Book SummaryWe're Not Broken, by Eric Garcia

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of We're Not Broken

Challenges for Autistic Individuals in Education, Jobs, and Daily Living

This section of the book focuses on the day-to-day challenges that autistic individuals encounter in different areas of their lives. Garcia emphasizes that while autistic individuals have much to contribute to society, systems like education and employment are often not set up to meet their needs. This can lead to autistic individuals struggling in school, being unable to find or keep jobs, and facing difficulties with independent living.

Navigating Academic Accommodations and Assistance

This subsection of the book focuses on the difficulties autistic students experience in accessing and using academic accommodations. Garcia argues that while accommodations are essential for autistic students to succeed, they are often misunderstood and mistrusted by both faculty and autistic students themselves.

Autistic Students Face Distrust and Frustration As Faculty Misunderstand Their Accommodation Needs

Garcia emphasizes that autistic students often encounter misunderstanding from educators and faculty when it comes to accommodations. Many faculty members view accommodations with skepticism, seeing them as special treatment or an unfair advantage for autistic learners. This can create an atmosphere of skepticism, making autistic students hesitant to disclose their needs and request supports. This hesitation can compound academic challenges, as autistic students have to manage inaccessible environments without the assistance they are entitled to.

The author shares personal anecdotes and examples from other autistic people to illustrate the frustration and challenges of seeking accommodations. He describes his own experiences at Chaffey College and UNC, where he initially felt guilty about asking for accommodations, fearing that it would make his achievements seem less valid. Garcia also includes examples from other autistic students, like Timotheus Gordon and M. Remi Yergeau, who faced similar anxieties and pushback from faculty. This consistent theme of distrust underscores the urgent need for widespread training and education for educators across all levels to ensure autistic students can access accommodations without fear of judgment or disbelief.

Context

• Most colleges and universities have disability services offices that facilitate accommodations, but the effectiveness of these services can vary widely between institutions.
• In many cultures, there is a strong emphasis on independence and self-sufficiency, which can make asking for help feel like a personal failure or weakness.
• Autistic students may struggle with the decision to disclose their diagnosis due to fear of discrimination or negative judgment, impacting their ability to receive necessary support.

Other Perspectives

• Faculty members may believe that accommodations are meant to level the playing field, not provide an unfair advantage, ensuring that all students have equal access to education.
• Some educators might believe that strict adherence to standard procedures is necessary to maintain academic integrity, which could explain their hesitation to provide accommodations without thorough justification.
• In certain cases, the process of seeking and receiving accommodations could inadvertently lead to a sense of dependency, which might affect the student's self-efficacy and motivation to tackle academic challenges without support.
• There is a risk that mandatory training could be met with resistance from educators who might feel their professional autonomy is being undermined, which could lead to less engagement with the training content and its application in the classroom.

Inclusive Academics Aid the Success of Autistic Individuals

Garcia highlights programs and approaches that successfully assist autistic students within existing academic frameworks. When faculty are willing to work with students and understand their needs, it creates a more positive atmosphere for autistic students to learn. Garcia uses Marshall University's Autism Training Center as an example of an institution proactively supporting autistic students by educating faculty and staff about their needs.

The author emphasizes that supporting autistic students' success requires acknowledging that their needs often stem from challenges with cognitive management, which can make tasks like time management, organization, and task initiation difficult. By educating the educators and administrators about these challenges, institutions can create a more compassionate and considerate academic environment.

Other Perspectives

• The success of programs mentioned by Garcia could be contingent on factors such as funding, expertise, and community support, which may not be present in all institutions, potentially limiting the scalability of such approaches.
• Faculty understanding and willingness alone may not be sufficient to create a positive learning atmosphere; appropriate resources and institutional support are also necessary.
• While Marshall University's Autism Training Center's initiative to educate faculty and staff is commendable, it may not be sufficient if the training does not translate into practical changes in classroom strategies and accommodations.
• Educating educators and administrators is beneficial, but it also requires their willingness to change and adapt their teaching methods, which may not always occur.

Accommodation Quality and Support Services Vary by Institution and Location

Garcia stresses that the quality and availability of accommodations and support services can vary tremendously based on location. While some programs, like Marshall's, provide comprehensive aid—including assistance with daily skills such as managing time and navigating social interactions on campus—these programs often come with an extra cost, rendering them inaccessible for many students.

