Being Autistic - a guide to understanding yourself, written for autistic kids.
A fully illustrated graphic guide to autism, written directly for autistic children and young people. Clear, honest and full of colour, Being Autistic (And What That Actually Means) answers the question so many autistic kids carry quietly: what does being autistic actually mean for me?
Written straight to the reader in a warm, friendly voice with illustrations throughout, it covers sensory processing, emotions, strengths, challenges and identity. Readers come away understanding themselves better and with cool facts ready to share with the people around them.
- Explains what autism means in clear, jargon-free language written for the autistic reader
- Covers sensory seekers and avoiders and why sensory experiences feel so different for different people
- Explores why some things feel super easy and others take extra effort, without framing either as a problem
- Guides readers through understanding and navigating big feelings and small ones
- Celebrates what makes each autistic person totally unique
- Includes shareable facts for friends and family
- Fully illustrated throughout, making it accessible for visual learners and reluctant readers
Who it's for
Autistic children and teens. Written for the autistic reader directly. A guide to understanding yourself at your own pace, in your own words.
Parents and carers. Read it together or hand it over. A great starting point for conversations about identity, sensory needs and strengths.
Teachers and school counsellors. Ideal for classroom libraries, wellbeing collections and quiet reading corners. Works well individually or in small groups.
Friends and siblings. Packed with facts that help the people around an autistic child understand and celebrate them better.
About the author and illustrator
Niamh Garvey is the author of this accessible, identity-affirming guide. Her writing takes a neurodiversity-affirming approach, focusing on self-knowledge and understanding rather than framing autism as something to manage or overcome.
Rebecca Burgess is the illustrator. The fully illustrated graphic format makes this book uniquely accessible for visual learners and children who find long passages of text difficult to engage with.
How to use this book at home or at school
At home. Many families find this works well as a shared read, going through sections together as a starting point for conversations about sensory preferences, strengths and feelings. Others leave it somewhere accessible and let their child come to it in their own time.
At school. Wellbeing coordinators, classroom teachers and school counsellors use this book to help autistic students feel seen and to build understanding among their classmates. It works well individually and in small group settings.
In therapy. Occupational therapists and psychologists use illustrated books like this to introduce concepts such as sensory processing, emotional regulation and identity in a low-pressure, visually engaging way.
Book details
Author: Niamh Garvey
Illustrator: Rebecca Burgess
Format: Paperback
Type: Fully illustrated graphic guide
Topics: Autism, sensory processing, emotional regulation, neurodiversity, identity
Recommended age: 8+
NDIS
This product may be claimable under the NDIS depending on your plan, goals and budget. Check with your allied healthcare providers for more information. The Sensory Specialist is a registered NDIS provider (Reg. 4-JWHBZTC). Get in touch if you need a quote or invoice.
As seen in
Nationally recognised for championing inclusion, accessibility and sensory support.
