Each year, World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on April 2. Our society’s understanding of autism is changing over time, with a shift toward people with autism speaking with their own voices and advocating for their own rights.
The concept of neurodiversity is often used to describe a viewpoint that regards people with autism as having a different way of thinking and interacting with the world, which may be unfamiliar to neurotypical people.
Here are some recommended titles from the YPRL catalogue, ranging from children’s picture books to history and memoir, which can open a window into this complex condition.
Pablo Series
Pablo Picks His Shoes by Rosie King, 2020
Goodnight Pablo by Andrew Brenner, 2020
Pablo’s Feelings by Sumita Majumdar, 2020
Pablo and the Noisy Party by Andrew Brenner, 2020
Based on the BBC TV series, these picture books are written by members of the show's all-autistic writing and voice cast. Follow Pablo and his friends the Book Animals in a series that has been praised for its authentic depiction of an autistic child's viewpoint.
Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer, 2013
This fast-paced thriller stars Patrick Fort, a medical student with Asperger's syndrome. His ability to see the world differently leads him to discover clues to a crime that nobody else believes has taken place. Mystery fans have highlighted this novel as one that offers a well-researched view of Asperger's syndrome.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, 2010
A teen coming-of-age story with a neurodiversity twist. Marcelo thinks differently to other people, and has spent most of his life attending a special school where his differences are respected. Now he must take his first steps into the 'real world' and learn new lessons about life and love. Marcelo in the Real World is available in print, Audiobook and eBook formats.
NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman, 2016
A comprehensive history of autism as a concept, stretching from the first diagnosis to the current day. This far-reaching book includes many confronting accounts of how autistic people have been mistreated by the psychological establishment, but also offers hope for a future in which neurodiverse people are celebrated for their unique strengths.
Raising Cubby: A Father and Son's Adventures with Asperger's, Trains, Tractors, and High Explosives by John Elder Robison, 2013
A memoir about fatherhood and Asperger's Syndrome. John Elder Robison was diagnosed with Asperger's in his late 40s. In this funny and touching memoir he relates how his condition affected his relationship with his son. When Cubby begins to show signs of being on the spectrum himself, his obsession with chemistry leads him to an explosive run-in with the law and a trial that will test the strength of the father-son bond to its limits.
Sensitive Santa
YPRL runs a Sensitive Santa program each year, to give neurodivergent children and their families an opportunity to meet Santa in a quiet, non-stressful setting, rather than the typical noisy shopping centres which can cause sensory overload. Families get to spend a much longer time with Santa, who engages with the child on their own terms while expert photographers take plenty of pictures. Places are always limited, so watch out for this program later in the year.