Anatomy of Autism

Anatomy of Autism: A Pocket Guide for Educators, Parents, and Students by Diego M. Peña is a short book written by a non-speaking nine year-old who uses AAC to communicate.

In this 25-page book, Diego explains his autism in his own words, including his sensory issues, apraxia, and struggles to get his body and motor system to do what he wants them to do.

Diego describes his experience using AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), emphasizing his desire to communicate and that his inability to speak should not be mistaken for a lack of intelligence.

He powerfully advocates for the right for everyone to have access to communication, no matter what method they need or prefer.

The back of the book contains more AAC resources (books, documentaries, and organizations), along with a helpful glossary defining some autism-related terms used.

More than anything, what I took away from this book are Diego's thoughts on disability justice and self-advocacy, which are impressively confident and well-stated for any nine year-old. As the back of the book notes, "Diego reminds us that the real autism experts are autistic themselves." (Extremely agreed!)