What do you think?
Rate this book
Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking
Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking is a collection of essays written by and for Autistic people. Spanning from the dawn of the Neurodiversity movement to the blog posts of today, Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking catalogues the experiences and ethos of the Autistic community and preserves both diverse personal experiences and the community's foundational documents together side by side.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
120 people are currently reading
3830 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
January 27, 2013
The only thing above a book that's unputdownable is the one you have to stop, pause, take in the sheer strength of what you've just read after every essay. Loud Hands is one of those. I never thought I'd say this about an anthology, but I found every single contribution valuable. Some spoke to my experience, others broadened my perspective. The contributions were heartfelt, articulate, sometimes angry, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes beautiful. Reading it, I felt a palpable sense of being on the edge of something big, something important, something happening.
My criticisms are small: there were a few times when a sentence didn't make sense because it started out as one thing and became another - this is possibly inevitable in a book written by autistics, but the book would have benefited from these being caught in the editing stage. Many contributors had several essays included, and whilst all of them were of high quality and very worthwhile, I'd have appreciated greater diversity of contributors and more of the longer personal essays (of which there were some excellent examples).
But these are minor. This is not just an important book, but a highly readable one too.
My criticisms are small: there were a few times when a sentence didn't make sense because it started out as one thing and became another - this is possibly inevitable in a book written by autistics, but the book would have benefited from these being caught in the editing stage. Many contributors had several essays included, and whilst all of them were of high quality and very worthwhile, I'd have appreciated greater diversity of contributors and more of the longer personal essays (of which there were some excellent examples).
But these are minor. This is not just an important book, but a highly readable one too.
August 26, 2016
How is this book not in every library? (Rhetorical question.)
Minus one star because I kept thinking of how Lydia and others created All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism because this book (and so much of everything else by/about autistic folks) is almost all white people.
Minus one star because I kept thinking of how Lydia and others created All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism because this book (and so much of everything else by/about autistic folks) is almost all white people.
July 18, 2018
If you're autistic, read this book.
If you're not autistic, read this book.
Though I'd read most of these essays previously, it's incredibly powerful to see them all in one place. It's real. It's intimate. It's gut-wrenching. It's beautiful. This is the most important book ever published on the subject of autism and, in my opinion, one of the most important books, period.
If you're not autistic, read this book.
Though I'd read most of these essays previously, it's incredibly powerful to see them all in one place. It's real. It's intimate. It's gut-wrenching. It's beautiful. This is the most important book ever published on the subject of autism and, in my opinion, one of the most important books, period.
May 19, 2020
This was a unique and remarkable anthology of autistic voices. Common themes of the (primarily) short pieces included neurodiversity, acceptance, advocacy, intersectionality, and privileging the perspectives of actually autistic persons in the development of public policy (and autism interest groups). The authors were universally opposed to Autism Speaks and ABA therapy, and did an excellent job explaining why. Personally, I found some writers stronger and more effective than others, but I'm grateful to have had access to all of them. Although I think this should be required reading for everyone, I think it's critical that anyone who serves neurominorities in any capacity immediately stop and read Loud Hands. Some of my favorite pieces included: "Quiet Hands," (The best line: "In a classroom of language-impaired kids, the most common phrase is a metaphor."), "Grabbers," "Throw Away the Master's Tools," "Autism Awareness is Not Enough: Here's How to Change the World," and literally everything authored by Zoe Gross (especially "Metaphor Stole My Autism"). Of course, Ari Ne'eman's pieces were also characteristically on point.
April 27, 2015
I'm actually in this book, so I'm going to refrain from an in depth review- please read this and rec it to your friends, family, teachers, and co workers. The essays from my fellow autistics are incredibly important to help you get a good sense of what it is to live an autistic life in this world.
January 15, 2018
This book taught me so much about myself and my community and the ways I can self-advocate and advocate for others. Absolutely a must read for anyone on the autism spectrum or who knows someone on the spectrum. Changed my life.
June 24, 2013
Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speakingis a collection of essays written by the growing Autistic self-advocate community. I did not read Loud Hands, cover to cover, but dipped into it over about 6 weeks (before having to return it to the library). Like any collection of essays or short stories, the quality varies, but several of the pieces haunted me for days.
The best of the pieces in this volume should be required reading for parents new to Autism-land. Thankfully, many of the entries, such as Julia Bascom's breathtaking essay "Loud Hands" and Amy Sequenzia's piece "Why Autism Speaks Hurt Us" are also available from other online sources.
The best of the pieces in this volume should be required reading for parents new to Autism-land. Thankfully, many of the entries, such as Julia Bascom's breathtaking essay "Loud Hands" and Amy Sequenzia's piece "Why Autism Speaks Hurt Us" are also available from other online sources.
March 25, 2022
10 stars if I could!
Apart from having The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time forced on me in 8th grade English class - which I suspect I greatly underappreciated at the time - this was my first deep-dive into the topic of neurodiversity, and oh boy, am I glad this was the book of choice!
This is an absolutely amazing read because it is written by autistic people who don't often get the chance to take a leading voice in public discourse on autism and neurodiversity and it is a treasure-trove of new insights and key learnings.
Some key take-aways:
- getting introduced to a host of new words and concepts such as stimming, flapping, etc.
- learning why labels such as "high-functioning" and "low-functioning" are pretty offensive and inaccurate to begin with
- there are ways to communicate beyond language, and neurotypicals can learn them
- a lot of organizations raising funds and donations for autism awareness actually donate the proceedings to finding a cure, not to setting up services and policies that make society a more habitable place for already existing autistic people
- I had no idea about the level of institutionalization and violent "therapy" methods still ongoing today
- A common fallacy in the conversation around autism is that we are being urged to value those who supposedly cannot make the expected contributions to the larger community, rather than considering how the larger community limits who is allowed to contribute in the first place [Cal Montgomery]
- Initially, the title intrigued me and I assumed that loud hands meant neurotypical people gesticulating when talking and potentially overloading autistic people with it, but actually the concept behind the term "loud hands" is much more heart-breaking, and, coming out on the other side of it, ultimately very empowering
Favourite quotes, noting there are too many to reasonably include here:
"Autism is a way of being. It is not possible to separate the person from the autism. Therefore, when parents say, "I wish my child did not have autism", what they're really saying is, "I wish the autistic child I have did not exist, and I had a different (non-autistic) child instead". Read that again. [...] This is what we hear when you pray for a cure. This is what we know, when you tell us of your fondest hopes and dreams for us: that your greatest wish is that one day we will cease to be, and strangers you can love will move in behind our faces."
