The New Normal: Autistic musings on the threat of a broken society

by David Gray-Hammond

In this anthology David Gray-Hammond has reworked and added to essays from his popular 'Emergent Divergence' blog. The theme of the essays is that of neuronormativity in society, and the effect this is having on Autistic and otherwise sneurodivergent people. In this anthology, he challenges the idea of what normal is by calling out the status quo for violence it inflicts on a marginalised neurodivergent community

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Disability, Nonfiction, Social Justice

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

David Gray-Hammond is an Autistic man, living in the South-East of England, he is several years into sobriety from drug and alcohol addiction. David has a Schizophrenia-like psychotic condition, which has driven him to have a huge interest in our perceptions of reality, identity, and the self.

Professionally he has worked as an independent consultant, educator, and mentor in the field of Autistic experience and wellbeing. His work has often had a significant focus on other Autistic addicts and those with experience of complex mental health issues.

David's writing work takes a significant interest in the cultural identities of Autistic people, and how the economic climate of society has influenced the construction of both Autistic culture and identity.

David is a father, and hopes to leave behind a better world for his son than the one he was born into.

In his free time, he is an avid gamer, musician, and a published poet.

Reviews

[Nick Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Gray-Hammond is one of the most articulate and forward-thinking of the new generation of emerging voices on neurodiversity, and it's wonderful to finally see his thoughts collected in this book.

I've been involved in the emergent autistic culture and the development of the neurodiversity paradigm for two decades now, and I'm so bored of books on neurodiversity and autistic advocacy (including some recently published by very big publishing houses) that just repackage the same basic ideas my generation of autistic thinkers already articulated 10 to 20 years ago. THE NEW NORMAL is a refreshing change because it actually BUILDS on previous thought rather than just repeating it.

This book is about being autistic in the world we currently live in, but more importantly, it invites the reader to ask what kind of world we WANT to live in, and how we might get there.

[Rohase Piercy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until fairly recently - well, until I was diagnosed with OCD and possible Asperger's - I used to have a recurring dream: I was climbing a public staircase with lots of other people, and at some point there'd be a gap, where all the stairs were rotting or missing, and everyone else would just jump over the gap without a care in the world, as though they couldn't see it, and I'd be frozen, trying to summon up the courage to do likewise but knowing that in all probability I wouldn't make it and would fall.
But what if there was a safe, portable ramp available to anyone worried by the gap so that they too could reach the top of the staircase without anxiety, without being required to 'do the jump?' That, in a nutshell is what David Gray-Hammond is proposing in 'The New Normal' - that the Autistic community, instead of being required to fit society's norm or accept the label of being 'inadequate' or even 'disabled', should be accommodated and catered for within the mainstream.
Two quotes in particular stood out for me whilst reading this remarkable series of essays - the first, in 'Why requiring Autistic people to be diagnosed is a betrayal of the Neurodiversity Movement', was this: '... when we cannot meet our culture's standards, we are forced into the medical system, to prove our neurocognitive style in order to attain the support that we need to survive ... survival doesn't count unless you are capable of contributing to the economic structures that exist.' My relief at finally getting a diagnosis in my sixties, was largely due to the fact that I now had an 'excuse' and an 'explanation' as to why I'd never been able to have a career despite a University education, and could feel less guilty about accepting State benefits.
The second, in 'I'm not Asocial, I'm Ausocial', was this: ' ... while everyone else was complaining about ... lockdown, Autistic people were discovering new ways to communicate and socialise ... If our methods of socialisation were accepted as valid ... and subsequently accommodated, then we would find the world a great deal more accessible.' All my life I've been advised that I need to 'challenge myself', and 'step outside of my comfort zone', and it's only recently that I've been able to respond 'Why should I? Why can't you just accept my boundaries, which are perfectly valid to me and necessary to my wellbeing?'
So, as you'll gather, I loved this series of well-written, eloquent and passionate essays, and would thoroughly recommend them to anyone who is either on the Autistic Spectrum themselves, or has a loved one or family member who is.
A quick caveat about the presentation and layout - this book is presented in larger than average format, with double spacing, which I'm sure makes it more accessible and easier to read for many on the spectrum - however I did find that the unjustified format, with ragged line endings, set my OCD slightly on edge (not neat!) - ditto the random blank pages and new essays starting halfway down a page, or further ... But this is a personal niggle, and one that could easily be sorted out with a bit of re-editing should the author deem it necessary.
All in all, a very inspiring and educational read!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Gray-Hammond’s new book is a fantastic and wonderful addition to not only the Autistic and neurodivergent community but is an accessible text for those who are less familiar with the flipside of the Autistic narrative and experience.

