In this imaginative book, four-year-old Elias depicts his experiences growing up in a neurodiverse family. Elias’ story is accompanied by his Mummy Joanna’s commentary where she explores parenting across the neurodivide. A valuable, often humorous resource for all people seeking to explain and understand difference, regardless of age.
In this imaginative, authentic book, four-year-old Elias depicts his experiences growing up in a neurodiverse family, with his autistic Mummy and brother and non-autistic Daddy.
Using bright and colourful drawings, Elias thinks about what it means to have different kinds of brains and shares his encounters of the differences between his parents on a day-to-day basis. Elias’s story is accompanied by his Mummy Joanna’s commentary, where she explores parenting across the neurodivide and how we can promote understanding of difference.
Key features include:
- A foreword by neurodiversity advocate, author and former teacher, Chris Bonnello
- A unique exploration of the Double Empathy Problem, emphasising that the difficulty is difference without understanding, not the type of brain
- Bright, engaging pictures perfect for inspiring conversations about neurodiversity and family dynamics between people of all ages
- An insight into different neurotypes and how understanding changes with knowledge, as perceived by a young child
- Accompanying explanatory text that expands on themes in the story
My Daddy is Not Autistic (But My Mummy is) provides a unique perspective on growing up in a neurodiverse household and is a valuable, often humorous and joyful resource for all people seeking to explain and understand difference, regardless of age.
Arvustused
"The more Ive worked with children neurotypical, autistic or otherwise the more Ive come to value how important it is to enable people to use their own voices from an early age. This book is full of the small things that Elias has noticed about his family, and he uses them very well to present pictures (quite literally) about what life is like with family members who see the world differently. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did, and as much as it deserves to be enjoyed."
Chris Bonnello, neurodiversity advocate, former teacher and author of Autistic Not Weird
Foreword
My Daddy is Not Autistic (But My Mummy is)
Notes from Mummy
Elias Grace is a skimmer of stones (bounce record 12), a dancer of dances, wearer of rainbows and, most of all, a haver of fun and a befriender of all. He can do a wheelie on his scooter at the skatepark where the big children call him bro. He once built a car track out of the bedroom window down into the garden. He is vibrant, loud, full of energy and instantly kind.
Joanna Grace is the founder of The Sensory Projects and works as a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist. She has been a special school teacher, a foster carer and a support worker for people with disabilities and neurological differences. She grew up on a boat at sea and now lives in rural Cornwall, close to the ocean that she loves. Joanna is autistic.
