Talking the Talk About Autism: How to Share and Tell Your Story

by Haley Moss

As autistic self-advocates, our personal stories hold a lot of they are sources of strength, tales of overcoming barriers and adversity, and a way for us to assert agency and receive the support we might need. But how do you actually disclose your diagnosis? How do you tell teachers, support staff, colleagues, friends, or anybody else about your disability and account for their varied reactions? Or, if you're a parent or ally, how do you tell the person you're supporting about their own neurodivergent identity and culture?

Disclosure is often a thorny topic, but in this powerful and supportive book, Haley Moss explores the language, history, and stigmas that influence how people perceive autism, breaking down ways to approach conversations about neurodivergence in different contexts. By deconstructing fears around disclosure, Talking the Talk About Autism shows how the experience can be made more impactful, safe, and less nerve-wracking for all those involved.

220 pages, Paperback

Published November 21, 2024

Reviews

[alexander shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the title was 'how to share and tell your story' I was hoping for a more writerly/communicative/sharing based book. This resource is more about how to handle sharing your diagnosis with people, and if/when you should. Moss covers pretty much every group of people, from family to friends to coworkers to management, and there are also chapters for parents of autistic kids. It's a good book to have read if you've been feeling pressured to reveal your diagnosis to people or in situations you don't want to, or if you might need to for accommodations in work/school. But I personally am very up front about my audhd so tips and when/where/who are less useful to me than the how.