The word “autism” needs a rebranding. Society tends to talk about autism using language of deficit and disorder. Clain Udy, founder and president of Autism Elevated, is working on reshaping how autism is perceived and encouraging us to view autism through a strengths-based lens.
As the father of an autistic adult son, Clain went from initially thinking he had to “fix” his autistic son to wholeheartedly embracing his son’s beautifully unique strengths. His new book, which I had a chance to review, Rebranding Autism: A Guide to Seeing Strength on the Spectrum, is both a memoir and a practical guide to dismantle the current assumptions and mindset around autism, and empower parents, educators, and employers to recognize and nurture the inherent abilities of autistic individuals.
First of all, a note - autism is a spectrum, so obviously not all experiences are alike. But it is definitely something more people need to be aware of. While we were having our own daughter evaluated, and after she received the autism diagnosis, we heard things like "she's too verbal to be autistic" and "but she's so creative" as well as a lot of other comments that showed the experiences and perceptions people have of what autism means.
This book is clearly written from one viewpoint - a well-researched viewpoint, but that of a father who learned to embrace his son's traits. I love the idea of seeing autism as a strength - we've always encouraged it in our own daughter. She doesn't shy away from the word autistic. Instead, it gave her a framework to recognize what she needed, an explanation for some of her struggles, and a recognition of some of her unique talents that are enhanced by the way her brain works.
This book was part memoir, part tips. It's important to remember that every autistic person is different, but learning more about the strengths that autism can bring is helpful for anyone who works with neurodivergent students or adults - teachers, employers, parents, and pretty much everyone.
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