From non-verbal to radio announcer . . .
Good Morning, Blake: Growing Up Autistic and Being Okay lays bare-from cradle to adulthood-the myriad steps Blake has taken to find his voice and rightful place in society.
Eighty-five percent of Blake's autistic peers do not have meaningful employment, so what facilitators occurred in his life to help him break from this dismal statistic? While the struggles cannot be ignored, the real fight is in shifting society to walk the talk and make schools, workplaces and communities more inclusive.
Echolalia, dysfluency, sensory disintegration, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and self-stimulatory behaviours are all touched upon in Blake's memoir. While it is one story by one autistic person, Blake's story offers strategies and tips for making our world kinder, more inclusive and a safer place for those who march to the beat of a different drum.
What makes this book unique? Raw, uninhibited perspectives from fifty of Blake's peers, family members, friends, teachers and work colleagues who demonstrate it takes a village to raise a child. Blake's positive attitude will make you feel good, even though he doesn't sugar coat his struggles. As a reader you will laugh, cry and cheer him on as he strives in his career and succeeds to live as an independent adult.
"Blake is now a successful radio host. Autism presented many challenges but he learned from his mistakes and persevered. His book provides many tips on getting and keeping jobs." TEMPLE GRANDIN, author of Thinking in Pictures
"Riveting, informative. An honest exploration of a beautiful life." Splash'N Boots, Canadian Kids' Entertainers