EVERYDAY ASPERGERS
Second Edition
A Journey
on the Autism Spectrum
Samantha Craft
Your Stories Matter
www.yourstoriesmatter.org
hello@yourstoriesmatter.org
Your Stories Matter is an imprint of Explainer HQ Ltd
of Halton Mill, Mill Lane, Lancaster, LA2 6ND, England.
Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
The author has tried to recreate events, locations, and conversations from her memories of them. In some instances, in order to maintain their anonymity, the author has changed the names of individuals and places. She may also have changed some identifying characteristics and details such as physical attributes, occupations, and places of residence.
The information provided in the book Everyday Aspergers is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a physician or other health care professional. The information in this book is not intended for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. It is not advisable to stop taking any medication without consulting a medical physician. Stopping psychiatric medications without medical supervision can be extremely dangerous.
A paperback copy of this book is also available,
containing photographs of artefacts from the authors life.
Copyright 2018 Marcelle Ciampi
ISBN 978-1-909320-56-7
All rights reserved by the publisher.
For Derek, Andrew and Brandon.
My greatest gifts.
There has never been another book like Everyday Aspergers. In prose that is alternatingly playful, witty, brave, heartbreaking, and encouraging, Samantha Craft explores her experience of life on the spectrum in meticulous and comprehensive detail. Many parts of the bookincluding 116 Reasons I Know I Have Aspergers Syndrome and her description of her journey to Planet Aspie and return to Earthare classic, stand-alone set pieces that rank with the very best writing from autistic self-advocates. This book is a gift for autistic people in general, for autistic women in specific, and for neurotypical readers who want to become more effective allies. By exploring her autism, Craft teaches us all how to be more compassionate and alive human beings.
Steve Silberman
author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
Everyday Aspergers is an unusual and powerful exploration of one womans marvelously lived life. Reminiscent of the best of Anne Lamott, Everyday Aspergers jumps back and forth in time through a series of interlocking vignettes that give insight and context to her lived experience as an autistic woman. The humor and light touch is disarming, because underneath light observations and quirky moments are buried deep truths about the human experience and about her own work as an autistic woman discerning how to live her best life. From learning how to make eye contact to finding ways to communicate her needs to being a dyslexic cheerleader and a fraught mother of also-autistic son, Samantha Craft gives us a marvelous spectrum of experiences. Highly recommended for everyone to read especially those who love people who are just a little different.
Ned Hayes
author of The Eagle Tree
The Encyclopedia of Aspergerswritten by someone who lives it every day. Funny, honest, touching, and real, Everyday Aspergers is a book that can be turned to again and againfor reference, support, and for reassurance. I recommend it highly.
Rachael Lucas
author of Sealed with a Kiss and Wildflower Bay
This book is stunning, beautifully written with a raw and arresting honesty that illuminates the details of living and being autistic/Aspie. Dip in and out or read right through, you will find something that resonates with you as being autistic is being human.
Emma Goodall, PhD
author of Understanding and Facilitating the Achievement of Autistic Potential and The Autism Spectrum Guide to Sexuality and Relationships and coauthor of The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism Spectrum
Everyday Aspergers is easy to read, accessible, and incredibly relatable. As an autistic woman myself, I found countless points of commonality with Crafts experiences and thoughts about life. The book is passionatea great work of advocacy, as well as an honest and heartfelt personal account of the authors life. The book presents a life lived with challenges but also with great strengths and quiet wisdom. Craft shatters a number of myths around things like autism and empathy, creativity and love. It was moving and meaningful on many levels. If you are on the autism spectrum yourself, or know, love, or care for someone who is, I strongly recommend this book. Thanks, Samantha Craft, for putting this good thing into the world.
Jeanette Purkis
autistic advocate, artist, and author of Finding a Different Kind of Normal and The Wonderful World of Work and coauthor of The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism Spectrum
Samantha Craft has put together a series of personal stories which offer an amazing insight for Aspergirls specifically. Her journey of acceptance, inclusion, and understanding of her own identity is inspirational and I will share this book with all of my clients on the spectrum. I am beyond impressed with her journey and her commitment to sharing her personal life with other people on the spectrum. Amazing work!
Frank Gaskill, PhD
author of the graphic novel Max Gamer contributing author to The Walking Dead Psychology and Star Wars Psychology: The Dark Side of the Mind and host of the Dr. G. Aspie Show
Everyday Aspergers, the new book, as much as the blog, is a valuable resource for anyone in any way touched by ASD, as well as an honest insight for anyone else into the workings of Samantha Crafts wonderfully poetic brain. To try and explain in what way her writings have improved my life, my marriage, and my relationship to friends and family would be to write a whole other book. She is a kind and incredibly insightful human being, whose experiences resonate with many people on the autism spectrum, male and female alike. I particularly appreciate her wonderfully elaborate Ten Traits (Females with Aspergers) list. Everyday Aspergers willno shimmer of doubt in my mindhelp generations of people in need of a familiar voice.
Jasmin Egner
autistic actress, autism and mental health advocate
Craft is a positive and professional strengths-based role model with many gifts. Her insightful story illuminates the multiple attributes Ive observed in the hundreds of females Ive assessed and diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The information is current and prolific. Her self-reflection, intelligence, humor, and faith are refreshing. This is one book that Ill be recommending in my what next sections with my clients. Everyday Aspergers will no doubt serve as a helpful resource to many.
Tania Marshall, MS
psychologist and gold-winning author of I Am AspienWoman and I Am AspienGirl
Everyday Aspergers is a fun, poignant series of snapshots into the mind of a wife, mother, educator-turned-therapist during the days she spent processing her own late diagnosis. Each vignette is a sweet morsel of insight and generosity of spirit as she lays raw her very personal journey. Finally something for families and especially women to read a day at a timeas it was writtenas they also take their own small steps to self-awareness and insight.
Dena L. Gassner
Director of the Center for Understanding, National Board Member Arc US and GRASP First edition published in 2016 by BookLogix
