of people!

Please read this book and recommend it to anyone you know, especially teachers, teacher assistants and parents of children with Autism. His story is a wake up call to all of us. How inspirational!

[J L's Bibliomania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autism has become such a broad term these days that in many ways it is meaningless. While there are often commonalities, "pick 5-7 of the following" leads to essentially infinite combinations of strengths and challenges. But unlike common conceptions, it's becoming clearer and clearer that sensory processing challenges aside, for at least one group of Autistics, Autism is more a problem of output rather than comprehension. So they understand the full complexity of language and emotions, they are more imaginative and empathetic than most, yet their body doesn't cooperate to communicate what they know and feel.

I Might Be You by Barb Rentenbach (who also blogs at http://muleandmuseproductions.com/) and Ido in Autismland by Ido Kedar (who also blogs at http://idoinautismland.com/) are two of the emerging voices for folks who communicate through non-traditional means such as typing since their bodies won't cooperate to produce speech that reflects the full nuances of their internal worlds. Their books, along with blogs from other young voices such as Emma's Hope Book, should be essential reading for any family touched by autism, whether your specific family member is verbal or not. As with many books of essays, the quality varies. But hidden within both I Might Be You and Ido in Autismland are several gems that will speak to you - and which ones will be different for each reader. I didn't finish either, but my world has been enriched and my understanding of what is possible has been broadened by dipping into the entries.

[Molly Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. Everyone who is any kind of educator or therapist needs to read this book. Actually everyone should read it because it will help you understand Autism in some really important ways. I loved getting to read what Ido has to say and look forward to reading more from him in the future. This is incredibly helpful as I enter a career in music therapy and interact with clients that are diagnosed with ASD.

[Samantha Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It was frustrating at times, but I had to remind myself he was barely a teenager when writing it! The book starts in 2008 and ends in 2012… so I’d like to think society’s view & therapeutic practices of ASD has changed. Also the whole time I was thinking about SGD… but the iPad didn’t come out until 2010!!? Good read over all!!!

[Lauren McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!!!!! Honestly a must read for everyone on Earth, but ESPECIALLY any educators or parents! This book will change my approach to teaching and has made me a better person, thank you for that courage in your writing Ido.

[Rae Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insightful read!!! It was written ten years ago from the point of view of a non-speaking autistic boy of the journey he had to gain the right to use his letter board for speaking. He reveals why he cannot do basic commands, explains how he fought to prove he understood. His frustration is articulated and justified. As the reader you are given a window at how he works to control his impulses. This is so valuable!! The first thirty pages are written by his mom to set up context. You can feel her frustration and lament over the years she allowed the "educated" people to tell her her son didn't understand. I wish I could say times have changed but they haven't. Over and over Katie and Joe have had to hear that Jasper has the intellect of a toddler. Now Jasper is using his letter board to spell out answers and someday soon we hope that becomes "unlocked" and uses the letter board to fully communicate. Can YOU imagine spending the first 10+ years of your life unable to communicate your thoughts? I am so glad there are people out there demanding better!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sticking with the positives (assuming this is true writing and not victim of pseudoscience facilitated communication), this was a great insight into the internal life of someone with neurological differences especially in explanation of a different sensory experience. It was also beautiful to read Ido's writing progress from essay to journal form and experience life right alongside him. Very helpful reframe as a professional working with autistic individuals ❤️

"The world is joy and sorrow and we tend to see joy as our blessing and sorrow as our curse. We work for now to find joy or to preserve it, but the suffering we face is also part of the system of life. It is the suffering that forces the world to improve itself and it reminds us to appreciate the blessings we have"

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Point number one, this book was written in 2012. Autism research and understanding has changed a lot in the past 11 years.

Point number two, Ido's experiences are in the American system. ABA isn't as respected in the UK as it is in America. However, there are other parallels that are worth understanding.

Point three, Ido's experiences are so important to understand. Here is an articulate young man who can explain what it is like to be someone who is non verbal autistic. He makes a lot of references in the end to Helen Keller and Stephen Hawking which are very relevant. It is a mistake to assume that someone who is classed as "low functioning" autistic equates to a learning disability. His experiences are so important to understand.

Point four, I disagree with his assessment that Autism is an illness. It is an neurological difference. However, that doesn't mean that that difference isn't disabling. Being non verbal in a verbal world is disabling. Having your brain wiring messed up such that your body doesn't respond as your brain tells it to is disabling. However, it cannot be cured like an illness. That doesn't mean that science cannot find ways to help Autistic individuals through those difficulties but equally there are some differences that make life richer and bring positives.

