John Elder Robison is an author and advocate known for his memoirs exploring life with Asperger's syndrome and neurodiversity. His debut memoir, "Look Me in the Eye," chronicles his experiences growing up undiagnosed and his unconventional career path designing special effects for bands like KISS. Robison has since published several other works, including "Be Different," "Raising Cubby," and "Switched On," which have been translated into sixteen languages and distributed in over sixty countries. His writing blends personal narrative with insights into autism spectrum conditions, establishing him as a prominent voice in neurodiversity literature.
Before becoming an author, Robison pursued diverse careers in electronics, music, and automotive restoration. After dropping out of high school, he designed sound systems and special effects equipment before transitioning to video game development. He later founded Robison Service, a specialty automobile repair business in Massachusetts. Robison's professional background informs his writing, which often reflects his technical expertise and unconventional life experiences. In addition to his literary work, he serves as the Neurodiversity Scholar at the College of William & Mary and advises Landmark College's neurodiversity program, while also maintaining active roles in autism research organizations.