Unmasking Autism

Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, giving individuals the tools to safely uncover their true selves while broadening society’s narrow understanding of neurodiversity

“A remarkable work that will stand at the forefront of the neurodiversity movement.”—Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP, author of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism

For every visibly Autistic person you meet, there are countless “masked” Autistic people who pass as neurotypical. Masking is a common coping mechanism in which Autistic people hide their identifiably Autistic traits in order to fit in with societal norms, adopting a superficial personality at the expense of their mental health. This can include suppressing harmless stims, papering over communication challenges by presenting as unassuming and mild-mannered, and forcing themselves into situations that cause severe anxiety, all so they aren’t seen as needy or “odd.”
 
In Unmasking Autism, Dr. Devon Price shares his personal experience with masking and blends history, social science research, prescriptions, and personal profiles to tell a story of neurodivergence that has thus far been dominated by those on the outside looking in. For Dr. Price and many others, Autism is a deep source of uniqueness and beauty. Unfortunately, living in a neurotypical world means it can also be a source of incredible alienation and pain. Most masked Autistic individuals struggle for decades before discovering who they truly are. They are also more likely to be marginalized in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and other factors, which contributes to their suffering and invisibility. Dr. Price lays the groundwork for unmasking and offers exercises that encourage self-expression, including:

• Celebrating special interests
• Cultivating Autistic relationships
• Reframing Autistic stereotypes
• And rediscovering your values

It’s time to honor the needs, diversity, and unique strengths of Autistic people so that they no longer have to mask—and it’s time for greater public acceptance and accommodation of difference. In embracing neurodiversity, we can all reap the rewards of nonconformity and learn to live authentically, Autistic and neurotypical people alike.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of exercises, tables, lists, and a graph from the book

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Unmasking Autism is at once a most deeply personal and scholarly account of the damage caused by autistic (and all) people leading masked lives, and how unmasking is essential to creating a self-determined, authentic life. It provides a unique and revealing perspective on the sensory and social-cognitive experience of autism. It provides practical guidance and exercises for neurodivergent people to learn to be comfortable in their own skin and dramatically change their own lives, and it details the necessary changes that society needs to make to honor neurodiversity. This is a remarkable work that will stand at the forefront of the neurodiversity movement.”—Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP, Visiting Scholar, Brown University, author of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism

“Reading this felt like being at home—I didn’t realize how much I masked. What an incredible book that I know will be re-read many times over.”—Dr. Camilla Pang, author of An Outsider’s Guide to Humans

“Price’s accessible and compassionate writing shines, and readers will feel encouraged to embrace a new understanding of themselves. Its potential to help masked autistic adults, especially those from systemically marginalized backgrounds, makes this book essential for most collections.”—Library Journal, starred review

Eye opener

As someone who’s recently started to suspect I’m on the spectrum, this book is a godsend. It helped me reflect on my own experiences as someone who has struggled my entire life to fit in a neurotypical world.

Even if it turns out I’m not on the spectrum, this book breaks down the harmful stereotypes of autists. It made me review my own knowledge of what autist really means.

If all else, I hope from now on I will be more compassionate to the difficulties of my peers.

Uncomfortably bearable

Hard to finish, victimizing mindset. Not all Autistic people are disabled victims. Categorizing being black as the same as being Autistic or Trans is insulting and tone deaf.

A must read for autistics and those that love them.

This book helped me immensely after recently self-diagnosing at 45 and dealing with ALL the emotions. I didn’t even know what autism actually was, but now I feel empowered to advocate for myself and not hide the real me that I didn’t even know I was hiding. Really, this is a wonderful book. It’s easy to follow and actually retain the information. Chapter 7 hit me hard. But after finishing the book, I’m now excited to embrace my autism and find my tribe.

Educational and validating

I appreciate that this book was easy to follow along with and understand. It helped me better understand Autism and that it’s okay to have different needs and accommodations.

Informational, supportive, tool to open better dialog

Clear information and ideas, while Incorporating data with personal experience was helpful. Lots of examples and support for anyone seeking resources. Well done!