"My silence is, in fact, a compliment. It means that I am being my natural self. It means that I am comfortable around you, that I trust you enough to engage my way of knowing, my way of speaking and interacting."
"We should consider the fact that it is often social barriers rather than disability itself that pose the problems we face."
"You try to relate as parent to child, using your own understanding of normal children, your own feelings about parenthood, your own experiences and intuitions about relationships. And the child doesn't respond in any way you can recognize as being part of that system. That does not mean the child is incapable of relating at all. It only means you're assuming a shared system, a shared understanding of signals and meanings, that the child in fact does not share. It's as if you tried to have an intimate conversation with someone who has no comprehension of your language."
Apart from having The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time forced on me in 8th grade English class - which I suspect I greatly underappreciated at the time - this was my first deep-dive into the topic of neurodiversity, and oh boy, am I glad this was the book of choice!
This is an absolutely amazing read because it is written by autistic people who don't often get the chance to take a leading voice in public discourse on autism and neurodiversity and it is a treasure-trove of new insights and key learnings.
Some key take-aways:
- getting introduced to a host of new words and concepts such as stimming, flapping, etc.
- learning why labels such as "high-functioning" and "low-functioning" are pretty offensive and inaccurate to begin with
- there are ways to communicate beyond language, and neurotypicals can learn them
- a lot of organizations raising funds and donations for autism awareness actually donate the proceedings to finding a cure, not to setting up services and policies that make society a more habitable place for already existing autistic people
- I had no idea about the level of institutionalization and violent "therapy" methods still ongoing today
- A common fallacy in the conversation around autism is that we are being urged to value those who supposedly cannot make the expected contributions to the larger community, rather than considering how the larger community limits who is allowed to contribute in the first place [Cal Montgomery]
- Initially, the title intrigued me and I assumed that loud hands meant neurotypical people gesticulating when talking and potentially overloading autistic people with it, but actually the concept behind the term "loud hands" is much more heart-breaking, and, coming out on the other side of it, ultimately very empowering
Favourite quotes, noting there are too many to reasonably include here:
"Autism is a way of being. It is not possible to separate the person from the autism. Therefore, when parents say, "I wish my child did not have autism", what they're really saying is, "I wish the autistic child I have did not exist, and I had a different (non-autistic) child instead". Read that again. [...] This is what we hear when you pray for a cure. This is what we know, when you tell us of your fondest hopes and dreams for us: that your greatest wish is that one day we will cease to be, and strangers you can love will move in behind our faces."
"My silence is, in fact, a compliment. It means that I am being my natural self. It means that I am comfortable around you, that I trust you enough to engage my way of knowing, my way of speaking and interacting."
"We should consider the fact that it is often social barriers rather than disability itself that pose the problems we face."
"You try to relate as parent to child, using your own understanding of normal children, your own feelings about parenthood, your own experiences and intuitions about relationships. And the child doesn't respond in any way you can recognize as being part of that system. That does not mean the child is incapable of relating at all. It only means you're assuming a shared system, a shared understanding of signals and meanings, that the child in fact does not share. It's as if you tried to have an intimate conversation with someone who has no comprehension of your language."
December 22, 2022
4-4.5 stars
This collection of essays and blog posts, written and edited by autistic people, is a strong communal voice for autism acceptance and the importance of hearing autistic people’s own thoughts and feelings and experiences and needs, rather than what organizations or parents *think* autistic people experience and need. I learned a lot from reading it, and especially from the essays by people who are non-verbal, struggle speaking, or have been institutionalized in the past, because their perspectives were ones I’d never heard before.
Every autistic person is different, but some common themes emerge from listening to them over time—among them: accept and respect autistic people as part of the neurodiverse world; don’t assume they are less autistic just because they need fewer supports or more autistic because they need more; and the deficits approach to autism causes a lot of harm by the stigma and lack of acceptance it fosters.
The only possible downside of this book is that, since it’s ten years old and the internet moves fast, some of the resources and blogs it refers to don’t exist anymore, which is a bummer when you get excited to read something mentioned.
This collection of essays and blog posts, written and edited by autistic people, is a strong communal voice for autism acceptance and the importance of hearing autistic people’s own thoughts and feelings and experiences and needs, rather than what organizations or parents *think* autistic people experience and need. I learned a lot from reading it, and especially from the essays by people who are non-verbal, struggle speaking, or have been institutionalized in the past, because their perspectives were ones I’d never heard before.
Every autistic person is different, but some common themes emerge from listening to them over time—among them: accept and respect autistic people as part of the neurodiverse world; don’t assume they are less autistic just because they need fewer supports or more autistic because they need more; and the deficits approach to autism causes a lot of harm by the stigma and lack of acceptance it fosters.
The only possible downside of this book is that, since it’s ten years old and the internet moves fast, some of the resources and blogs it refers to don’t exist anymore, which is a bummer when you get excited to read something mentioned.
April 15, 2019
This is possibly the first nonfiction book I’ve been actually sad to finish. I may just move my bookmark back to the start and read it again.
“Loud Hands” is an anthem of self-expression. In it, Autistic people write of their perspectives, of their pains and triumphs and all the things our society gets wrong about who they are and how they should be treated. There were so many things I didn’t know.
This is a community that has been deeply misunderstood and whose input has been all but ignored, even and perhaps especially by those who claim to serve it. They are forced to have “quiet hands,” not because it helps them be better versions of themselves, but because flapping hands make the rest of society uncomfortable. “Loud Hands” rejects that notion, and the joy and rage and defiance and love from being loud and unashamed sings from every page.
Everyone should read this book. It will broaden your understanding of the human condition, and you’ll be a better person for it.
“Loud Hands” is an anthem of self-expression. In it, Autistic people write of their perspectives, of their pains and triumphs and all the things our society gets wrong about who they are and how they should be treated. There were so many things I didn’t know.
