Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity

As parents who just stepped onto this rollercoaster ride of having a newly diagnosed kiddo on the spectrum, this book has been a godsend. It's like having a conversation with those a step or two ahead on the same journey, giving us the real lowdown about what to expect, and not from a clinical standpoint, but straight from the horse's mouth—people on the spectrum, themselves.The letters and stories in this book pull back the curtain on the lived experiences of autistic individuals, offering insights that we never would've come across in your standard-issue pamphlet from the pediatrician's office. It's packed with honesty—some stories tug at the heartstrings, others hit you with the hard truths, and some even sprinkle in a bit of humor. And let me tell you, humor becomes a precious commodity when you're knee-deep in figuring out IEPs, therapies, and all the emotions that tag along with an autism diagnosis.If you're looking for clinical jargon and cold, hard facts, this isn't it. But if you want to know what's going on in the minds of autistic kids as they grow up, the battles they fight, the victories they savor, and the world as they experience it, then you've got to read this book. It opens up perspectives on acceptance, identity, and the idea that being different isn't a drawback—it's a superpower if embraced and understood.And acceptance? That's the big one. This book isn't about “fixing” our kids; it's about understanding them and reshaping our own perspectives to uplift and support their unique selves. It’s about learning to champion their differences, not stifle them.Reading this book felt like having a long, heartfelt chat with friends who get it—friends who tell you what you need to hear, not necessarily what you want to hear. The kind of friends who remind you that this journey, while tough, is also filled with moments of joy, pride, and unparalleled love.So, to any parent out there facing a new autism diagnosis for their child, grab a copy of "Sincerely, Your Autistic Child." Sit down with it when the house is quiet, the kids are asleep, and let these voices help guide you towards a better understanding of your little one's world. It's an eye-opener and a companion wrapped into one. And isn't that what we all need when facing the beautiful, intricate puzzle that is autism?

Very glad for this second edition from the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network -- new title and intentional broadening from "girls and women" to more inclusive representation of assigned-female-at-birth transwomen and non-binary people. While I initially didn't think the point of view from an autistic child to their parent(s) / caretaker(s) would be of much value to me as an adult, I have found the resources provided by the publishing non-profit to be very helpful and I am always interested in autistic voices! The authors / contributors reflect a variety of intersectional identities, which provide insights for those of us who are not in a specific space (e.g., race, generation, etc) and strong moments of "I FEEL SEEN!" where I read a similar experience or wish. There is one essay by an allistic person -- a parent of an autistic person -- which I'm sure helps to frame the content for parents / caretakers of autistic people and I found to be a pretty comfortable read (versus so much other "autism mom" content I've seen online).I recommend using the table of contents as a cue for what set of essays / which titles you would like to read -- I did not read cover-to-cover (skipped over the childhood ones) when I received the book, but chose titles which resonated for me in the moment. I've gone back to reread all of them, as the essays were all so excellent -- truly a difference to read / experience another autist's work.

Some reviewers have mentioned that this volume only has stories from Autistic girls and nonbinary people, but if you’re wondering how to support your Autistic son, don’t skip this book! First off, just because an issue arises most acutely for gender marginalized people (e.g. vulnerability to abuse) doesn’t mean it won’t affect boys, too. Your child’s experience will be unique to them, but starting with the perspectives in this book is very valuable.The other reason moms in particular need to read this is because Autism has a hereditary component and girls and women are frequently undiagnosed. YOU may find that the stories in this book are eerily familiar and give you a new perspective on your own life. Even if you yourself aren’t Autistic, the writers’ observations on the way disability and sexism interact also share helpful insights on sexism. While I would like to also at some point read similar stories from boys, the focus of this book allows both common themes and diversity of experience to emerge that would be lost in a volume where a few token girls or nonbinary people had to represent their entire group. It is a very helpful book to read.

I wish it also had male points of view, as I have son and the books is mainly listing the female experience. Next time please be all inclusive, the boy’s perspective could be very valuable for parents too.

Amy parent ,teacher ,or anyone who interacts with a child:teen:adult who is autistic should read this!

This is one of my new favorite books and it was really eye opening. It's a book full of letters from individuals with autism. Each person in this book wrote letters to their families, talking about what they wish their parents knew, what they wish they taught them and the things they did right.It also has individuals who talked about the silent resentment that they felt because they weren't the child their parents dreamed of (there were a lot of truly heart breaking sections in this book). It was extremely eye opening and motivated me more to push for acceptance. Not just from the world but in our own homes, because as one of the writers put it, acceptance starts at home.If you read one book this year, let it be this one. Your heart will break but you'll also learn more about what your child needs from you which is your love and acceptance