Nobody Nowhere

About a year ago I read an amazing book titled “Nobody Nowhere” by Donna Williams. She is a woman with autism who in this book relates her experiences beginning from her childhood. It is an amazing book and I would recommend it to anyone. It’s a little gritty in parts, but isn’t that just life? The thing that I found most amazing about this book is that it gave me a description written first person by a woman with autism about her experiences, some of which I could see in some of the children I’ve worked with…and it gave me pause. Although all people with autism are different just like any other person, some of her recountings were familiar just as recountings of my life may remind you of experiences you’ve had in yours.

It is vitally important that people who claim to be part of the autism community stop waxing and waning about how much they understand about autism without listening to the stories of people with autism. Just by being around a person with autism doesn’t mean that you understand what is happening inside of them. The most important first step in getting to know a person with autism is to open your ears, close your mouth and listen.

Today I found Donna Williams’ blog and thought I would share it here. Visit her site and just listen, you may learn a thing or two. And with those children, young adults and adults with autism who bless your lives, don’t forget to listen and really hear what they’re saying.

Donna’s Blog