Point five, as someone who is diagnosed as Autistic and according to Ido would probably be classed as "near normal", unfortunately, that doesn't mean that life has been easy for me. I too had trouble with school, mostly because being quirky meant that I was bullied. There are other issues that I would rather not disclose in a review, partly because I don't want this to be about me. I guess what I am saying is that just because someone is classed as "high functioning" doesn't mean that they don't encounter difficulties, some of them very debilitating. My daughter would be a case in point. But I do recognise Ido's trials and I commend him on his perseverance and his courage in speaking out.

Final point, like everywhere, some educators are open to differences and make a welcoming space for pupils of differing abilities. Other educators try to jam every child into a round hole, regardless of whether they are a round peg, square, triangular, and so on. The system just doesn't seem to be very flexible (hence why both my Autistic children fell out of mainstream schools in secondary school). I see too many children suffering from trauma after terrible "school" experiences, including myself. We need some kind of change so that children like Ido can get an excellent education, children like my daughter can learn in a different way, children like myself aren't bullied just for being quirky. It can happen but it would take us all working together to make a difference. That's my dream.

[Janet Wymyslo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an important book! It's a small book, but provides a wealth of information about autism, written by someone who knows. Ido is a teenager with non-verbal autism who has learned how to communicate using a letter board. This book is a collection of his essays on various topics relating to his life and his disorder.

The most phenomenal takeaway for me was his vocabulary and depth of thought. He says that his silent years have given him a lot of time for reflection, and his method of "speaking" is so slow that he puts a great deal of thought into each word before he types it.

As a grandparent of a boy with the same affliction, I am always looking for clues into his mind, and this book offered amazing insights. According to Ido, the current "state-of-the-art" therapies are tedious, boring, frustrating, and almost harmful. Many of the outbursts, meltdowns, and self-harm observed in kids with autism are due to the anger they feel at being treated at a level far below their capabilities. The vast majority of these kids have average to above-average intelligence, and yet the therapists are teaching at a level meant for toddlers! All Ido ever wanted was to be educated, but for many years it was impossible to get that message across. I cannot imagine how frustrated he must have been.

I am so happy for Ido that he has found a way out of his silent prison, and I hope that many many parents, therapists, and educators will read this book and be willing to change their methods so we find better ways to help these valuable young people.

[Elina Pastare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manuprāt, Īdo stāstu ir jāizlasa ikvienam. It īpaši tiem, kas ikdienā nesaskaras ar cilvēkiem ar AST.

Īdo lauž sabiedrības stereotipus par to, kā izpaužas autisms, un stāsta par to, cik ļoti svarīgi ir veidot vidi, kas ir pēc iespējas ērtāka, drošāka šiem īpašajiem cilvēkiem.

Tomēr arī man, kā cilvēkam, kas lieliski izprot AST un kam piemīt empātija, Īdo stāsts ir sniedzis pavisam citu skatījumu uz viņa un citu īpašo cilvēku iekšējo pasauli.

Paldies Īdo par iespēju labāk iepazīt savu mīļo brāli!

Ir patiesi svarīgi dot nerunājošiem bērniem iespēju runāt.

“…viņi iemācījās nespriest par grāmatu pēc tās vāka. Tā kā mans vāks ir Autisma zeme, es zinu, ka daži cilvēki nespēj saskatīt, kas ir iekšpusē, bet tas nav mans ierobežojums. Tas ir viņējais.”

[Ashley Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually write reviews but I had to with this book! This book took me quite a while to read even though it was only 160 pages. It was an amazing emotional journey! This book has forever changed my life and hopefully my sons life too! I have got in touch with someone here in Canada to help my son with a letter board. I just want to say thank you so much Ido! Thank you for teaching me as a parent to be more considerate! I’m so happy you shared your story with me and it’s a life lesson I will now never forget!

[Lindsay Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Happy to have gained this perspective
2. Happy it’s 2024 and not 2012 or 2000–I know what we have now isn’t perfect but it’s better than it was

Me 🤝 AAC

[Bailey Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and insightful.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book creates a lot of cognitive dissonance for me, which I think it a good thing. However, I couldn’t get past some of the strong opinions that I feel can be damaging or harmful to other autistic people, especially the promotion of facilitated communication and the rapid prompting method. I greatly support the message of presuming competence and thinking outside the box. However, the author simultaneously advocated for disability rights and demonstrated deep internalized ableism. I think this book is a great read for the discerning consumer, but I wouldn’t recommend it for parents of autistic individuals, or those looking to better understand autism, because of the mixed messaging.

