Growing in to Autism

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Again, I will not tell you his story as it is not mine to tell – other than to say that he has grown into an equally wonderful young man. I didn’t seek a formal diagnosis because I couldn’t see how it would be beneficial; I was too old for any kind of intervention or support.

I think I would have been much kinder to myself if I had understood that many of my differences and challenges were due to my neurotype and not due to some fundamental character flaw or to not trying hard enough or being good enough.

Thom-Jones’ husband often provides interpretations of non-Autistic perspectives to situations which she finds perplexing. When asked “what’s it like to be autistic” she replies that is equivalent to being asked what’s it like to be me. I think there will be a lot of people who feel way more confident seeking assessment as a result of reading it.

It was even longer before I began to accept that perhaps the many similarities between my own and my sons’ thoughts, behaviours and challenges were due to a shared neurotype rather than just shared genes.I was concerned about doing it this way because I didn’t want to pathologise autism, or support a medical model that reduces autistic people to a series of “symptoms”. This book is for everyone especially those wanting a comprehensive understanding of Autism or for those experiencing it. And that’s honestly what makes it so compelling as a book too, the fact that it isn’t a scientific analysis, it’s an experience. From the outside looking in, Sandra Thom-Jones was living a successful life- she had a great career, a beautiful home, a caring husband, two loving sons and supportive friends.