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A review by cristinareads
I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust: A Memoir of Autism and Hope by Valerie Gilpeer, Emily Grodin
4.0
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an egalley ARC out in April 2021.
The description of this story interested me right away. The journey Emily and her family went on and are still going through of navigating nonverbal autism was very compelling, and I am thankful for the opportunity to read it.
This is a memoir co-written by Emily’s mother and Emily who is nonverbal autistic. The main narrative is told by her mother, with insight and poetry throughout
by Emily. Emily’s poetry and writing was definitely was the highlight for me.
The overall story paints a picture of Emily’s journey of finding her voice and sharing her experience of the world. Through most of her childhood she is not able to communicate beyond simple answers to questions, though her parents believe there is more going on inside her than she can communicate. After trying many different therapies, through FC she has a breakthrough one day and Emily writes full sentences describing her thoughts and feelings for the first time.
I know there is a saying in the autistic community that says something like when you have met one autistic person you have met one autistic person. Each person’s experience with autism is unique. This is how I think of Emily’s story. It is not meant to say “follow this path” and other autistic people can be like me. Rather it tells a story that advocates for more options beyond speech therapy for nonverbal autistic children.
FC (Facilitated Communication) has been seen as illegitimate form of communication for autistic people, but Emily and her mother want to share their positive experience with it and advocate for all forms of AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) to be a recognized option for nonverbal autistic people.
Emily’s poetry and insight to what it is like to navigate the world as autistic along with her mother’s narrative has given me a lot to think about as a teacher, mother, and human in this world we all share.
The description of this story interested me right away. The journey Emily and her family went on and are still going through of navigating nonverbal autism was very compelling, and I am thankful for the opportunity to read it.
This is a memoir co-written by Emily’s mother and Emily who is nonverbal autistic. The main narrative is told by her mother, with insight and poetry throughout
by Emily. Emily’s poetry and writing was definitely was the highlight for me.
The overall story paints a picture of Emily’s journey of finding her voice and sharing her experience of the world. Through most of her childhood she is not able to communicate beyond simple answers to questions, though her parents believe there is more going on inside her than she can communicate. After trying many different therapies, through FC she has a breakthrough one day and Emily writes full sentences describing her thoughts and feelings for the first time.
I know there is a saying in the autistic community that says something like when you have met one autistic person you have met one autistic person. Each person’s experience with autism is unique. This is how I think of Emily’s story. It is not meant to say “follow this path” and other autistic people can be like me. Rather it tells a story that advocates for more options beyond speech therapy for nonverbal autistic children.
FC (Facilitated Communication) has been seen as illegitimate form of communication for autistic people, but Emily and her mother want to share their positive experience with it and advocate for all forms of AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) to be a recognized option for nonverbal autistic people.
Emily’s poetry and insight to what it is like to navigate the world as autistic along with her mother’s narrative has given me a lot to think about as a teacher, mother, and human in this world we all share.