This is a community that has been deeply misunderstood and whose input has been all but ignored, even and perhaps especially by those who claim to serve it. They are forced to have “quiet hands,” not because it helps them be better versions of themselves, but because flapping hands make the rest of society uncomfortable. “Loud Hands” rejects that notion, and the joy and rage and defiance and love from being loud and unashamed sings from every page.
Everyone should read this book. It will broaden your understanding of the human condition, and you’ll be a better person for it.
November 11, 2024
ASAN = Autistic Self Advocacy Network
"Loud Hands" bezeichnet bei neurodiversen Menschen die Eigenheit, zu Beruhigung oder bei großer Freude mit den Händen zu wedeln oder mit dem Bein zu wippen oder sich anderweitig nicht ruhig zu verhalten. Diese Anthologie ist eine Zusammenstellung von diversen Blogbeiträgen und Artikeln zum Thema Autismus, Leben als autistischer Mensch und den verschiedenen an der Anthologie beteiligten Netzwerken.
Foreword - Julia Bascom
Die Einleitung ist sehr interessant, weil das Buch als Indiegogo-Projekt begann und sein Ziel locker erreichte.
Don’t Mourn For Us - Jim Sinclair
Wieso Eltern von autistischen Kindern zur Trauertherapie gehen sollten. Das Ende hat mir nicht gefallen, weil es zu sehr nach Wechselbalg klang.
Autism Network International: The Development Of A Community And Its Culture - Jim Sinclair
Wie das ANI entstand und sich entwickelte. Nicht so spannend, viele Fakten.
Critic Of The Dawn - Cal Montgomery
Erfahrungen mit Institutionalisierung und der Fehlinterpretation von Behinderung
The Future (And The Past) Of Autism Advocacy - Ari Ne’eman
Heilmittel vs. Verbesserung der Lebensqualität
Retrospective At The National Press Club - Ari Ne’eman
Was passiert, wenn man als Autismus-Netzwerk Hilfe und Verbündete sucht
The Beginnings of Autistic Speaking Day - Corina Becker
Wie der "Autistic Speaking Day" seinen Siegeszug um die Welt antrat
Loud Hands & Loud Voices - Penni Winter
Was sich seit den 40ern in der Wahrnehmung von Autismus getan hat
Dear Younger Self - E.
Brief an ein jüngeres Selbst, wie mit "den anderen" umgegangen werden könnte
Loud Hands - April Herren
Eine nicht-sprechende Autistin findet ihre Worte
Autistic Community and Culture - Elizabeth J. Grace
Wie aus Elizabeth Dr. Grace wurde
Perfectly Autistic, Perfectly Me - Karla Fisher
Wie Karla lernte, ihre Autismus-Diagnose anzunehmen und sich selbst zu akzeptieren
Becoming Autistic, Becoming Disabled - Anonymous
Auch Anonymous hatte Probleme, sich mit Autismus anzufreunden - geschweige denn damit, sich damit zu identifizieren
Non-Speaking, “Low Functioning” - Amy Sequenzia
Amy spricht nicht, doch das heißt noch lange nicht, dass sie nicht denkt!
And Straight On Till Morning - Meg Evans
Wie die Geschichten, die wir als Kinder hören, uns unser ganzes Leben lang beeinflussen.
The Incapable Man - Bev Harp
Wie eine Geschichte über einen Mann, der "unfähig ist, Liebe zu erwidern" diese Autorin beeindruckt hat.
Just Me - Amy Sequenzia
Welche Gefahren von Schubladendenken ausgehen.
Quiet Hands - Julia Bascom
Julias Hände wurden als Kind festgeklebt, damit sie nicht damit herumwedelt und Dinge anfasst. "Therapie".
They Hate You, Yes, You - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Eine weitere Diskussion zu High- und Low-Functioning am praktischen Beispiel namens Danny.
I Hid - Alyssa Zisk
Wie Alyssa ihren Autismus versteckte, um im Leben nicht benachteiligt zu werden.
Speech, Without A Title - Julia Bascom
Wie "einfach" es Julia im Leben hatte.
This Is Why - Julia Bascom
Kimba war ein schwieriges autistisches Kind. Nur Amanda konnte zu ihm durchdringen und sie beschreibt den Kampf darum, dass Kimba nicht in einer Anstalt mit Autismus-"Therapie" landet.
Grabbers - Julia Bascom
Menschen, die gepackt werden, um stillzuhalten.
Inhumane Beyond All Reason - Shain Neumeier
Die fürchterlichen Behandlungsmethoden im "Judge Rotenberg Center" und die grauenhaften Folgen für die Opfer - tschuldigung, die Patienten.
Why I Dislike “Person First” Language - Jim Sinclair
Wir beschäftigen uns mit sprachlichen Unterschieden bezüglich "Person mit Autismus" vs. "autistische Person".
Throw Away The Master’s Tools - Nick Walker
Ein sehr interessantes weiteres Plädoyer gegen die "Person first"-Formulierung.
"maybe you are, in fact, a thing of beauty."
Killing Words - Zoe Gross
Was passiert, wenn die Medien die Mörder von Autisten verharmlosen.
Disability Catch-22s - Zoe Gross
Wieso die festgefahrenen Ideen, die zu Behinderungen kursieren, manchmal wahrer und weiter verbreitet sind als gedacht.
Like A Person - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Wie Amanda über Ableismus nachdachte, weil ihre beste Freundin sie "normal" behandelte.
Why No One Counts - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Wieso eine behinderte Person, die an einer Diskussion über Behinderungen teilnehmen kann, gar nicht behindert genug sein kann.
Passing As Ethics - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Selbe Diskussion wie eben, nur als Liste dargestellt.
I’m Spasticus Autisticus - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Wie Amanda die tiefere Bedeutung eines Liedes erfuhr.
Connecting Dots - Bev Harp
Wieso die Kombination der Wörter Autismus und Tragödie fürchterliche Konsequenzen hat.
Metaphor Stole My Autism - Zoe Gross
Wie die kämpferischen Metaphern in Bezug auf Autismus die Krankheit ad absurdum führen.
Why Autism Speaks Hurts Us - Amy Sequenzia
Die Organisation "Autism Speaks" ist kein gutes Ziel für Spendengelder. Wieso, wird hier erklärt.
