A review by crybabybea
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Unmasking Autism is an intersectional look at autism, and is an empowering read for those in the autistic community and their allies. Dr. Devon Price explores the outdated stereotypes of autism, brought on by a bias in research of rich, cishet white men. They challenge the reader to challenge these stereotypes, and dig deeper into the ways neurotypical expectations and misconceptions have affected their self-worth, identity, and behavior. Masking is a well-known term in the autistic community, referring to the camouflaging and compensatory strategies autistic people develop to fit in to neurotypical society. More and more research has come out pointing to masking as a cause of many comorbidities that autistic people experience, such as anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, and self-worth issues. Dr. Devon Price takes us through a psychological approach called “Values Based Integration”, developed by autistic life coach Heather R. Morgan. Through this exercise, we are taught how to identify what matters most to us, and given the confidence to center those things in our lives.

Unmasking Autism takes a compassionate, acceptance-based approach to exploring autism and undoing the years of masking many autistics develop for survival. Dr. Devon Price is also incredibly welcoming to self-diagnosed, or self-determined autistic people, acknowledging the difficulties that women, gender nonconforming folks, and Black, Brown, Indigenous, and non-Black people of color face when seeking a diagnosis. Instead of following typical ABA masking advice, the author argues that autistic people practice centering their autistic traits and accepting them. Special interests, routines, stimming, and sensory sensitivities are all important parts of the autistic experience, and have long been demonized and shamed by neurotypical society. The author encourages the autistic reader to embrace these traits with confidence and love.

The book does have an increased focus on the parallels between autistic masking and the internal struggles that LGBTQIA+ folks experience, thanks to societal conditioning that certain traits are bad and shameful. It makes sense that the author, a trans queer person, would focus more on this part of their experience as it has shaped them.

While this book could be off-putting to those who are not progressive enough, it’s an important read for autistic people, allies, and neurotypicals alike. The author makes a plea that our world move towards acceptance rather than shame, so folks of all walks of life and neurodivergencies can feel comfortable to be their authentic selves. They also make a case for reworking society, suggesting universal basic income and overhauls of the current welfare system to be beneficial for everyone, not just disabled or neurodivergent people. Similarly, Unmasking Autism takes autistic people through an internal evaluation in an attempt to separate conditioned shame and fear and accept themselves. Overall, Unmasking Autism is an important perspective on the autism movement, and an important book for acceptance and love. 
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