Inclusion and Autism : Neurodiverse Autistic First-person Accounts

This book is a compilation of the collective voices of autistic people and is a fertile ground to understand inclusion and the enigma of the autism spectrum from the neurodiverse lens. The book brings forth first-person accounts of autistic adults and unravels various facts about the people with autism spectrum disorder. It offers a fresh outlook on autistic adults, reflecting on inclusion, their challenges, and strengths, and presents crucial elements for a successful inclusive model and lays the foundation of a robust and effective support delivery that reinforces the inclusion of autistic people in society. Through a range of neurodiverse voices, the book presents the world the challenges and strengths of autistic people and their unique perspectives. It offers valuable insights for future directions and strategic effective pathways. Each chapter brings forth various perspectives by autistic adults and stresses the need for a neuro-diverse lens and strength focus support for manifestation and nurturance of the best potentialities of autistic people enhancing their quality of life, increasing their inclusion and resulting in a mutually positive experiences collectively in an inclusive way.

Inclusive and incisive in its making, this book would be useful to the departments of Special Education, Psychology and Applied Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Health Science, Diversity and Equity, Neurodiversity and Public Health. It would also be an invaluable companion to special educators, in-service and prospective teachers, policymakers, parents, professionals from government and nongovernment organizations, and researchers in the field of disability, diversity, and equity from around the world.

Santoshi Halder is a professor at the Department of Education, University of Calcutta, India. She is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BACB, USA) and is a Special Educator Licensure (Rehabilitation Council of India, RCI). She has been actively involved internationally and nationally in multifarious ways for the inclusion of people with diversities primarily through various academic and research endeavours since 2000.

Tim Goldstein is a global trainer for a major tech company, a neurodiverse communications specialist, and an emotional speaking vocal coach and is on the board of the Autism Society of America, USA. He trains all employees, neurotypical and neurodistinct, on how each other functions and the strategies to communicate. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s at 54.

David Caudel is the associate director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee, USA. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2009, Caudel is a neurodivergence advocate, speaking to a variety of organizations, including the UN and autism conferences internationally.