[Kelsie Cortez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book was amazing!! This boy is such an inspiration, both to those living with autism and those that don’t. I encourage you all to read it, to get a better insight to what we know as autism. Seeing it from the inside, plus my education of it already, has just opened my eyes so much more! I’m so grateful to be able to communicate verbally, that sometimes I think I take it for granted. I love being able to go to school to get an education to be able to one day help those struggling in this ‘silent prison’. This is definitely one of my favorite books now and I will continue to tell people to read it! It’s a quick read, great grammar, and amazing insight! LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal insight into life with autism! This book was written by a 16 year old using Rapid Prompt Method - pointing to letters on a letter board - to communicate. The thoughts are all his own and incredibly inspiring. I am a speech language pathologist who has been seeing similar communication from my clients using this method. Truly inspiring and shattering what I thought I understood about autism. I highly recommend this book to anyone!

[Beth Hampshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for all professionals working in autism. Should read for everyone else!

[Ieva Strazdiņa [mrs.lasitaja]]

Autisms ir diagnoze, ko mūsdienās dzirdam samērā bieži. Bet cik daudz mēs patiesībā zinām par šo diagnozi un cilvēkiem, kas no tās cieš?

Atzīšu, ka es zināju maz un tieši tādēļ nolēmu izlasīt šo grāmatu. Ido ir autisms un ilgu laiku viņš bija burtiski iesprostots savā ķermenī. Proti, viņš nespēja sazināties ar apkārtējo pasauli, bet visu ļoti labi saprata un tomēr tika uzskatīts par bezcerīgu, jo nespēja izpildīt vienkāršus uzdevumu. Piemēram, kad kāds lika norādīt uz attēlu ar māju – viņš norādīja uz ko pavisam citu. Viņš nespēja kontrolēt savu ķermeni un ilgstoši cieta, jo viņam gadiem mācīja sākumskolas vielu, lai gan viņš bija spējīgs saprast daudz vairāk.

Laimīgas sagadīšanās dēļ atklājās, ka viņš var sazināties rakstot, jo pašmācības ceļā bija apguvis lasīšanu. Grāmatā Īdo ir dienasgrāmatas formā pierakstījis savas dusmas, skumjas un bezspēcības sajūtu, dzīvojot piespiedu klusuma pasaulē – Autisma zemē.

Šī neapšaubāmi ir svarīga grāmata, jo skaidro to, ko neviens, kam nav autisms mums nevar izskaidrot.

Grāmata bija interesanta, taču man šķita par vienmuļu. Es pilnībā saprotu, ka Īdo vēlējās izkliegt visus tīšos un netīšos vecāku un speciālistu pāridarījumus un uzsvērt to, cik mokoši ir būt ieslodzītam ķermenī, kurš neklausa. Un tomēr, man mani nepameta sajūta, ka viss “iet uz riņķi”.

Vairākus gadus atpakaļ lasīju līdzīgu grāmatu par zēnu, kurš bija paralizēts un bez runas spējām (“Neredzamais zēns”), bet saprata visu notiekošo. Šī grāmata gan palikusi spēcīgi atmiņā. Gribot, negribot nākas tās salīdzināt un šķiet, ka Īdo stāsts tomēr tik spēcīgi atmiņā nenogulsnēsies.

Un tomēr, es iesaku šo grāmatu izlasīt, jo sevišķi pedagogiem un medicīnas, sociālās aprūpes sistēmas darbiniekiem. Šādas grāmatas mums palīdz kļūt empātiskākiem un galu galā veicina izpratni par to, ko būtu ok un ko nebūtu ok darīt, satiekot cilvēkus ar autismu vai jebkuru citu “citādību”. Šim nolūkam iesaku noklausīties arī manu sarunu ar Aneti Bendiku raidierakstā “Piedzivot lappuses”.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more like journal entries where Ido wrote out all his thoughts. Many paragraphs were very repetitive and I skimmed a lot. However, I enjoy reading books like this. I am one of the professionals he writes about that works with autistic kids every day. It wasn’t too long ago I was sitting in a classroom for undergrad listening to a professor talk about goals for eye contact. I had no idea how wrong it was! Honestly what has helped me shape me therapy into less ableism is books like these, written by individuals with autism, and Facebook groups of professionals who try to also advocate what books like these try to. Every person has a right to communicate, no matter the modality. I still have many kids I work with who have a device but the teacher doesn’t incorporate them during instruction and assumes they aren’t able to learn it. I feel helpless trying to balance 60 kids with just 30 minsXweek to try to prove THEY CAN LEARN, and one of the things that Ido does mention briefly (I wish it was highlighted more) that these students need to be held more responsible and always assume they are competent! Every day I see parents and professionals give up because they don’t want to deal with the behaviors, but just as any other student, there should be expectations (with understanding of their behaviors associated with their disorder). It hurts my heart to know that I have seen how smart these kids are but are pushed aside with an iPad to watch videos on for hours on end.