How Indistinguishability Got Its Groove Back - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Über ABA schools. Was das ist, wird allerdings nicht erklärt.
Plural Of Medium - Savannah Logsdon-Breakstone
Der Plural von Medium sind unzählige Möglichkeiten, zu kommunizieren. Man muss sie nur finden.
Metaphors Are Important - Julia Bascom
Eine weitere Kimba-Geschichte darüber, dass große Poesie nicht immer von Form abhängig ist.
An Ethnography Of Robotics - Julia Bascom
Ein interessanter Beitrag über Echolalie.
Socializing Through Silence - Melanie Yergeau
Ein wirklich wichtiger Beitrag über die Gewichtigkeit von Stille und dass sie nicht nur Stille ist.
Are You Listening? - Bev Harp
"Speech is not the same thing as language, and [...] communication is a much larger concept still."
Advocacy: Everyone Can Do It - Kassiane Sibley
Eine Geschichte, als Kassiane einem nonverbalen Jungen das magische Wort "Nein" beibringt.
Pedagogy Of The Confused - Zoe Gross
Welche Macht die Worte "Das verstehe ich nicht" haben können.
The Meaning Of Self Advocacy - Amanda Baggs
Wieso Self-advocacy nicht nur lautes Protestieren ist.
Autism, Speech, And Assistive Technology - Amanda Baggs
Als Amanda im Hilfezentrum ihrer Uni Unterstützung suchte, wurde sie mit wenig hilfreichen Worten begrüßt...
Untitled - Amanda Baggs
Wieso man "autistische Sprache" nicht einfach jedem beibringen kann.
Run Forest Run: About Movement And Love - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Amanda entdeckt, wie sie auf Fotos aussieht, während sie stimmt.
On Being Articulate - Julia Bascom
Ein interessanter Text über äußere vs. innere Wahrnehmung von Sprachfähigkeiten.
Loud Hands: I Speak Up With My Fingers - Amy Sequenzia
Amys Hände sind laut, weil sie tippt, was sie sagen will.
Accepting MY Normal - Kimberly Gerry Tucker
Wie "The King's Speech" Kimberly und ihrer Oma bei der Kommunikation geholfen hat.
Autism Awareness Is Not Enough - Steve Silberman
Wieso der "Welt-Autismus-Tag" nur der Anfang sein kann. Diverse Beteiligte teilen außerdem ihre fünf Dinge, die sich ändern müssen, um die Welt für Autist*innen angenehmer zu gestalten.
To My Beloved Autistic Community On Autism Acceptance Day 2012 - Paula Durbin-Westby
Für wen der Welt-Autismus-Tag geeignet ist.
What I Want To Say To Fellow Autistics - Kaijaii Gomez Wick
Ein wundervoller, emotionaler Text über das, was der Titel verspricht.
Moving Forward: What’s Next For The Loud Hands Project - Julia Bascom
Informationen zum Loud Hands Project.
On World Autism Awareness Day - Anne Foreman
"Don't stop stimming."
Was erwartet man von einem Buch, das 37 Menschen gewidmet ist, die von ihren Verwandten wegen ihres Autismus und anstrengenden Verhaltens umgebracht wurden? Harter. Tobak. Ich musste tatsächlich die Lektüre immer wieder ein anderes, leichteres Buch einschieben, um nicht richtig depri zu werden.
Etwas gestört hat mich, dass mehrere Themen mehrfach beleuchtet wurden - durch den persönlichen Blickwinkel der Bloggenden natürlich immer ein bisschen anders oder andere Schwerpunkte, aber immer dieselbe Meinung.
Außerdem ist das Buch sehr auf amerikanische Verhältnisse beschränkt. Amerikanische Organisationen, amerikanische Bloggende, amerikanische Probleme. Das war teils etwas uninteressant und ich habe quergelesen.
Aber das kennen wir ja schon von Anthologien - mal sind die Beiträge interessant, mal weniger. Ich konnte mich trotzdem in einigen Dingen wiederfinden und es gibt viele Tipps für Bücher, Filme und Serien, die wirklich gut repräsentieren.
"We have loud hands and we want to be heard."
~ 10.11.2024
"Loud Hands" bezeichnet bei neurodiversen Menschen die Eigenheit, zu Beruhigung oder bei großer Freude mit den Händen zu wedeln oder mit dem Bein zu wippen oder sich anderweitig nicht ruhig zu verhalten. Diese Anthologie ist eine Zusammenstellung von diversen Blogbeiträgen und Artikeln zum Thema Autismus, Leben als autistischer Mensch und den verschiedenen an der Anthologie beteiligten Netzwerken.
Foreword - Julia Bascom
Die Einleitung ist sehr interessant, weil das Buch als Indiegogo-Projekt begann und sein Ziel locker erreichte.
Don’t Mourn For Us - Jim Sinclair
Wieso Eltern von autistischen Kindern zur Trauertherapie gehen sollten. Das Ende hat mir nicht gefallen, weil es zu sehr nach Wechselbalg klang.
Autism Network International: The Development Of A Community And Its Culture - Jim Sinclair
Wie das ANI entstand und sich entwickelte. Nicht so spannend, viele Fakten.
Critic Of The Dawn - Cal Montgomery
Erfahrungen mit Institutionalisierung und der Fehlinterpretation von Behinderung
The Future (And The Past) Of Autism Advocacy - Ari Ne’eman
Heilmittel vs. Verbesserung der Lebensqualität
Retrospective At The National Press Club - Ari Ne’eman
Was passiert, wenn man als Autismus-Netzwerk Hilfe und Verbündete sucht
The Beginnings of Autistic Speaking Day - Corina Becker
Wie der "Autistic Speaking Day" seinen Siegeszug um die Welt antrat
Loud Hands & Loud Voices - Penni Winter
Was sich seit den 40ern in der Wahrnehmung von Autismus getan hat
Dear Younger Self - E.
