The Secrets of My Spectrum

Book excerpt: Part memoir and part guidebook to gaining a deeper understanding of the difficulties that many autistic individuals experience, The Secrets of My Spectrum offers a one-of-a-kind glimpse inside a world few people see. For years, sixteen-year-old Callum Knight struggled to navigate the world he lives in and meet social expectations before being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age thirteen. Wishing others could understand autism from his perspective, the teen shares his insights, perceptions, reactions, and experiences of being autistic as a child/teenager, from the triggers that lead to anxiety, meltdowns and shutdowns, to the ways he copes with stressful situations such as socialising, and communicating. With honesty and forthrightness, The Secrets of My Spectrum explores the challenges-and the great gifts-that come with being on the spectrum.