So, I'm Autistic: An Introduction to Autism for Young Adults and Late Teens

by Sarah O'Brien

' There isn't a secret manual outlining exactly how to get through your teens and young adulthood as an autistic individual, but this book provides a script for how to do what adulthood will make you do anyway, in a way that is most accessible for you".

You've just received an autism diagnosis, so why do you still feel so lost when it comes to what autism actually means for you?

Written by autistic advocate Sarah O'Brien, this book gives a much-needed introduction into what autism is and removes the myths, stereotypes and stigma that surround it. Sarah provides insights into what to do after diagnosis and how to approach and navigate the process of informing those in your life, from your family and friends to your teachers or manager at work. Utilising her own experience of feeling lost after diagnosis and navigating all of the 'firsts' of adolescence and young adulthood Sarah provides an honest and friendly voice to guide you through it all.

Intelligent and clearly-written, this is the fact-led and information-rich resource that will answer your questions about autism, introduce you to your new community and set you up to thrive as an autistic adult.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health, Psychology, Disability

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2023

About the author

Sarah O’Brien is an autistic writer and engagement professional currently working within the charity sector. She is known for her witty remarks and commitment to giving those who face disadvantage a voice.

Sarah lives and works in London. In her free time she can be found reading, crafting and planning future projects. Sarah can be found writing and speaking about her passions throughout the digital and physical world.

Reviews

[Emily Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive post-diagnostic support guide for young people and young adults - though really could be read by any autistic person or anyone looking to learn about autism. Sarah’s writing is both comforting and educational.

[Clover · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
A perfect introduction for anyone soon to be leaving high school and/or starting university or work.

Like Charli Clement says on the back: "... an autism-affirming starter guide to the world as an autistic person..."

This was very positive and affirming even though some of the topics are tough. Sarah O'Brien talks about autism paired with other conditions, medication types, handling school and work, challenges, therapy, and so much more. There's a list of books and podcasts about autism, there's a glossary, references, and an index. We love to see it!

There were a few errors that weren't caught by the editing that I noticed, but you'll still understand everything.

I loved this book. It's exactly what it says it is. It's for teens and young adults who are leaving high school soon and going to university or entering the work force. She's British so she is writing from a British/UK point of view, but it's a stepping stone to get you started. There's plenty of resources you can take from this that will help regardless of your location, like the types of questions to ask and things to figure out for support. It's written very plainly and was very easy to read. The formatting was simple, but not huge amounts of white space. I still found it very easy to read and it kept my attention.

I would recommend this. I will happily buy it. I now have 18 new books to look for in my library. I'll link them here in case people want to add them to their TBR list.

1. All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism edited by Lydia X.Z. Brown, E. Ashkenazy, and Morénike Giwa Onaiwu

2. The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic by Siena Castellon

3. Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism edited by Barb Cook and Dr. Michelle Garnett

4. The Autism and Neurodiversity Self Advocacy Handbook: Developing the Skills to Determine Your Own Future by Barb Cook and Yenn Purkis

5. Queerly Autistic: The Ultimate Guide For LGBTQIA+ Teens on the Spectrum by Erin Ekins

6. We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia
7. Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels by Sara Gibbs

8. Stim: An Autistic Anthology edited by Lizzie Huxley-Jones

9. Odd Girl Out by Laura James

10. I Overcame My Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder: A Memoir by Sarah Kurchak

11. The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May

12. Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

13. Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty

14. The Neurodiversity Reader: Exploring concepts, lived experience and implications for practice edited by Damian Milton

15. How to Be Autistic by Charlotte Amelia Poe

16. Existing Autistic by Megan Rhiannon

17. NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman

18. University And Chronic Illness: A Survival Guide by Pippa Stacey


TBR: 2023
Read: July 6, 2024

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for learning more about autism as a parent or as a guide for teens and young adults.

The first several chapters are a good overview on many topics. If you are learning about a new diagnosis I really recommend the first 90 pages. I especially appreciate (and was agreeing out loud) with points made about gender and race and how so many people were overlooked by the medical community for such a long time. The discussion of language and also disability are helpful starting points as well.

Later sections of the book talk about navigating education at many levels, transitioning to college or a job, managing living situations, health care, and so on. This would be really helpful to young adults considering some of these steps. (In fact, a practical look at how to think about choosing where to living or thinking about career paths would be great for any young adult.)

The author is based in the UK, so many of the education or health care situations are specific to the UK. Aside from that, the book is really approachable and written by an autistic adult in her 20s, so the suggestions seem like they would be a helpful roadmap to young adults approaching big transitions.

[Pug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, at this point, I guess I know all there is to know about autism (haha). Perhaps a good overview, but nothing new from this book. It did cover a wide spectrum (!) of topics, but glossed over others. Plus, she sounded a little angry at times, but without being honest about it, like in Autistic Adults Are Not Okay.

[Erin Simmehchan]

(can you tell i’m starting a bunch of books and not finishing them?? also i have no idea how goodreads works i wanted this just in the did not finish shelf)

i recently (finally!!) received my autism diagnosis and read the sample of this and decided it’s not for me. maybe it’s because i’m slightly on the older side of the demographic (24 is young adult right??), i’ve done my research to death on autism, or because the way it’s written reminded me too much of annoyingly self-righteous activists on tiktok…. yeah it’s just not for me. i think it would definitely be good for someone younger who’s not as educated on autism or parents etc who know someone who’s just been diagnosed. i really want to find something similar that’s at my level though… if it exists.

[Éamon · Rating 1 out of 5]

not worth the read. just felt like someone printed off all the possible info from any autism forum and stapled it together. there was nothing 'new' or that wasnt already known, in my opinion. There was no advice or guidance offered about anything, just the author presenting her expereince with things. also i ddint like the way the chapters were laid out with subheadings. each subheading was a paragraph when it shouldve been an essay to actually communicate somehting useful.

[Steph Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great guide for young people who are newly diagnosed, to help them make sense of many aspects of life, but also helpful for older people who may be new to the idea of autism, or for family members trying to support children.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, accessible introduction to autism. I borrowed from the library but I'm probably going to buy it. Perfect for the newly diagnosed or questioning. Especially good for young people or parents but relevant for all.

[Jazz Maree · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this would be a good book for clients or even young people exploring their neurodiversity but not me. I kinda know everything already lol

[Heather Guenther · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the target audience is small - teens and early 20somethings entering university or the workplace for the first time - the research and citations are sound for anyone looking for further reading.