Brief an ein jüngeres Selbst, wie mit "den anderen" umgegangen werden könnte
Loud Hands - April Herren
Eine nicht-sprechende Autistin findet ihre Worte
Autistic Community and Culture - Elizabeth J. Grace
Wie aus Elizabeth Dr. Grace wurde
Perfectly Autistic, Perfectly Me - Karla Fisher
Wie Karla lernte, ihre Autismus-Diagnose anzunehmen und sich selbst zu akzeptieren
Becoming Autistic, Becoming Disabled - Anonymous
Auch Anonymous hatte Probleme, sich mit Autismus anzufreunden - geschweige denn damit, sich damit zu identifizieren
Non-Speaking, “Low Functioning” - Amy Sequenzia
Amy spricht nicht, doch das heißt noch lange nicht, dass sie nicht denkt!
And Straight On Till Morning - Meg Evans
Wie die Geschichten, die wir als Kinder hören, uns unser ganzes Leben lang beeinflussen.
The Incapable Man - Bev Harp
Wie eine Geschichte über einen Mann, der "unfähig ist, Liebe zu erwidern" diese Autorin beeindruckt hat.
Just Me - Amy Sequenzia
Welche Gefahren von Schubladendenken ausgehen.
Quiet Hands - Julia Bascom
Julias Hände wurden als Kind festgeklebt, damit sie nicht damit herumwedelt und Dinge anfasst. "Therapie".
They Hate You, Yes, You - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Eine weitere Diskussion zu High- und Low-Functioning am praktischen Beispiel namens Danny.
I Hid - Alyssa Zisk
Wie Alyssa ihren Autismus versteckte, um im Leben nicht benachteiligt zu werden.
Speech, Without A Title - Julia Bascom
Wie "einfach" es Julia im Leben hatte.
This Is Why - Julia Bascom
Kimba war ein schwieriges autistisches Kind. Nur Amanda konnte zu ihm durchdringen und sie beschreibt den Kampf darum, dass Kimba nicht in einer Anstalt mit Autismus-"Therapie" landet.
Grabbers - Julia Bascom
Menschen, die gepackt werden, um stillzuhalten.
Inhumane Beyond All Reason - Shain Neumeier
Die fürchterlichen Behandlungsmethoden im "Judge Rotenberg Center" und die grauenhaften Folgen für die Opfer - tschuldigung, die Patienten.
Why I Dislike “Person First” Language - Jim Sinclair
Wir beschäftigen uns mit sprachlichen Unterschieden bezüglich "Person mit Autismus" vs. "autistische Person".
Throw Away The Master’s Tools - Nick Walker
Ein sehr interessantes weiteres Plädoyer gegen die "Person first"-Formulierung.
"maybe you are, in fact, a thing of beauty."
Killing Words - Zoe Gross
Was passiert, wenn die Medien die Mörder von Autisten verharmlosen.
Disability Catch-22s - Zoe Gross
Wieso die festgefahrenen Ideen, die zu Behinderungen kursieren, manchmal wahrer und weiter verbreitet sind als gedacht.
Like A Person - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Wie Amanda über Ableismus nachdachte, weil ihre beste Freundin sie "normal" behandelte.
Why No One Counts - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Wieso eine behinderte Person, die an einer Diskussion über Behinderungen teilnehmen kann, gar nicht behindert genug sein kann.
Passing As Ethics - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Selbe Diskussion wie eben, nur als Liste dargestellt.
I’m Spasticus Autisticus - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Wie Amanda die tiefere Bedeutung eines Liedes erfuhr.
Connecting Dots - Bev Harp
Wieso die Kombination der Wörter Autismus und Tragödie fürchterliche Konsequenzen hat.
Metaphor Stole My Autism - Zoe Gross
Wie die kämpferischen Metaphern in Bezug auf Autismus die Krankheit ad absurdum führen.
Why Autism Speaks Hurts Us - Amy Sequenzia
Die Organisation "Autism Speaks" ist kein gutes Ziel für Spendengelder. Wieso, wird hier erklärt.
How Indistinguishability Got Its Groove Back - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Über ABA schools. Was das ist, wird allerdings nicht erklärt.
Plural Of Medium - Savannah Logsdon-Breakstone
Der Plural von Medium sind unzählige Möglichkeiten, zu kommunizieren. Man muss sie nur finden.
Metaphors Are Important - Julia Bascom
Eine weitere Kimba-Geschichte darüber, dass große Poesie nicht immer von Form abhängig ist.
An Ethnography Of Robotics - Julia Bascom
Ein interessanter Beitrag über Echolalie.
Socializing Through Silence - Melanie Yergeau
Ein wirklich wichtiger Beitrag über die Gewichtigkeit von Stille und dass sie nicht nur Stille ist.
Are You Listening? - Bev Harp
"Speech is not the same thing as language, and [...] communication is a much larger concept still."
Advocacy: Everyone Can Do It - Kassiane Sibley
Eine Geschichte, als Kassiane einem nonverbalen Jungen das magische Wort "Nein" beibringt.
Pedagogy Of The Confused - Zoe Gross
Welche Macht die Worte "Das verstehe ich nicht" haben können.
The Meaning Of Self Advocacy - Amanda Baggs
Wieso Self-advocacy nicht nur lautes Protestieren ist.
Autism, Speech, And Assistive Technology - Amanda Baggs
Als Amanda im Hilfezentrum ihrer Uni Unterstützung suchte, wurde sie mit wenig hilfreichen Worten begrüßt...
Untitled - Amanda Baggs
Wieso man "autistische Sprache" nicht einfach jedem beibringen kann.
Run Forest Run: About Movement And Love - Amanda Forrest Vivian
Amanda entdeckt, wie sie auf Fotos aussieht, während sie stimmt.
On Being Articulate - Julia Bascom
Ein interessanter Text über äußere vs. innere Wahrnehmung von Sprachfähigkeiten.
Loud Hands: I Speak Up With My Fingers - Amy Sequenzia
Amys Hände sind laut, weil sie tippt, was sie sagen will.
Accepting MY Normal - Kimberly Gerry Tucker
Wie "The King's Speech" Kimberly und ihrer Oma bei der Kommunikation geholfen hat.
Autism Awareness Is Not Enough - Steve Silberman
Wieso der "Welt-Autismus-Tag" nur der Anfang sein kann. Diverse Beteiligte teilen außerdem ihre fünf Dinge, die sich ändern müssen, um die Welt für Autist*innen angenehmer zu gestalten.
