A Life Lived Well as a Non-binary and Autistic Mental Health Advocate: Finding a Place of Hope (Disability Studies)

What might it look like for an Autistic, non-binary person who lives with mental illness to live well and with hope?

In this book, author and advocate Yenn Purkis reflects on their experiences of life as an Autistic non-binary person who has a diagnosis of atypical schizophrenia. Exploring the intersecting areas of mental health and illness, neurodivergence and neurodiversity, and gender non-conformity, the narrative follows Yenn through experiences of incarceration, psychosis, employment, therapy both helpful and not, medication, diagnosis, stigma and anxiety.

Illuminating reading for students of disability studies, Autism studies, queer studies, and related social sciences, this book will also bring important perspective to those in practice and in training: doctors, psychiatrists, policy makers, teachers, and social workers. Yenn will describe a life well-lived, with and alongside Autism and mental illness, that will provide a vital perspective to anyone studying or working people who share these social identities.

Yenn Purkis (they/them) is an author, public servant and passionate advocate for Autistic people and their families. Living with diagnoses of Autism, ADHD and atypical schizophrenia, Yenn is a frequent speaker on the topic of mental health, and facilitates a support group for Autistic women and non-binary people. They have a number of awards for their work, including the 2016 ACT Volunteer of the Year and the 2019 ACT Chief Minister's Inclusion Award.

Dr Damian Mellifont is a neurodivergent researcher who leads and contributes to studies that advance the economic and social inclusion of people with disability. Damian is a member of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy (CDRP) leadership team at The University of Sydney and head of the Lived Experience Research Lab. Damian has been an active member of the Centre over the last 5 years, with extensive prior experience in government policy analysis and evaluation. Damian strongly advocates for the disability inclusion mantra of, 'Nothing About Us Without Us' to be consistently applied to research about disability.

Dr Jen Smith-Merry is Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney, Australia. The Centre for Disability Research and Policy produces collaborative research that actively influences policy and practice to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia and the Asia-Pacific and create a better life for people with disability around the world. Jen strongly believes that academic research, policy and service design should be led by people with disability. Jen has published over 100 academic and policy papers and policy focused research has led to significant structural reforms for disability policy in Australia.