"The face of autism is changing, and more often than we realize, that face is wearing lipstick. Autism in Heels, an intimate memoir, reveals the woman inside one of autism's most prominent figures, Jennifer Cook O'Toole. At the age of thirty-five, Jennifer was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and for the first time in her life, things made sense. Now, Jennifer exposes the constant struggle between carefully crafted persona and authentic existence, editing the autism script with wit, candor, passion, and power. Her journey is one of reverse self-discovery, not only as an Aspie but--more importantly--as a thoroughly modern woman. Beyond being a memoir, Autism in Heels is a love letter to all women. It's a conversation starter. A game changer. And 3 firsthand account of what it is to walk in Jennifer's shoes (especially those iconic red stilettos). Whether it's bad perms or body image, sexuality or self-esteem, Jennifer's is as much a human journey as one on the spectrum. Because autism 'looks a bit different in pink,' most girls and women who fit the profile are not identified, facing years of avoidable anxiety, eating disorders, volatile relationships, self-harm, and stunted independence. Jennifer has been there, too. Autism in Heels takes that message to the mainstream."--Dust jacket. At the age of thirty-five, O'Toole was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, and for the first time in her life, things made sense. Now she exposes the constant struggle between carefully crafted persona and authentic existence. Her journey is one of reverse-self-discovery not only as an Aspie but-- more importantly-- as a thoroughly modern woman. She shows that, because autism "looks a bit different in pink," most girls and women who fit the profile are not identified, facing years of avoidable anxiety, eating disorders, volatile relationships, self-harm, and stunted independence. -- adapted from jacket

Introduction: Thirty-four years -- Backwards in heels : my story in reverse -- Camouflage : hiding in plain sight -- Life with the volume turned up : intense minds, intense .... everything -- Executive, functioning : girls can be professors, too -- Mythbusters : open heart emotion -- The land of anywhere but here : predators and fandom families -- The statue of Venus : friends, rules, and red high heels -- So this is love : autism by gaslight -- Hurts so good : our epidemic of self-harm -- Semicolon : the story of a sisterhood.