To My Beloved Autistic Community On Autism Acceptance Day 2012 - Paula Durbin-Westby
Für wen der Welt-Autismus-Tag geeignet ist.
What I Want To Say To Fellow Autistics - Kaijaii Gomez Wick
Ein wundervoller, emotionaler Text über das, was der Titel verspricht.
Moving Forward: What’s Next For The Loud Hands Project - Julia Bascom
Informationen zum Loud Hands Project.
On World Autism Awareness Day - Anne Foreman
"Don't stop stimming."
Was erwartet man von einem Buch, das 37 Menschen gewidmet ist, die von ihren Verwandten wegen ihres Autismus und anstrengenden Verhaltens umgebracht wurden? Harter. Tobak. Ich musste tatsächlich die Lektüre immer wieder ein anderes, leichteres Buch einschieben, um nicht richtig depri zu werden.
Etwas gestört hat mich, dass mehrere Themen mehrfach beleuchtet wurden - durch den persönlichen Blickwinkel der Bloggenden natürlich immer ein bisschen anders oder andere Schwerpunkte, aber immer dieselbe Meinung.
Außerdem ist das Buch sehr auf amerikanische Verhältnisse beschränkt. Amerikanische Organisationen, amerikanische Bloggende, amerikanische Probleme. Das war teils etwas uninteressant und ich habe quergelesen.
Aber das kennen wir ja schon von Anthologien - mal sind die Beiträge interessant, mal weniger. Ich konnte mich trotzdem in einigen Dingen wiederfinden und es gibt viele Tipps für Bücher, Filme und Serien, die wirklich gut repräsentieren.
"We have loud hands and we want to be heard."
~ 10.11.2024
June 16, 2022
“Hidden abilities created the myth of “low functioning” autistics, like hidden disabilities, created the myth of high-functioning autistics.”
- Amy Sequenzia, “Loud Hands: I speak up with my fingers” (p. 350)
“Independent can mean self-governing. It can also mean self-reliant. Dependent can mean controlled by others. It can also mean requiring the support of others... Some rely on supports which are so common as to go unnoticed, while others use support that is atypical and therefore apparent.”
- Cal Montgomery, “Critic of the Dawn” (p. 80-81)
“Why is speech supposed to be the ultimate goal of so many autism therapies? …I have a right to communicate in whatever means is possible for me to communicate. …I have the right to choose what means of communication is appropriate for me.… If I am able to speak but it is painful, difficult, and draining, I should also be given and allowed those other options.”
- Mel Baggs, "Autism, Speech, and Assistive Technology" (pp. 322-323)
"self-advocacy doesn’t always look good on paper. …real self-advocacy will always upset the status quo in some way. … Self-advocacy has been and is still is still often labeled intransigence, noncompliance, treatment resistance, lack of motivation, behavior issues, violence, manipulation, game-playing, attention-seeking, bad attitude, bad influence, babbling nonsense, self-injurious behavior, inappropriate behavior, disrespect, disruption of the milieu, catatonic behavior, social withdrawal, delusions, septal rage syndrome, and even seizures or reflex activity.”
- Mel Baggs, "The Meaning of Self-Advocacy" (PP. 317-319)
- Amy Sequenzia, “Loud Hands: I speak up with my fingers” (p. 350)
“Independent can mean self-governing. It can also mean self-reliant. Dependent can mean controlled by others. It can also mean requiring the support of others... Some rely on supports which are so common as to go unnoticed, while others use support that is atypical and therefore apparent.”
- Cal Montgomery, “Critic of the Dawn” (p. 80-81)
“Why is speech supposed to be the ultimate goal of so many autism therapies? …I have a right to communicate in whatever means is possible for me to communicate. …I have the right to choose what means of communication is appropriate for me.… If I am able to speak but it is painful, difficult, and draining, I should also be given and allowed those other options.”
- Mel Baggs, "Autism, Speech, and Assistive Technology" (pp. 322-323)
"self-advocacy doesn’t always look good on paper. …real self-advocacy will always upset the status quo in some way. … Self-advocacy has been and is still is still often labeled intransigence, noncompliance, treatment resistance, lack of motivation, behavior issues, violence, manipulation, game-playing, attention-seeking, bad attitude, bad influence, babbling nonsense, self-injurious behavior, inappropriate behavior, disrespect, disruption of the milieu, catatonic behavior, social withdrawal, delusions, septal rage syndrome, and even seizures or reflex activity.”
- Mel Baggs, "The Meaning of Self-Advocacy" (PP. 317-319)
March 18, 2016
Three people are borrowing this book after me, and I'm not at all leery of letting them read it. I honestly feel they'll be more knowledgeable/aware after reading it. There's my ringing endorsement! (My local public library, [linked here], actually purchased the copy I read after I put in a request.)
I found all the authors' pieces to be extremely intense. The tones varied--angry, sardonic, determined, among others--but all read strongly and clearly. Loudly, even.
There were some especially good quotes ('work of art that I would hang on my wall and admire constantly' sort of quotes) that I wanted to keep. Alas, there's a line of people waiting to read, so I don't have the book on hand...
The anthology format is a lot easier to read, imo, and it was nice to finish a book for the first time in a while. The cover is also very clean and attractive. I don't believe this is available in large print, but they have ebook and Kindle editions (at least one of which can be read with a screen reader, I think?)
I do wish there were more contributors. Several of the authors had multiple essays included; I'm not knocking their pieces, all of them are every well-written, but I think it might have been an improvement if their were more contributors.
TL;DR it's good, it's a strong book, you should read it. Share it. Paper your living room with a full copy of the text.
Don't skip the dedication.
I found all the authors' pieces to be extremely intense. The tones varied--angry, sardonic, determined, among others--but all read strongly and clearly. Loudly, even.
There were some especially good quotes ('work of art that I would hang on my wall and admire constantly' sort of quotes) that I wanted to keep. Alas, there's a line of people waiting to read, so I don't have the book on hand...
The anthology format is a lot easier to read, imo, and it was nice to finish a book for the first time in a while. The cover is also very clean and attractive. I don't believe this is available in large print, but they have ebook and Kindle editions (at least one of which can be read with a screen reader, I think?)