It is a wonderful anthology of essays with thought provoking insights that challenge many preconceived ideas and also reaffirms and validates some of my own experience as a recently (late diagnosed) Autistic person. David's openness and personal story weaves through his essays giving it context and a deeper meaning making it a pleasure to read.

The actual format of this book is ‘different’, it is slightly oversized, easy to hold and comfortable to physically read. It has double spacing between the lines and chapters starting at different points on the page, for me this gives a physical space to ‘think’ and reflect on each essay. I have taken my time to read this book and know I will be coming back to it again and again, wonderfully refreshing in format and content!

David shows a way forward towards a society where everyone's needs can be understood and met, it highlights the barriers in society caused by the unacceptance of difference and challenges created by a society that is ‘broken by design’ it leads the way to a 'New Normal'.

This book needs to be read and shared. David Gray-Hammond

[Holly SG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is vital reading for anyone who no longer wants to accept that Autistic people are broken or need fixing, anyone who is questioning the narrative that ‘autism is a disorder’, any Autistic person who wants to think of themselves as valid, anyone who knows or loves an Autistic person and wants to un-learn the paradigm that paints them as a faulty version of a human. Anyone who wants to start questioning whether they might hold some ableist attitudes and learn how they can dismantle them.

The author titles the prologue ‘a love letter to the Autistic community’ but the whole book is a love letter. It’s a rallying call to all Autistics to embrace our Autisticness as a stand against oppression.

It’s easy to read, and is split up into short, catchy essays that easily hold your attention.

When you want to learn about the experiences of women, you ask women, not men. And if you want to learn about Autistic experience, then it is best to listen to Autistic people, not medical professionals or teachers. This is your chance to learn about Autistic people from an Autistic author. I really recommend you do!

[Paul Van buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an autistic let me say, Wow! David has an incredible grasp of our situation and brilliant insights into the wheels within wheels. This is a book I will highly recommend to my autistic friends and people who want a true understanding of the challenges and the potential solutions in our broken society.

[Lilly (The Autism Books by Autistic Authors Project) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The New Normal is an anthology of essays, eloquently describing many of the Autistic community’s current thoughts about Autistic Rights and Neurodiversity, while providing a vision for a more inclusive, affirming future.

Inside you will find 28 short, easy to read essays and commentaries covering topics from Autistic community, identity, and experience to the societal construction of autism which enables ableism, dehumanisation, and oppression of Autistic people. Gray-Hammond also looks to the future, discussing ideas for inclusion, as well as some of the challenges which need to be addressed along the way.

There is much collective wisdom in the pages of this book, drawn from the author’s years of personal experience and advocacy, and the work of many others. In calling out the harmful and oppressive practices so-often forced on Autistic people, Gray-Hammond does not shy away from challenging neuronormativity.

I particularly appreciated the discussions and acknowledgement that the Autistic and broader neurodiversity and disability communities are fundamentally diverse; accommodating one person’s needs may exclude others, a nuance which is often missed.

Furthermore, Gray-Hammond not only addresses the changes required from allistic (non-Autistic) people, but also from within the Autistic community. He implores us to acknowledge our inherent prejudices and privileges, and to be accommodating to all Autistics, including those who are new to Autistic culture and identity and still finding their way, and also to those who are multiply marginalised.

This is a book that warrants highlighting, consideration, and a periodic re-read.

For me, The New Normal is more than a challenge to the status quo; it is a message of empowerment and radical acceptance. It filled me with energy and inspiration to work towards a better future for our community.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that you'll return to again and again. Highly recommended, essential reading for anyone with a personal or professional interest in advancing the cause for equity, acceptance and inclusion for the neurodivergent community.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant call to arms for Autistic folk and those who love and support us.

I shall be sharing a full review soon I just want to sit with David's words a little longer.

Full review can be found here: https://aucademy.co.uk/category/book-...

[John Greally · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subject-matter, Autistics, is a fast-paced field as knowledge - often from hard-earned self-knowledge - ramps-up throughout this century, our autistic's century. And David Gray-Hammond vibrantly adds to that fast-pace in a leading, and leaderly way, recognised by so many peers and followers.