And another note, I would love an update on Ido, and if he uses any communication apps.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

An autistic perspective on autism

Ido Kedar was nonverbal, on the spectrum, and thought by his therapists to be profoundly slow. When he went to ABA, Applied Behavioral Analysis, they tried to drill normalcy into him, but his speech and his body wouldn't communicate to tHem what his.mine knew. One day, Ido's mother discovered he could read. They switched therapies to another, Rapid Printing Therapy, and I do learned to.communicate via letterboard and later through an iPad.

This book consists of short, journal entries from Ido reflecting on his experience of autism, his rich inner world, and his gradual ability to communicate with others.

It is said that if you know one person with autism, then you know exactly that, one person with autism. I have a 5 year old son on the spectrum, who is for the most part non verbal, with low impulse control and his own stims, much of.which reminds me of what Ido describes, though our son doesn't have the same issues with motor control that Ido did. Still lots here that seems familiar and this was an encouraging and hopeful read.

One thing I appreciated was the way Ido explodes the idea that autistic children think of people.as objects and that they are incapable of empathy. Ido feels deeply, his issue is one of communication, not of emotion or empathy.

[Catana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books like this one remind me how huge the internet is and how easily you can completely miss important things. I'd never heard of Ido Kedar until a few days ago, despite regularly scouring the web for information on autism. I knew that there are non-verbal autistics, but hadn't looked into that aspect of the spectrum. To put it bluntly, this little book is IMPORTANT -- on many levels. Some readers have complained that it's repetitious. If that's how they see it, they've missed many of the messages Ido has for us about the complexity of autism, about the dangers of assumptions, about "experts'" unwillingness to consider any view of autism but their own.

The only reason I didn't give the book five stars is because I wish Ido had waited a couple more years to publish, in order to give us more of his insights as he matured. But he does have a blog, and has also written a novel.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written by Ido Kedar, a non-verbal autistic person who wrote this at the age of fifteen. It's crucial because there are few books, if any others at all, that are written by non-verbal autistic people. This book stands to dispel a incorrect information that so-called professionals have concluded to be true about non-verbal, autistic individuals. Although, Ido is only one person, and is not representative of all autistic people. His writing offers an account that some can find some hope and affirmation.

In the introduction, his mother gives her account of how previous to being able to communicate with Ido, she only had books written by those who were considered “high functioning” autistics to reference and help her understand what her son may be experiencing. It was only after being able to communicate with Ido via an instrument that allows him to type his words, that he was able to tell her that those experiences were not his own. Which further implies how each autistic person is unique.

Ido is able to understand things that happen around him and hear and discern information. Though he is not always able to respond, as there is a disconnect between his body and brain that severely limits what he can do physically. His mother mentions him being in the room while doctors are recounting his shortcomings, meanwhile Ido is able to understand and is screaming on this inside out of frustration.

The best thing about this book is that it is Ido's firsthand account of what life is like for him. For once, you get to hear and know what it is like from the person firsthand, unfiltered through a “medical expert.” Although his mother offered excellent context in her forward, which is also worth reading, the main part of the book are excerpts from Ido’s journaling.

Ido’s book is a good step in the right direction to build on the many voices and identities that make up the autism spectrum. One voice does not define all, and people who have similar limitations to Ido’s are drastically underrepresented and unheard, literally.

Ido's description of how his autism manifests is both thought-provoking and interesting. Some familiar with the aspects of autims may find some of these insights relatable and others to be drastically different. This is refreshing, and points out that there is no one identity or behavior to autism, and begs against stereotyping.

This books points out that sometimes, “professionals” get it wrong, and considers that the basis in which they rationalize information and are educated have built-in bias. This is something hardly ever discussed as it relates to neurodivergence. One hears about bias frequently as it pertains to race, but hardly ever as it pertains to neurodivergence and the battle against neurotypical bias. If one can't communicate or respond in the way neurotypical people want, they are deemed mentally delayed.

It also points out the shortcomings of ABA therapy. The therapy in the way that it was implemented as Ido describes, is rudimentary, and in many ways, inhumane. This therapy, aims to train people who are much more complex beings, in the same way you would train dogs. But this is due to the neurotypical bias held that autistic people lack modes of understanding.

My only criticism is toward the end of the writing, where Ido is asked or attempts to describe why another non-verbal individual may behave the way that he does after the person's behavior is deemed unintelligeable. I don't think that this is fair to that person because although Ido can offer insight, he can only speak for himself. After all, Ido is only a teenager at the time of this writing. I think Ido does a great job in analyzing himself, and maybe they should've limited it to that, versus having him analyze someone else. Also, Ido is of the opinion that Asperger's and his form of autism are different conditions altogether. I don't agree with his reasoning on this, but I respect his point of view, and his right to share it.

Nevertheless, Ido is brave and vulnerable in this firsthand account of his story. His parents also should be credited for their vulnerability as well for sharing their story and admitting there own mistakes during the times before they learned that Ido had a conscious mind. Although Ido does not speak, he is well-spoken. This book supports the use of facilitated communication, which is not deemed a proven form of reliable communication. This may be true that this method may not be useful for all non-verbal people, but it seems to have helped Ido tremendously, so if it can help some people, I don't think the method should be completely dismissed. His writing about his experience is also empowering for others who have similar (or different) limitations to do the same. There is power in telling your own story.

[Ignatius Bremsespor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and as someone who generally loves reading about autism, it's a mystery how this one eluded me for so long. Especially since it's so good and offers so much insight not only into the non-speaking end on the spectrum (which is woefully under-represented), but also offers theories into autism as a whole.

We follow Ido Kedars life in short diary/essay form writings from age 12 to the age of 16, where he's getting his GED following mainstream classes. Ido always understood everything, but it wasn't until he was 7, that he finally got the opportunity to learn how to communicate through one finger typing on a board and thus show, that it was his body and not his mind, which is suffering from an impairment.

It's a very thoughtful and thought provoking book, which I think everyone would benefit from reading, not just because it's educational and teaches empathy, but also because Ido's wry sense of humor and his droll commentary on the folly of the 'experts'.

[Dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when my sister was first diagnosed, I read through a few accounts of autism in spite of my dislike for non-fiction. I wanted to understand what was happening in my family. I read accounts from parents of autistic children and one book by Temple Grandin—who is autistic herself—but I’ve never come across a book like this before. Ido has autism, is non-verbal, and has an all-consuming desire to communicate. He wrote this book between ages 12 and 16, composing journal entries better-written and more thoughtful than many college essays. I don’t want to say too much about this book because, frankly, I think Ido would like to speak for himself through the pages, but come prepared to have your preconceptions about autism challenged every which way.

[Anita A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nozīmīgi - ka ir šāda grāmata latviski.
Vai tā sniedz gaidīto? Jā un nē. Tā ir viena cilvēka pieredze, stāsts par viņa sapņiem un iecerēm, piedevām - no citas kultūras skatupunkta, kā arī tulkojums, kurā, diemžēl, brīžam iztrūkst autora sajūtas, get tās pārmāc tulkojuma formā, valoda.
Jā, grāmata sniedz ieskatu autismā, taču ļoti fragmentāru, aicinot īsto informāciju un idejas praktiskam darbam meklēt citur.
Galvenā vērtība - pārdomas raisošie vērojumi par pasaules un citādā - JEBKURA citādā! - saskarsmi, par attieksmi pret saviem trūkumiem un ierobežojumiem, par iespējām dzīvot un darboties, ja arī šie ierobežojumi ir nemainīgi un nemanāmi. Tie varētu būt noderīgākie temati gan pedagoģiski, gan pārrunām ar pusaudžiem.

[Jacqueline Worboys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ido Kedar, a non-verbal boy with autism, tells the opening of his prison door that occurred when a bold tutor treated him with intelligence and respect instead of talking to him as though he lacked brains beyond a toddler. Step by step, Ido learns to use an alphabet board in 2009, as his tutor opened his mind to sharp, intellectual concepts and gave him the tools to start communicating with others. A small, 166 page book, this book, written by Ido himself, with a detailed prologue by his mother, indicates the frustration, highlights the senses and feelings, and shares the perspective of an exceedingly bright boy with autism.