I do wish there were more contributors. Several of the authors had multiple essays included; I'm not knocking their pieces, all of them are every well-written, but I think it might have been an improvement if their were more contributors.
TL;DR it's good, it's a strong book, you should read it. Share it. Paper your living room with a full copy of the text.
Don't skip the dedication.
December 25, 2015
The only thing above a book that's unputdownable is the one you have to stop, pause, take in the sheer strength of what you've just read after every essay. Loud Hands is one of those. I never thought I'd say this about an anthology, but I found every single contribution valuable. Some spoke to my experience, others broadened my perspective. The contributions were heartfelt, articulate, sometimes angry, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes beautiful. Reading it, I felt a palpable sense of being on the edge of something big, something important, something happening.
My criticisms are small: there were a few times when a sentence didn't make sense because it started out as one thing and became another - this is possibly inevitable in a book written by autistics, but the book would have benefited from these being caught in the editing stage. Many contributors had several essays included, and whilst all of them were of high quality and very worthwhile, I'd have appreciated greater diversity of contributors and more of the longer personal essays (of which there were some excellent examples).
But these are minor. This is not just an important book, but a highly readable one too.
My criticisms are small: there were a few times when a sentence didn't make sense because it started out as one thing and became another - this is possibly inevitable in a book written by autistics, but the book would have benefited from these being caught in the editing stage. Many contributors had several essays included, and whilst all of them were of high quality and very worthwhile, I'd have appreciated greater diversity of contributors and more of the longer personal essays (of which there were some excellent examples).
But these are minor. This is not just an important book, but a highly readable one too.
May 15, 2022
This amazing anthology goes a long way towards answering skeptics of the Autism rights movement and exploring the truly oppressive realities Autistic people, especially Autistic youth, face from the wider society. The section of the book entitled "What They Do To Us" was for me both the most compelling and the most disturbing section of the book, highlighting as it did the evils that occur at the intersection of ableism and ageism. One of my best friends, Shain Neumeier, has an excellent piece in this section about the horrors visited on Autistic people (among others) at the notorious Judge Rotenberg Center in Massachusetts. Other friends also have great pieces in the book. The writing by Julia Bascom, who as of this writing I do not personally know, I also found to be especially powerful. If I ever know anyone outside the neurodiversity movement who has a child diagnosed with Autism, they're getting a copy of this book courtesy of me.
August 7, 2018
This book was beyond excellent. I am a parent to an autistic teen and sometimes have trouble seeing the world from his view, and sometimes he has trouble explaining it to me. This have me wonderful insight to the autistic community and how important the voices of autistics are. I know that I work hard to teach my son self advocacy skills, an am reminded that this is his road that I am walking with him to be a support. Thanks for this wonderful book!
August 16, 2019
Absolutely amazing, exactly what I needed as the antidote to the tragic narrative and medical illness model of Autism that dominates the conversation online in autistic forums and through organizations like Autism Speaks.
January 13, 2018
Wow. I'd been meaning to read this for quite a while, but I didn't expect it to hit me quite so hard when I did. I loved the book, even if it's a bit hard for me to put into words why.
Although it's not clear to me that Autism Network International exists anymore--their website is years out-of-date--Jim Sinclair's essay on the development of it as an autistic community and culture was very moving, and reminded me of just how lucky I've been since college to have found friends with similar autism to mine, and how much more comfortable I feel around them. A number of the essays in the book gave me similar feelings of warmth and belonging, and that's part of why I liked it.
Other parts, though, were a lot more painful, especially the discussions of the treatment of more severely disabled autistic people by parents, teachers, and the American medical system. I've largely been isolated from this: because I've never been formally diagnosed, and since I'm mostly able to live independently and support myself, it's easy to not pay attention to just how bad things are for other people who've been treated worse by the system. This material is important, though, and the various authors did a good job of giving compelling accounts with what is wrong with the system and how they think it can be improved.
My only complaint about the book is that, unfortunately, the copy-editing leaves something to be desired. Sometimes page breaks are in odd places or there are other layout issues, as well as some odd typos.
Although it's not clear to me that Autism Network International exists anymore--their website is years out-of-date--Jim Sinclair's essay on the development of it as an autistic community and culture was very moving, and reminded me of just how lucky I've been since college to have found friends with similar autism to mine, and how much more comfortable I feel around them. A number of the essays in the book gave me similar feelings of warmth and belonging, and that's part of why I liked it.
Other parts, though, were a lot more painful, especially the discussions of the treatment of more severely disabled autistic people by parents, teachers, and the American medical system. I've largely been isolated from this: because I've never been formally diagnosed, and since I'm mostly able to live independently and support myself, it's easy to not pay attention to just how bad things are for other people who've been treated worse by the system. This material is important, though, and the various authors did a good job of giving compelling accounts with what is wrong with the system and how they think it can be improved.
My only complaint about the book is that, unfortunately, the copy-editing leaves something to be desired. Sometimes page breaks are in odd places or there are other layout issues, as well as some odd typos.
June 10, 2020
This is an anthology of articles about autism by autistic people.
These are sober, enlightening articles which show NTs who autistic persons are and address their challenges.
There is one contribution entitled “Perfectly Autistic, Perfectly Me”.
Being on the spectrum myself, I have the need to begin a book at the beginning and work through it to the end, if possible; I am not good at skimming and reading bits here and there.
It being a serious work, I did not find it particularly easy to read, and didn’t get through it before having to return it to the library.
Autism is not something one has. “Autism is a way of being – it colours every experience – It is not possible to separate the autism from the person.”
“When parents say,
‘I wish my child did not have autism’,
What they’re really saying is,
‘I wish the autistic child did not exist, and I had a different (non-autistic) child instead.’”
Autism Network international is a community created “naturalistically” by autistic people and has regular physical gatherings of autistic people.
Autistic people can feel like aliens and when they meet each other they feel they have met people from the same planet as themselves.
It is a book written by autistic people for other autistic people and those who wish to understand them; it is for those willing to devote time and energy to go deeply into the subject of adult autism.
These are sober, enlightening articles which show NTs who autistic persons are and address their challenges.
There is one contribution entitled “Perfectly Autistic, Perfectly Me”.