David makes itching to go to a barren Mars seem tawdry and pointless, by taking us instead into the real journey of endeavour and discovery, to a vastly more important and very human world that has always been with us, waiting. Books like this are the undoing of all the gibberish that has been spoken about "autism the disorder", or "what's your superpower?", or "they've no empathy" that amount to crimes of both ignorance, and less commonly, hate, and cause us to swerve from something wondrous - difference, diversity, divergence.

The book is also a foil to ableism, to judgmentalism, to any lack of greatly needed complex compassion, a foil to any impulse to mask, to irrational thoughts about mental health, to cure tendencies, anxiety, distress, depression. Autistics are here situated in the heart of neurodivergency, the heart of the disability rights movement, and at the core of world change, so fittingly.

Only upon reading such works by David can we come to know all the progress gained comes on the back of pains and dead-ends endured, and insights with new ways forward too, and it is then we can begin to appreciate a writer of such a book is not a whole lot different than intrepid explorers such as Cook, Livingstone, Magellan, and Hilary who struggled and brought humanity far.

[Elizabeth Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok_ More of a authors story and general opinions vs resources or support for Autistics.

I’ve read many Autistic authors (being Autistic myself) I think the concepts are an accurate representation of the general culture but it lacks the autistic lead research and uplifting of other Autistic lead resources that he suggests is needed . The author references folks that I’m assuming are the folks he interacts with on other platforms but doesn’t explain who they are or why their anodes are notable. It seems like a series of journal, social media posts, reflections, or blog posts that were adapted for this book. I was hoping for better quality or more of an organized call to action. It’s worth the read to support Autistic authors and hear his story but it’s not as useful as the resources in UnMasking Autism or Bite Size Autism for example.

[Tomas Janousek · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of essays about the difficulties neurodivergent people have in the current society, and how it could be better. Didn't find the writing very convincing though - and I say that as someone who already agrees with many of those ideas. Can't imagine an unconvinced person reading this and reconsidering their views afterwards. ☹️

(That being said someone needs to push the current boundaries and they're always going to be considered too radical. Perhaps I'm just not the target audience.)

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Best way to learn about the Autistic community by an actual Autistic person who provides great insight into the pathology paradigm and what needs to change

[AD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review - The New Normal: Autistic musings on the threat of a broken society by David Gray-Hammond

I have already read this and quoted from the book in #SowingASeedSunday so I wanted to read it again so that I could review it.

David opens with a heartwarming letter to the Autistic community and continues to show his vulnerabilty and passion throughout as he opens up to share his true self with you through his book. The opening shows how important it is to find your Neurokin.
So important in fact that it saved his life.

He goes on to write about Autistic representation in the media. Or should I say the problems with it. Its something I think about a lot and have wanted to write about. Maybe having read this again it will inspire me to do so.

There is a chapter about April, if you are #actuallyautistic you will have your own personal experience of this month each year. But if you don't know, then this chapter will be a good place for you to find out.

The book may be triggering at times for people due to mentions of su*cide and trauma. But it does paint a picture of the stark reality that many Autistic people face daily. But it gives great insight and practical ideas on how we can combat the challenges faced.

Taking the above in mind I hope that this is read by all professionals that work with Autistic people in any capacity. Hopefully, these professionals will understand why many of us advocate for accepting and embracing the neurodiversity paradigm.

For me the book is a rallying cry for us to continue to unite and reject the pathology paradigm and fightback against cure culture.
Yet another book that highlights how and why self identification is valid.

It also highlights how important intersectionality is. Something I think needs to sit at the forefront of our minds anytime we consider how things need to change.
How, for that to happen we need to sit in discomfort as we unpack our own privilege. This is something the author recognises through the book.

“It is the people with privilege who forget that different people have different experiences”

It also explains and breakdowns the problem with functioning labels and how they inherently support capitalism.

If you are an advocate this book is a must read. I am sure you will find it validating and even motivational.

There is a chapter that mentions Authoring Autism by Remi Yergeau. So now I have my next read.

Personally I think this book is a perfect companion to be read alongside Neuroqueer Heresies, Empire Of Normality, We’re All Neurodiverse, Care work, The #actuallyautistic Guide to Advocacy and I Will Die On This Hill.
All books that I think I'm going to read each year to keep myself in check and to make sure my values still allign. Books that will take pride of place on my bookshelf.

I read the books I do to continually educate myself. I write the reviews I do to help my followers.
But I do what I do for my children and their children. If doing what I do helps one person then it causes a ripple effect. Which in turn means I can leave the world a better place for my children and theirs.

I've known this for a long time, but David’s book has just helped give me the words to explain it and the courage to put it into writing.