I am a few days late for National Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd) but April also is Autism Awareness Month. We always talk about diversity in the sense of race or gender, right? To me, diversity is this HUGE umbrella of terms that identifies and acknowledges your differences or uniqueness. And this is something I will be sharing and celebrating in this space. Some of the best stories are the ones that allow you to walk in someone else’s shoes and plant those seeds of empathy which then grows compassion for others. With that, some of my favorite stories feature characters on the spectrum.
A few themes that jump out at me within the literature with characters on the spectrum are –
- Family values
- Inclusion and acceptance of their differences
- Giving us a glimpse into how they may process the world through a different lens
- Problem-solving
- Personal growth and acceptance
Whenever I’m reading these stories, I just can’t help but be fed with love and encouragement. As a parent, these stories remind me how important it is to teach and encourage kindness to all, no matter how different someone may speak or act. That individual is still worthy of space, understanding, and acceptance. And heck maybe it’s the world that needs to do some adjusting and try to see life through a more colorful lens.
Here are a few books that I’ve read that have Autistic characters or characters on the spectrum.
For more resources, info, and assistance on Autism, check out www.autismspeaks.org. Here you can search for ways to donate, fundraise and partner to spread the knowledge and positivity of Autism.
Thanks so much for swinging by. Hopefully, you found some encouragement to look outside your comfort zone and find some joy in the uniqueness of others. Remember to share kindness with all! As always, Happy Reading!
Book Reviews & ARC’s
Firstly, I want to say thank you for considering me for your book reviewers; I am super excited. I love to read and encourage adult readers to take the leap, pick up a book, slap on a pair of headphones, and listen to an audiobook. While I love reviewing ARCs and books from authors, I want to provide guidelines and answer frequently asked questions on our process.
See HERE for further ARC requests