Garcia contrasts Marshall's...

We're Not Broken Summary Healthcare and Mental Health for Autistic People

This section delves into the significant challenges faced by autistic individuals when accessing healthcare and mental health services. Garcia emphasizes the urgent need for healthcare providers to improve their understanding of the specific requirements of autistic patients.

Navigating a Medical System Unprepared to Understand Autism

Garcia examines how the healthcare system often fails to meet the requirements of autistic individuals, highlighting a continued lack of understanding and systemic biases within medical institutions. He highlights the unique challenges autistic patients face during routine appointments and procedures, which can result in painful or traumatic experiences. The writer uses personal narratives, including Lydia Wayman's harrowing journey through misdiagnosis, dismissed symptoms, and institutionalization, to personalize this breakdown in healthcare.

Autistic Patients Face Dismissal, Misdiagnosis, and Inadequate Assistance in Healthcare

Garcia contends that autistic individuals often encounter ignorance and a lack of empathy from healthcare providers. He argues that people with autism, especially those with communication or behavioral...

We're Not Broken Summary Relationships, Intimacy, and Family for Autistic Individuals

This section examines the often-overlooked area of the social and emotional lives of autistic individuals, particularly in relationships and family dynamics. The author challenges harmful stereotypes about people with autism and their ability to form and maintain fulfilling, compassionate relationships.

Navigating Romantic Relationships and Dating

Garcia debunks pervasive myths about people on the autism spectrum and their capacity for intimacy and relationships. He uses compelling counter-examples from autistics who have successfully navigated romantic relationships, married, and raised families to challenge the belief that people with autism can't form meaningful connections. His own anxieties with dating illustrate how challenging disclosing his autism is while exploring universal relationship fears.

Myths About Autistic Individuals' Intimacy and Ability to Consent

Garcia criticizes the harmful stereotypes surrounding autistic individuals and their capacity for understanding intimacy, consent, and healthy relationships. He explicitly refutes misconceptions surrounding autistic individuals' capacity for love, sexuality, and emotional connection, arguing that these...

We're Not Broken Summary History, Evolution, and Diversity of the Autistic Experience

This section explores the historical context of how people have perceived and diagnosed autism, with Garcia arguing that society's conception of autism has evolved significantly, and continues to evolve, shaping autistic individuals' experiences.

The Shifting Definitions and Public Perceptions of Autism

Garcia argues that the diagnosis and comprehension of autism has changed radically over time, but despite that shift, misconceptions and negative stereotypes still exist.

Early Models Blamed Parents for Making Children Autistic, Resulting in Harmful "Treatments"

Garcia criticizes outdated theories that blamed parents for their kids' autism, highlighting the lasting damage these misconceptions inflicted on families. He highlights the "refrigerator mother" theory, which incorrectly attributed autism to an absence of maternal warmth, leading to harmful interventions and a pervasive sense of guilt and blame for parents.

The author examines how these early, flawed models of understanding autism shaped subsequent treatment approaches, often resulting in punitive and abusive practices aimed at "curing" or suppressing autism-related behaviors. He provides examples of the...

We're Not Broken Summary Advocacy, Accommodations, and Supportive Environments for Those With Autism

Garcia argues that true progress for autistic people requires a multi-pronged approach, encompassing advocacy, legal protections, and a societal shift toward embracing neurodiversity.

Policy and Legal Protections

Garcia underscores the importance of policy-driven change and legal protections to safeguard the rights and dignity of people with autism. He argues that systemic changes are essential to create a truly inclusive and accessible society.

Legislation Expanding Rights for Autistic People

Garcia discusses important laws, such as the ADA, that have expanded the rights and opportunities for those with autism. He highlights the law's significant impact on ensuring access to education, job opportunities, and public spaces, creating a framework for greater participation in society. However, the author also emphasizes that progress is incomplete, and continued efforts are necessary to address both the persistent inequalities and new challenges.

Context

• The concept of reasonable accommodations is central to the ADA, requiring changes that do not impose an undue hardship on the operation of a business or organization, balancing the needs of individuals with...