Wired Our Own Way

A moving and insightful anthology of personal essays by Irish autistic adults. Wired Our Own Way: An Anthology of Irish Autistic Voices is the first collection of personal essays written by autistic Irish adults. One in twenty-seven Irish school children are now diagnosed as autistic, and autism is entering the general population’s consciousness much louder than it did in the past. As understanding about autism spreads, more and more adults are now finding out that they are autistic. This anthology shines a light on how important autism identification is, and how the label of ‘autism’ can enhance ones self-understanding and self-compassion. Throughout this collection of essays, the writers highlight how the lived-experience of autism varies drastically from one autistic person to another, and show that there is no one way to be autistic. From meltdowns to mental health, from being diagnosed in early childhood to being diagnosed in late adulthood, from cultural perceptions of autism to employment, the essays explore the huge range of diversity within the autistic Irish experience. Contributors include: Jen Wallace, Liam Coulson, Nuala O’Connor, Jane Cadman, Eric Crowley, James McClean, Roisin Riley, Fiacre Ryan, Justin Bakker, Naoise Dolan, Colm Brady, Freya von Noorden Pierce, Stefanie Preissner, Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, Emil E Osinski, Stuart Neilson, Caoimhe O’Gorman, Adam Harris, Priyangee Guha, Mike McGrath-Bryan, Aisling Walsh, Cliona Kelliher.