"The nature of autism. In defense of neurological diversity".

1. "The nature of autism. In defense of neurological diversity".

2. Book details • published in September 2018 • mostly about neurodiversity and alternative, positive views and theories about autism • Also a little about myself and how I relate to these subjects with my life experience. • 464 pages • print-run 1000 books (first edition)

3. Book details • has black-white pictures • Quite a best-seller in Estonia (has been in top sale lists of both largest bookstore-chains in Estonia for some weeks) • Only in Estonian • On the back cover, there are two recommendations: the first one by a popular Estonian author Valdur Mikita (his PhD thesis was about creativity in semiotics and psychology), the second one by the most well known educator of autistic parents in Estonia and chairwoman of Põhja-Eesti Autismiliit Ivica Mägi.

4. What seems valuable to me in the book? • some probably relatively new ways of connecting and presenting neurodiversity-related information • questioning the accepted truths and norms of the social landscape and turning them upside down in a creative manner, turning attention to the relativity of everyday descriptions and ideas about neurological differences and mental health in general • consistent focus on positive, empowering viewpoints

5. Some of the book topics: • the “Intense world” theory • the myth of empathy-lacking • the viewpoint of autism as disability of trust • critique of the ABA-method • the situation in the Estonian “special welfare” institutions • the concept of niche construction and some possibilities for that • partial overlappings of autism descriptions with other psychiatric descriptions and theories, also popular introversion theories, e.g Elaine Aron’s HSP-theory • the role of autism in cultural history • the role and relation of traumatic experiences with autism

6. Languages and cultures • Estonian-Finnish "bridge" in that there are also many quotations from Martti Lindquist "Auttajan varjo" in my book. Many of my thoughts, especially in the more personal epilogue, are wound around LIndquists quotes. The book has a quotation of Heta Pukki (and her picture) • There are parts that probably are already translated into Finnish and that exist in English - for example Jim Sinclair's "Don't mourn for us" that I translated into Estonian for this book. • some parts that are mainly about Estonia - including quotations from Estonian articles etc. • There are some oriental associations and thoughts from Buddhism, advaita-vedanta, Eckhart Tolle etc that are due to my interest of spirituality and mindfulness

7. Where to buy? • Publisher’s site: https://pilgrim.ee/autismi-olemus.html • Me (20 euros)

8. The Estonian Association of Aspergers • The Estonian Association of Aspergers (hereinafter EAA, founded 2014) is a nation-wide self-advocacy association, representing people on autistic spectrum (this includes people without an official autism or Asperger’s diagnosis that identify themselves as autistic). It is a politically and religiously independent, non-governmental and non-profit organization that acts in the public interest and charity purposes.

9. Main objectives ot EAA: • to facilitate networking and to create opportunities for social interaction for AS people through peer groups and other social events, • to represent the interests of AS people in public discussions to improve their quality of life in Estonia, • to raise general awareness about AS-related issues and to reduce public prejudices, stigmatization, and violations of human rights of AS-related neurominorities, • to introduce and spread information about the concept of neurodiversity in Estonia, • to improve the coping capacity and quality of both private and professional life of people with ASD.