Il est autiste… et alors ?

Through the journey of Maxime, a young adult with autism, this book recounts several years of support outside the conventional path. Between anecdotes, humor, and questioning practices, Alexis Leclaire shares what he has observed, attempted, adjusted—and what, too often, still hinders the freedom and self-determination of those receiving support. A critical and human perspective from the field, questioning inclusion, structures, and our approach to support in a new way.

About the Author

Following on from Je suis autiste… et alors ?, published in 2024, Il est autiste… et alors ? is a new awareness-raising tool, this time from the perspective of Alexis Leclaire, a special needs teacher who has been involved with GEMA06 for many years.

This book draws on Alexis’s years of professional experience working with young people with autism and highlights the persistent societal prejudices he has observed throughout his career. Without beating around the bush or resorting to caricature, he denounces preconceived ideas, normative expectations, and institutional or familial awkwardness, while offering a more accurate, humane, and sensitive interpretation of what it means to live with autism.

The book is illustrated by Maxime Vindrier, an artist diagnosed with autism, whose personal and expressive style reinforces the emotional impact of the text.

This collaboration has resulted in a deeply human book, born of their educational and friendly relationship, and built on a logic of egalitarian co-creation. It is aimed at children, families, teachers, and more broadly at anyone who wants to better understand what it means to live with autism, by looking at it from the outside, but always with respect.

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