Travis addresses the issue of if he is an autistic person or a person with autism. Travis says it is not important to him what you refer to him as as long as you get to k=now him for the person he is instead of the diagnosis. He does not let labels bother or define him. So many with autism make a big deal out of the name of the label that they fail to realize they are a human being and not a label. Travis worries that people with autism have been misled to believe that their diagnosis is their core identity. While Travis strongly believes autism is a part of who he is, he does not allow it to define him or put limitations on his life. Travis wants to improve his social skills to have a better quality of life, not to change who he is. Travis feels improving his social skills will help him better communicate who he is to others and allow him to feel more understood for the person that he is. Travis talks about how he will not allow the words you use to describe him affect him as he continues to learn social skills to be able to better communicate with others and improve his quality of life. Travis talks about why it is hard for him to make friends with other adults on the autism spectrum and provides insight into how Asperger Syndrome comes into play with his personality. Travis feels it is important for counselors to stress that autism is s part of who someone is but should never be their core identity. Travis says if a person believes autism is their core identity it will be hard to ever help that person because they will worry that you are trying to change who they are. Travis examines the obsession with wording of a person with autism versus an autistic person in this informative book that will give insight into the way someone on the autism spectrum views himself. Travis says the most important thing is that there is a human being on the inside of the label on the container. Travis hopes to learn social skills that allow him to show others who the human being is on the inside of his container.
About the Author: Travis loves to write. He enjoys communicating what it is like to live with autism, mental illness, and Hydrocephalus. Travis enjoys playing and watching sports. He loves music and his favorite band is a group named Chicago. Travis loves to meet new people and try and learn new things. He has one sister who is younger than he is. He likes to ride roller coasters and visit theme parks all around the midwest. Travis shares his stories to help others understand what living with mental illness and other disabilities is like to make the world a better place.