Older Autistic Adults In Their Own Words: The Lost Generation

by Wilma Wake, Eric Endlich, Robert Lagos

The first of its kind, it is the result of the authors' original research- which examines the data retrieved from a survey given to 150 older autistic adults worldwide. The insight into the lives and experiences of these individuals from a time before support groups, school-based interventions, and even the autism diagnosis is important and fascinating.
Combined with a brief history of autism, an overview of The Nine Degrees of Autism by Wylie, Lawson, & Beardon, in relation to older autistic adults, and personal stories from the survey's participants, this book is a must-read!

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2021

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent if you love stats, and excellent if you don’t. Having information from within a person on the Spectrum, as well as family is insightful. The saying goes that there are as many types of autism as there are autistics is appropriate. This book contrasts and compares people who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s with those who grew up in later decades, with constantly improving understanding from professionals and the public at large, and that differences that may make. Hoe do autistics feel about their lives in the past and their futures having been diagnosed, either professionally, or self dx’d. And why has the general public been ignorant of the actual differences in brain structure, DNA differences in autistics that allow for super focus providing most of the major technological advances to the human race? Why is the psychiatric medical field allowing autistics to go undiagnosed in lack of knowledge and understanding of brain process or what that autistics themselves communicate? Why are long term excellent employees being fired not very long after revealing a diagnoses fo poor performance?

Autistics are out there writing many books and answering tons of questions. Any idea how many autistics have high level post graduate degrees? There is too much new awareness coming to light that should not be ignored or derided. This is an excellent place to begin learning what you may not know.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Very important study.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this might be (or is) you, it's very definitely worth a read. Yes, lots of statistics that may be interesting, but more importantly it can be helpful if you suspect autism in yourself and are curious what sorts of things are common in autistic lives. It was really interesting to read other people's experiences in life.

As someone who is sneaking up on a 50th birthday, it was interesting to read the experiences of people just a few years older. (Study participants were all over 50, and I was in my early/mid 40s and unaware.) For me, it was fascinating to see how there were so many commonalities in my life and the study participant's lives. At times, it was as if the authors and participants knew me. Kind of spooky. Definitely revealing.

Please do yourself the favor of reading this if you've lived quite a bit of your life and think you might be autistic.

[MRS A L BENNETT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting for newly diagnosed older adults

It was very interesting reading about the experiences of the 150 adults questioned for this book. There was so much I could relate to as a newly diagnosed 49 year old. 1 star less as lots of repetition in the middle which is off putting.

[Jesanne N. Rall · Rating 5 out of 5]

eye opener

Would recommend this book to anyone just starting out on their autism discovery. Has great insights for older people who have not been diagnosed or just discovered they might be on the spectrum.

[Melinda Lovewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting!

I enjoyed the new and under told perspectives in this book. I learned a lot and now have a new found respect of the older generation