The #Actuallyautistic Guide to Building Independence: A Handbook for Teens, Young Adults, and Those Who Care about Them

by Jennifer Brunton, Jenna Gensic

Transitioning into adulthood is already difficult, but being young and Autistic can make it so much harder. Leaving the protections and supports of childhood behind can feel daunting. In a world that often marginalises Autistic people, how do you begin to figure out and pursue your own goals and dreams, while also managing the new challenges of adulthood? This empowering book is here to help you (and your Neurodiverse family and friends who love you) learn how to navigate these transitions on your own terms and timeline. It recognises that no matter where you are - home, school, college, work, out with friends - you have the right to be heard, to feel safe and comfortable, and to chart your own path to success. And it will give you the tools you need to make sure that happens. So join us to hear #ActuallyAutistic teens and young adults share their experiences, helping you to move towards independence and show your allies how they can support you in this journey.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Self Help, Parenting, Childrens

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2024

About the author

Author also writes under Lux Cunningham

Reviews

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic way to get into the minds of autistic people. It includes many, many insights from young adults and adults with autism about what high school, college and transitions into adulthood have been like for them. I gained a lot of knowledge about what is hard for them, how to be more inclusive and what organizations can help. I’m so glad I read this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for granting me an eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the title of the book and the hashtag cover, I thought that this book would be a in-depth, step by step guide in how to build independence for autistics entering or in adulthood. While it does provide a good roadmap for autistics, it felt more useful for the "allies" that surround the autistic person rather than the autistics themselves. The book is primarily taken from survey results of over 100 autistic people (the questions the authors asked are in the back in the book), and the responses are mixed together with some interjections from the authors. I felt while the information scratched beyond the surface of the autistic brain/body and provided a general path for autistics to consider and follow into growing up, though I wish it was more fleshed out than it was. To me, the second half had more useful insights to autistics than the first half. Best recommended to be read together by both the autistics and allies.

Note: Apparently, the version given to ARC readers has some edits that were not approved by the authors (one of which is autistic) and attempted to make changes for the published version.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers. All opinions are my own.*

[Anniek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure this will be a good resource for a lot of people, but I personally expected more from it. I found the advice very broad and pretty vague, which is understandable when trying to reach a broad audience, since everyone's situation is different, but it led to the advice not feeling very specific nor applicable. I would have at least liked to see more specific examples and smaller helpful tips, rather than broad, general life advice.

[Jessica Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the mother of two with diagnosed ASD [one who is a young adult and one who is a teenager], I found this resource to be extremely helpful. It gave me validation in areas I already was doing things well with and, in turn, gave me great ways to improve some strategies and processes. It also helped clarify some sources of conflict and gave me valuable insights into my children's thoughts and lived experiences. I think this is a must-read for us all!

[Gabrielle Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read to launch your child friend or autistic self in the best way possible. Definitely Worthy read and also very readable, which is important for me particularly with my short attention span.🙂

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was offered an early review copy of this book because the topic is of particular interest to me, as an autistic person, and my likewise neurodiverse family. I found so much helpful advice, but even more importantly a sense of community, with shared concerns and values.

The authors, with input from many #ActuallyAutistic young people, actively address pretty much everyone who could play a positive role in building independence, starting with Autistic young people themselves. Highly recommend!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the neurotypical parent of a brilliant autistic child, no authors have helped me feel more empowered to understand how my daughter experiences the world and how to advocate for her than Jenna and Jenny. Both this and their first book are rooted in the words and experiences of autistic folks and also include insightful analysis of their research and practical, step-by-step guidance for building a more inclusive, equitable world. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves or works with autistic kids, teens, or young adults.

[Jill Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the mother of an Autistic young adult, this is the book I wish I'd read earlier. I wish I'd read it before they struggled, and then fell apart, their first year of college. I wish I'd read it before they graduated high school, when planning for what came next seemed overwhelming and we were all floundering. I wish I'd read it (and shared it with their school) when they were 16 and finally diagnosed, or earlier, when the little voice inside me was telling me the doctors were wrong, and the parenting "experts" were wrong, and that my child needed something different from the norm. I could have avoided a lot of mistakes.

But if the best time to read this book was 20 years ago, as the saying goes, surely the second best time is now. My child is 22 and we are still very much in the process of discovering what independent adulthood will look like for them. From creating a more inclusive and neuro-affirming home and family gatherings, to supporting my loved one as they discover the career path that's right for them, to advocating for more welcoming public spaces, the book contains a wealth of practical advice that I know I will be returning to again and again in the coming years.

Most of all, I appreciated its positive, affirming tone. Too often parents of Autistic young adults hear only the negative--what will be harder for our children, and how they will have to change and adapt to live in a world not designed for them. What a relief to read a book that truly celebrates neurodiversity and affirms that everyone belongs, there are many paths to independence, and independence can look a little different for each of us. The authors don't shy away from hard truths about the world as it is today, but they never waver from their core premise: that every Autistic young person deserves respect, self-determination, and inclusion. I hope that many, many people read this book, and that we can all work together to create more Autism-affirming schools, workplaces, and communities in the future.

[Fosca D'Acierno · Rating 5 out of 5]

The #Actually Autistic Guide to Building Independence” is a must-read for our neurodivergent teens and emerging adults and an important tool for all of us whether we be their educators, advocates, practitioners, teachers, family or friends.

It’s an empowering read, full of actionable steps, recommendations, and stories of personal challenges and triumphs.

The book underscores the criticality of community, of having these conversations and sharing lived experiences so that we can all understand more deeply and better support our autistic kids on their journeys to independence, agency, self-advocacy and adulthood.

[Claudette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be extremely helpful. I especially liked how it offered useful steps in helping an autistic adult child launch successfully into adulthood.

[Samm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing resource for our community!

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is good advice in this book, but it is not "a handbook for autistic teens and young adults." There is a wealth of relevant, first person quotes from autistics, but the bulk of the text does not speak directly to autistics. Instead it describes ways that spaces from a home to a workplace to a university could be made more inclusive, and gives excellent advice to the people who would be in charge of such things, but not to the autistic college student navigating those spaces as they are now.

The book is okay, but I think it would be most useful to professionals serving autistic teens and young adults, and perhaps their family members if they're new autism. If you're an autistic young person looking for a sort of "new grown up instruction manual," then this is not the book for you at all.

I've seen the Awesome Autistic guides by Yenn Purkis highly recommended and will try them next.

[Olivia]

Jennifer Brunton and Jenna Gensic have done an incredible job collecting such a diverse array of autistic voices and perspectives from across the spectrum, and as an autistic young adult in her late 20s, the advice and perspectives in this book are SO incredibly valuable and helpful. Please considering giving it a read!

[Laurie Rozenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for autistic young people. So well done and approachable, Loved it!

[Alec ⟠]

I enjoyed reading this, as someone struggling to feel independent, and dealing with the everyday pressures of being autistic. What I like about books like this is being able to read about other people’s experiences in anecdote form, as it creates a sense of real connection and empathy. I think this was very well written and edited, and will be a valuable resource for others like me, but also those loved ones and authority figures in our lives looking to support us as best as they can.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a mom of an ASD child, I found the perspectives of the autistic people in this book insightful.

[Angela Putt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was offered an early read of this book and was impressed at the insight and nuance this book offers, both for the autistic person and those who support neurodiverse individuals. The authors pull from several different points of view which I truly appreciated.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!
Will be on my blog on publication date .

[Kade Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The #Actually Autistic Guide to Building Independence” is so much more than the title suggests. The book covers everything from recommendations for homes, schools, and society for making more neurodivergent-friendly spaces to individual self-advocacy, acknowledging that while the onus should be on the world to change, at the individual level, autistic folks need to feel comfortable asking for what we need. Interdependence is woven throughout the book, showing how people lean on each other in community and how this is important alongside conversations of individual independence, as these are not mutually exclusive and can exist at the same time.

Every page of this book features the words of a range of autistic folks sharing their experiences and recommendations for a more inclusive world. The book is divided into chapters, sections, and subsections, with each subsection lasting 1-2 pages and starting with “Why is this needed?” to help frame the content. Each chapter concludes with a bulleted summary and questions for further reflection. This predictable format allows for clear navigation and narrative structure.

I highly recommend this book not just for autistic teens and those who care about them but also for autistic adults who want to reflect on their experiences in school and as young adults through the lens of seeing their experiences in others and finding hope for how these societal systems can make small shifts towards fuller inclusion.

[Alison Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the grandmother of an autistic boy, I read Brunton and Gensic's first book on advocacy for the autistic and found it immensely helpful. Now, that boy is a teenager, and I am thrilled to have found the authors' Guide to Building Independence. What a readable book this is. The authors developed and disseminated a thoroughly researched survey eliciting first-person feedback from autistic teens and young adults: what was their journey from childhood to adolescence or adulthood like? What were their thoughts and feelings about navigating independence? What kind of help did they get or wish they had gotten along the way?

This is a book that reports, discusses, and reflects. It's also a very alive book, thanks to the authors' writing style and thanks to the respondents
who were so generous in sharing their journeys.
--

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm happy to report that The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Building Independence
is radically inclusive, uplifting and affirming. It touches on every aspect of adulthood the authors and contributors could come up with to give a comprehensive roadmap that you can tweak to suit your own strengths, needs, abilities, dreams, and goals. As one of the authors, who is Autistic herself, explains, it can be really helpful to explicitly outline the many elements that adulthood can consist of when those things might not be immediately obvious to some (including the author herself). So it's really useful--and I love that its empowering, encouraging tone is rooted in #ActuallyAutistic real-life experience and insights.

[Nicole Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing wealth of information from the lived experience of teens and young adults who are or have experienced the transition to adulthood. It’s helpful for autistic adolescents, themselves, to see that they’re not alone in some of the things they’ve needed to learn or struggled with and for people who love and care for them to help us know how to raise autistic people who can advocate for themselves and live the lives they want. Thank you for this.

[Daemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-written, clear, above all *practical* book relies entirely on the perspectives of #ActuallyAutistic people who've tried to navigate the world of adulting. It explores every important aspect the authors and more than 100 survey respondents could come up with, to give readers a great overview of the various parts of the often daunting process of gaining independence. Highly recommended.

[Elizah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this! Once again, Brunton and Gensic have sensitively and inclusively covered a range of topics for self-advocates and their allies. This will be my go-to book to recommend for anyone who is neurodivergent and wants to chart a course to living their best life.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the author’s first book and walked away feeling immensely educated. Being neurotypical, that book expanded my horizon for inclusivity.

[CM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful book for young adults and those who love them. This guide led to thoughtful discussions around next steps.

[Wayne K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new book by Jennifer Brunton, Ph. D., and Jenna Gensic, M. A., “The #Actually Autistic Guide to Building Independence,” is a gem of a manuscript about autistic people’s transition into adulthood.
It is often said that “the greatest problems in life occur when expectations don’t match reality.” For those on the autism spectrum, this is also the case. The authors begin their book with this quote:
“What I find challenging about transitioning into young adulthood is how high the expectations are… It feels like… society expects you to conform, get a job, be independent, grow up fast, and suck it up. I don’t think that is realistic.” –ANONYMOUS (SHE/HER)
The #Actually Autistic Guide to Building Independence goes into excellent detail, giving clear contextual real-life situations, and clarifying the line between dependence and independence. The authors see “genuine inclusion and awareness around neurodiversity as an urgent civil rights frontier, as crucial to the survival and thriving of Autistic people.” I found the details in this book to be extremely useful. The elements of the book cover such vital topics as how to foster inclusive, accepting family dynamics, how to offer and seek opportunities to make connections, and how to advocate for inclusive transitions out of high school and into adulthood.
The #Actually Autistic Guide to Building Independence also has a discussion guide to help readers understand their concepts in-depth. The writers examine such important concepts as how to Encourage Welcoming Activities and Social Events and how the “positive, enjoyable, social aspects of being independent depend on being able to interact and participate.” They also consider how to Nurture Autism Friendly Practices in School to Encourage a “foundation for personal evolution and a lifelong love of learning.”
What I also found fascinating is that the authors added an additional, downloadable section of the book—Stage Four of The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Building Independence.
This extremely interesting writing discusses topics such as—advocating for more inclusive cultures, governments, and worldviews as well as how to shift the cultural norms around neurodiversity, work for political and systemic evolution, and advocate for change.
The #Actually Autistic Guide to Building Independence is an outstanding book for teens, young adults, parents, and leaders to better understand their experiences. It helps everyone refocus on independence and express to all supporters in the autism community how they can encourage each person in this voyage.

[Kiri Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was this book years ago when my step son, who is on the spectrum, first came into my life? It’s terrific. It helps us understand the different perspectives of neurodivergent people and gives practical advice for getting through life. My step son is an adult now and the content of the book is still very useful and applicable. I’m so glad these authors are sharing their insights and putting this out there. I wish everyone would read this - the world would be a better place.

Too bad it looks like someone who did an early review may have gotten a copy with bad edits that didn't come from the authors. I can affirm that the authors' version is inclusive and respectful. After all, from what I understand, the main author is autistic herself!!

[Penny Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as there are few resources for our autistic children as they become adults. The advice was put in general terms but easily applicable to your personal situation. I will recommend this book to all #actuallyautisticsreachibg adulthood