We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation is the first book by Washington, DC writer and reporter, Eric Garcia. In the Introduction, Garcia confesses to the difficulty of being asked a simple, yet far-from-easy question, “So, what is it like to have Autism?” And for the next 281 pages, he strives to answer this question.
Pulling strongly from his reporter background, Garcia mingles facts with observations and experience to create an easy-to-read, well-researched, and thoroughly thought-out modern look at autism and what it means to be autistic in America today. He uses rich language and insight to traverse important topics like policy, education, work, housing, health care, relationships, gender, and race– and how they intersect with autism.
I follow Eric on Twitter, and I remember him tweeting about his research as he was writing this book. I was so excited about it that I reached out and offered to edit it for him. He politely thanked me and that was that until he announced that it was being released. I bought my Amazon copy pre-order the same day. Why was I so excited about Eric’s book? Precisely because of the title’s promise – Changing the Autism Conversation! And Garcia delivered.
We’re Not Broken is a well-researched perspective piece from an author who is a part of the underrepresented group that he writes about. Agree or disagree with his ideas, but his ability to hold them is not debatable. He shares anecdotal and personal perspectives when he has the experience to draw from and opens the door to perspectives and experiences different from his own.
On a more micro level, when well-meaning people – from researchers and clinicians to journalists and parent advocates – have only tropes as their source of knowledge, they wind up inadvertently hurting their autistic friends, family members, neighbors, loved ones, and coworkers. The lack of autistic people’s input means that even the experts who moved forward conversations in one regard can perpetuate stigmatizing ideas about autism in another.
We’re Not Broken, Eric Garcia, page xi
For too long, the majority of books on autism have been anecdotal autobiographies at best, and written by non-autistics at worst. And while this is a gross generalization, with notable exceptions (and also allowing for the importance of anecdotal autobiographies)– my point is that Garcia’s book tackles autism in a way that hasn’t been done before.
His background in investigative journalism and politics brings out the political undercurrent that happens in the proverbial backrooms of the neurodiversity movement but is rarely found in mainstream discussions about autism.
Garcia recognizes where his voice and perspective lies, and he stays the course while simultaneously holding space for others to pick up any thread and continue the narrative. And he draws a clear distinction between facts and opinions, something missing from much of mainstream discourse. He makes important points that only autistics can make, like his response:
“… when people see me as an inspiration because I “overcame” my disability to graduate college and hold a job, I want to respond that the only things I overcame were the specific obstacles in front of me. I am a return on others’ investment in policy. In the same way, every autistic person who languishes in classes or winds up in a group home or institution is not a reflection on a poor upbringing but rather a failure in policy.”
We’re Not Broken, Eric Garcia, page 7
And brings this point home when later he says,
“I wasn’t taking a side– that’s never my job as a journalist. Rather, I made sure to amplify the voices of people who are legitimate participants in America’s democratic process.”
We’re Not Broken, Eric Garcia, page 208
Feeling autism peek through his writing with awkward segues and abrupt conclusions, which make the writing so much more relatable and authentic, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey Garcia takes us on through each topic he covers.
Consistently and concisely bringing home the overarching theme of this book– that policy decides the fate of many disabled people, and that autistic people should be at the center of policymaking regarding themselves, Garcia’s parting request is this, [paragraph breaks added for accessibility]
People who are not autistic often assume they are acting benevolently by hand-holding those on the spectrum. But despite their best intentions, there is an element of condescension in these actions because it assumes that nonautistic people know what’s best.
But it is autistic people who live with the condition of autism – for all of its positives and negatives – as well as with the consequences of any collective action meant to help them.
If there is going to be policy that has seismic impacts on their lives, they deserve to have a say in it, no matter how they communicate. Furthermore, while many parent advocates, clinicians, and other “experts” may have good intentions, centering their voices continues to give them power that should lie with the autistic community.
TO achieve any true sense of freedom, autistic people need to take this power back.
