John Elder Robison

John Elder Robison grew up in the 1960s in Amherst, Massachusetts, with an undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD), later identified as Asperger's syndrome. His father was a philosophy professor, and Robison faced social and academic challenges dismissed as laziness or poor attitude, leading him to drop out of high school. He entered the music industry, designing innovative sound effects and electronic guitars for KISS, and later contributed to early video games and talking toys at Milton Bradley. In middle age, a business client introduced him to Asperger's, prompting a formal diagnosis at 40 and inspiring his writing career. His 2007 memoir Look Me in the Eye detailed his undiagnosed life and savant abilities, becoming a global bestseller translated into 18 languages. This launched him into autism advocacy, where he volunteered with Autism Speaks before resigning in 2013 over ideological differences, emphasizing autism as a difference rather than solely a disability. Robison expanded his authorship with Be Different (2011), a guide for autistic adults; Raising Cubby (2013), about parenting his autistic son; and Switched On (2016), recounting his participation in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) brain studies at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He owns a multimillion-dollar classic car restoration business (specializing in Rolls-Royces) and a photography venture, applying social skills learned through entrepreneurship. As a neurodiversity scholar, he co-teaches at William & Mary, serves as a visiting professor at Bay Path University, and advises Landmark College. Robison has influenced global standards, contributing to World Health Organization autism definitions via steering committees and serving two terms on the U.S. Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), helping craft the federal Strategic Plan for Autism. He continues advocating for therapies addressing autism's disabling aspects while highlighting its strengths.