Being on the spectrum myself, I have the need to begin a book at the beginning and work through it to the end, if possible; I am not good at skimming and reading bits here and there.
It being a serious work, I did not find it particularly easy to read, and didn’t get through it before having to return it to the library.
Autism is not something one has. “Autism is a way of being – it colours every experience – It is not possible to separate the autism from the person.”
“When parents say,
‘I wish my child did not have autism’,
What they’re really saying is,
‘I wish the autistic child did not exist, and I had a different (non-autistic) child instead.’”
Autism Network international is a community created “naturalistically” by autistic people and has regular physical gatherings of autistic people.
Autistic people can feel like aliens and when they meet each other they feel they have met people from the same planet as themselves.
It is a book written by autistic people for other autistic people and those who wish to understand them; it is for those willing to devote time and energy to go deeply into the subject of adult autism.
September 10, 2023
This book should definitely be compulsory in all libraries around the world. I was lucky enough that my local library had it, and I decided to get it out. In fact, I think it should be compulsory reading for all teachers, employers, etc.
This book is a big fat "screw you" to Jenny McCarthy, Robert Melillo and all those other hateful ableist bigots and misinformation spreaders out there. It is written by autistic authors and a must-read for autistic people and neurotypical people alike. Autistic people are human beings, yet still get treated like they're less than human. Here they are, using their voices when society dictates they can't have voices. Take that, governments with ableist policies!
It's just unacceptable that ableism is one of the most commonly reported forms of discrimination, yet it still doesn't get treated like a real form of discrimination, and so many people haven't even heard of the word! It's also disgusting that autistic people are 9 times more likely to commit suicide, yet no one talks about that either. Read this and wake up!
This book is a big fat "screw you" to Jenny McCarthy, Robert Melillo and all those other hateful ableist bigots and misinformation spreaders out there. It is written by autistic authors and a must-read for autistic people and neurotypical people alike. Autistic people are human beings, yet still get treated like they're less than human. Here they are, using their voices when society dictates they can't have voices. Take that, governments with ableist policies!
It's just unacceptable that ableism is one of the most commonly reported forms of discrimination, yet it still doesn't get treated like a real form of discrimination, and so many people haven't even heard of the word! It's also disgusting that autistic people are 9 times more likely to commit suicide, yet no one talks about that either. Read this and wake up!
April 1, 2025
A very important book, maybe the most important I've ever read as a mom of two autistic kids who is also autistic herself. I did not grow up knowing why I was different, my children will be more informed than I ever was. I hope that somehow helps in the end.
While an important and informative read into the lives and history of Autism through these essays, this was also one of the saddest books I've ever read. I've had to take several breaks in reading just to process before continuing, sometimes, months later. The truth however is not always pleasant or palatable. It is one thing to know, but to read and understand these essays is to enter a world that is not necessarily similar to your own. I did find myself in there a few times, but there isn't one way to be autistic, and it's been a longer road for some than myself.
If your here and wondering: Read it.
While an important and informative read into the lives and history of Autism through these essays, this was also one of the saddest books I've ever read. I've had to take several breaks in reading just to process before continuing, sometimes, months later. The truth however is not always pleasant or palatable. It is one thing to know, but to read and understand these essays is to enter a world that is not necessarily similar to your own. I did find myself in there a few times, but there isn't one way to be autistic, and it's been a longer road for some than myself.
If your here and wondering: Read it.
January 27, 2018
Educate Yourself
A must read for every person in our world, especially public school teachers, coordinators, administrators, and leaders. Educators, read this book slowly and carefully. It is full of things that go against the grain of most things we have been taught. Amazing read from true masters in the subject of autism. Spend time reading the pages of bullet points at the ending from the contributors. Concise and priceless thoughts, tips, suggestions straight from the source.
A must read for every person in our world, especially public school teachers, coordinators, administrators, and leaders. Educators, read this book slowly and carefully. It is full of things that go against the grain of most things we have been taught. Amazing read from true masters in the subject of autism. Spend time reading the pages of bullet points at the ending from the contributors. Concise and priceless thoughts, tips, suggestions straight from the source.
May 8, 2019
Everyone who wants to learn more about autism and autistics (and possibly extended to everyone) should read about it in autistics' own words, ideally more than one since it is a diverse group of the neurodiversity that is humanity. This book is one excellent resource, with essays and perspectives from a broad range of people arranged into themes and topics. It will make you laugh, cry, and more. It's a start to learning about people that both are similar to and different from each of us.
December 4, 2022
This book shares a direct, firsthand perspective on what it’s like to be autistic, and be neurodivergent. It is a really wonderful book filled with anthologies on what autistic people have to say about how they experience the world. It is highly recommended. My favorite two chapters were from Nick Walker and Lydia X.Z. Brown. This book acknowledges the authors, and I’d say is very accessible in the sense that it’s easy to read, and accommodating for my ADHD brain.
June 14, 2025
This book covers many areas, but it particularly emphasizes autistic people who are nonverbal. Different authors discuss Historical Foundations, Current Realities, What They Do To Us, Rhetoric, Voice, and Moving Forward. About half of the essays are personal & emotional; the other half are academic. The Moving Forward section is excellent in itself, when planning an activity for autistic people, or an educational program for people to learn about interacting with autistic people!
January 19, 2021
That's a great book. Of course I managed to forget my library bag when I went to the library to get more books so got to finish this one and it was great I love how I kept seeing myself and all sorts of different people even if they gave their functioning levels and it was different than mine. I can't wait to look at the other materials on the loud hands project website.
February 11, 2018
Rich incidental resourcing. Multiple contributors. Self-advocacy. "Late" dx. Ouch. Hub didn't make it past the dedication, which lists autistic people killed by their own family members.
Next edition would improve by including an index of essays by contributor.
Next edition would improve by including an index of essays by contributor.
December 26, 2025
An important book, featuring voices from people on the autism spectrum. Very good at explaining the ways some people with autism do try to communicate, but their style of communication is not understood by the mainstream, so they get seen as not trying to communicate.
October 3, 2017
Required reading for anyone who loves or works with or in any way shares space with people who have Autism. Seriously. Read it.
January 3, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of stories from many viewpoints giving great insights of the lives of people experiencing the best and worst of care and support. It’s a real eye opener.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews