Concepts of Normality: The Autistic and Typical Spectrum

Counselor, social worker and psychologist Lawson draws on her extensive (and often wrenching) experience to analyze the mis-measurement of normalcy against reality, and to offer alternatives to making sure we all look and act exactly the same. She describes how Western society has developed images and concepts of normality based on politics and economics, how experience has developed concepts of the spectrum (autistic and typical), how the individual and family operate within society's concepts about what is normal, the role of language, the right to know our own minds, the links between autism and sexuality, the movement to increase inclusion and the impetus to go against the status quo. Contributors offer insights on the relativity of normalcy and on the mis-measure of autism as the basis of the current so-called autism "advocacy." Includes backup materials on normal emotions as a list of resources. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Wendy Lawson is a mother of four, who was originally diagnosed as being intellectually disabled, then in her teens as being schizophrenic, and finally in 1994, as having an autism spectrum disorder. She has been married, separated and divorced, has experienced the death of one of her teenage sons, gone through moving from one country to another, losing friends and status due to being openly gay, faced ill health and recently come to terms with the fact that she is aging! Her youngest son was diagnosed at the age of 12 as having Asperger's Syndrome. As a qualified counsellor, social worker and psychologist Wendy has operated her own private practice for many years.