Super Jordan: a free kids book about stimming, masking, and living authentically as an autistic person
We are thrilled to share this resource, written by the phenomenal Olive Jaudes, MT-BC! It’s an accessible and approachable resource for autistic children (and autistic folks of all ages) to better understand masking and stimming. It’s a great resource for all people to better understand stimming and how we can best support safe, regulating stimming.
Image desciption: The image is the cover of a children's book titled "Super Jordan! A Masking Story". It features a cartoon illustration of a joyful child, Jordan, wearing a superhero mask and playfully holding out her arms. Several colorful masks float around them.
Masking is when a person attempts to appear neurotypical by hiding parts of themselves (behaviors, feelings, needs) that could be seen as ‘atypical’ and/or mimicking ‘typical’ behaviors of others. Masking is a very common coping skill used by autistic and neurodivergent people to protect themselves from bullying, discrimination, and being othered. Research and surveys have suggested that, while masking may provide short-term protection, it often results in mental health consequences including anxiety, depression, burnout, and chronic stress when used long term. Sometimes, people don’t even realize they’re masking but still feel the draining effect of it!
- A snippet from Super Jordan!
Image description: This image is a two-panel comic strip depicting a child named Jordan who has the ability to transform into two different superheroes. The first panel shows Jordan transformed into "Super Stone," a grey, rock-like figure, sitting calmly in a classroom while other students are engaged in their lessons. The text explains that Super Stone possesses the ability to remain still and quiet despite internal energy. The second panel shows Jordan transforming into "Super Sponge," a yellow, porous figure, during lunchtime. Surrounded by other students, Super Sponge is implied to have the power to absorb unpleasant stimuli like smells, sounds, and light.”
This book aims to teach kids what masking is, the potential risks of it, and how it’s more important (and healthier!) to be yourself than try to be someone else.
About the author: Olive Jaudes (they/them) is a Board Certified Music Therapist, having graduated from the University of Kansas and interning at Resonate Music Therapy, LLC. As an autistic adult, they work with clients in areas such as self-advocacy, self-awareness, and skills to help them navigate life in an authentic, fulfilling, and comfortable way. When not working with clients or creating materials for therapeutic use, Olive enjoys cooking, cross-stitching, and playing games.
This version of Super Jordan was developed at Resonate Music Therapy in Colorado Springs CO, and will always be available for free through us. Olive Jaudes retains the intellectual rights to Super Jordan and this content, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for them and this book!
Best of all- there are three versions of this book, so kids can see that all kinds of people have autism, regardless of their gender.
Click here to access the male (he/him pronoun) version of Super Jordan.
Click here to access the female (she/her pronoun) version of Super Jordan.
And click here to access the non-binary (they/them pronoun) version of Super Jordan.
At Resonate, we work with autistic individuals of all ages towards navigating life authentically, while moving forward in ways that are meaningful to them. Want to work with us? Just reach out!
