Based on detailed research and a lifetime of personal experience, James Wilson recounts his personal journey as the primary companion of his now twenty-six-year-old autistic son, Sam. This realistic, irreverent account of an autistic young man and his misadventures while transitioning to adulthood provides enlightening truths as well as sardonic humor. Formally seen as a neurological disorder, autism is increasingly being looked upon as simply a form of neurodiversity. Rejecting mainstream attitudes, Wilson explores this modern view of autism through his own experience as well as quotes from autistic people and bloggers, some of whom are the most vocal proponents of this viewpoint. A detailed bibliography accompanies this engaging memoir of a father and son’s experience negotiating the slippery slopes of normality.

James C. Wilson is a professor of English and journalism at the University of Cincinnati. This is his fifth book. He lives in West Chester, Ohio.

James C. Wilson
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 223
Bibliographic Info: notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3705-4
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8222-1
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

1. The Family Gangsta      5

2. Contesting Autism      12

3. Testing Neurodiversity      26

4. Why Is He Barking?      35

5. Sensory Overload      44

6. Meltdown      53

7. Friends and Lovers      61

8. Self-Injury      70

9. Weatherweenie      78

10. To Cure or Not to Cure      87

11. Things We Do      97

12. Family Relations      105

13. Communication Corporeal and Electronic      113

14. Cognition      122

15. Agoraphobia, or Don’t Call Us…      130

16. Too Crazy for the Psych Ward?      138

17. Medicalization      147

18. Institutionalization      157

19. Surf ’s Up      163

20. Representation Politics      171

21. Resentment      182

22. Community      188

23. Looking for Autism Pride Day      196

Sources      203

Bibliography      209

Index      211

• “Recommend[ed]”—Disability Studies Quarterly
• “A father’s riveting memoir of his autistic son…concerns raised by autism will engage readers’ interest enthrallingly…enriched greatly…very abundant wealth of information and insights”—metapsychology.mentalhelp.net