We’re Not Broken, Eric Garcia, page 215
I have two major critiques of the book: 1) although Garcia doesn’t gloss over nuanced conversations, he doesn’t dive deep either, and 2) that the book isn’t long enough. This book is only begins to scratch the surface of the complex dynamics of the autism world, culture, politics, and subcultures. I feel every chapter deserved its own book, so was personally left wanting more.
However, this is an amazing resource for parents, caregivers, professionals, and austistics looking to obtain an overview of the dynamic and evolving autistic culture and of the political underpinning of the neurodiversity movement. And I will end where Garcia did in his Acknowledgments,
I want you to know you too have a space in media and a story that deserves to be told. And you-– yes, you-– can write a book, too. We need you, and I need you, and I know you will build upon the things I got right and correct where I fell short.
We’re Not Broken, Eric Garcia, acknowledgments
I'm always so awkward at these. I am a mom, a wife, a reader, a writer, a dreamer. I make money freelance editing and copywriting, and caretaking for my son. My interests include, but aren't limited to: anything books, writing, IEP advocacy, inclusion, parenting, education, and homeschooling. I’m an unpaid volunteer. If my writing has been meaningful to you, you can leave me a tip or buy my next book here
44 Responses
Thanks for calling attention to a book that sounds like it might help shift some common misconceptions about autism and autistic people.
I wonder how much of what we now call “accommodations” are really just the kinds of things that a more sane (i.e., less unnecessarily harsh, excluding, hyper-competitive, cut-throat) society would do naturally and automatically out of a recognition that everyone is valuable, important, and capable of contributing and participating in meaningful ways.
BTW, I’m always on the lookout for editing help (and would definitely prefer someone autism-aware), so if you have an opening, let me know how to get in touch about that.
My email is 8dixonhoward8@gmail.com
Thanks—will be in touch soon
Re: “Quote reads, “…we don’t know what autism in and of itself looks like; we only know how autism informed by trauma presents itself.””, Yes, Virginia, there IS Truth on the internet.
It’s so good to see a truth like that put into words.
Book arrived in today’s mail. I’m just in from grocery shopping and it will be a bit before I can get it looked at.
Am currently at page 61 and while learning a bunch of stuff and generally enjoying learning things, I would like to recommend the book to a few neurotypical friends but will not do that as from years of experience with them I’m certain they will look at the book’s mentions of the political environment and become intensely energized about how their respective party’s politics are the correct politics and if those evil people in the other party had any shred of human morality they would inherently realize they had been supporting the wrong party, abandon their erroneous ways, and come over to the party which has the correct philosophy and morality.
And in doing so they will totally lose the messaging about autism.
Is it allowed to say damn here?
Dunno, but I will.
And that is one kind of thing among several which has me having the attitude of, Damn I hate politics, and at an existential, foundational, and fundamental, level absolutely loathe politics.
But that same damned politics is how practices and policies, and hopefully, public knowledge, gets changed for the better.
I will have to go look up the correct definition but for some reason that thought now brings to mind the phrase “Faustian Bargain”.
(Full disclosure: the business meetings for model train club and for a historical society are sadistic tortures from the depths of hell, Good God people, why are you absolutely and totally incapable of simply seeing what needs to be done and going and doing it?)
You think that’s bad, Scott? Well, I jest not, but in my student days I once sat through a society committee meeting (I shan’t name the committee … but it was at the world’s finest university) which went on a 45-minute diversion while members argued heatedly about the correct plural of “agenda” … until it was finally pointed out that “agenda” is already a plural, the singular form being “agendum” (it’s a Latin gerundive of obligation and means, literally, “those things which have to be done” … )
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Thank you for this insightful review of We’re Not Broken. Eric Garcia’s perspective on reframing the autism conversation is so necessary and thought-provoking. It’s refreshing to see an emphasis on embracing neurodiversity and challenging harmful stereotypes. I appreciate how the review highlights Garcia’s call for a more inclusive, compassionate approach to understanding autism, one that focuses on acceptance rather than ‘fixing’ individuals. I’m definitely adding this book to my reading list—it sounds like an important resource for anyone wanting to better understand autism and its complexities notre dame rudy jacket
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