Autism is misunderstood. The ‘We’re Not Broken’ author becomes a self-advocate to change that.
By Matt Villano, CNN
Write about what you know. That’s why Eric Garcia wrote his 2021 book, “We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.”
As an autistic individual reporting on politics as senior Washington correspondent for The Independent, the 31-year-old Garcia had grown frustrated about the lack of understanding of autism as a disorder and some of the stereotypes of people “on the spectrum.”
He set out to humanize autism by explaining its history, cataloging the lack of support for neurodivergent individuals and spotlighting autistic people of all kinds.
Garcia spotlights what it’s like to be autistic and presents a strong statement for self-advocacy, a growing movement among autistic individuals to articulate their own needs instead of having neurotypical people speak for them.
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and CNN recently talked with Garcia about the current state of the autism community and how society can become even more inclusive.
Ziyaad Douglas/Gallo Images/Getty Images A group marches this month in Cape Town
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
CNN: What’s it like being autistic?
Eric Garcia: I was diagnosed when I was 8 or 9, so autism has been part of my identity for most of my life. I don’t know if it makes me better or worse at my job. It makes me a different journalist. I am a bag of nerves when it comes to getting ready to pick up the phone and call someone. It’s terrifying. (The) whole idea of calling someone on the phone terrifies me. At other times, being in a situation where I’m covering a rally — being in a loud situation — sometimes it can be overwhelming from a sensory perspective. I don’t drive, so that’s an impediment.
At the same time, I think that just in the same way that it might be sensory hell for me to interview someone because I can’t read their facial expressions, because I’m autistic I can tell when someone is lying or not being straight up with me. I am more inclined to ask follow-up questions until I get the (truth). I don’t think I would be able to focus as intensely on my beat or on special interests if I weren’t autistic. I also don’t think I would put all the care and focus and research that I do into each piece if I weren’t autistic.
There are certainly impediments that autism creates for me. I don’t want to erase them. Autism is a disability that comes with impairments. I think neurotypical people have certain impairments they need to overcome, too: politeness, wanting to be liked, things like that. I don’t think I would be the same journalist I am today if I weren’t autistic.
CNN: Why did you write a book about autism? Garcia: The book was a response to an experience I had in 2015. I was at a party, and someone asked me if I wanted a drink. I said I didn’t drink because I’m on the autism spectrum and I take a drug that can’t mix with alcohol. Someone said I should write about it. I started thinking about autism at the time. Back then, people said vaccines were causing autism. About a year later, Donald Trump was saying it, and a lot of people believed what he said. Elsewhere in politics, there were just bad policies about autism. The overarching premises were to avoid autism and to avoid autistic people instead of making things easier for everyone. I had to do my part to change it and set the record straight.
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