It’s genius: There are now coloring books with “special interest” topics that will have incredible appeal to kids with autism – even adults too!
So there I was, at a Walk with Autism and Resource Fair, when I came upon a particular vendor whose table had a variety of glossy coloring books on display.
Naturally, I was drawn to this, because all throughout childhood, I had loved to draw and color.
The first coloring book I noticed was titled “Unique Interests Coloring Book: Things That Spin.”
Then it dawned on me: Wait a minute here; are all these coloring books about special interests?
A special interest in Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to the topic of intense interest that an autistic individual has.
This is a near-universal feature of ASD: a deep dive into a subject of interest, often to the point where the individual “can’t stop talking about it” and seems obsessed with it.
The topic is often unusual, odd or strange, though not always (e.g., an autistic person may be hyperfixated on something that’s popular among neurotypical people such as dinosaurs or the Titanic).
So I looked at the subtitles of all the other coloring books in this “Unique Interests” series.
- Fire Alarms
- Fans
- Cuckoo Clocks
- Things with Tails
- Cleaning Supplies
- Elevators and Escalators
- Drive Thru’s
- Engines and Motors
- Running Water
- Feathers
- Office Supplies
- Doctors and Medical Supplies
- Flags
The author/creator of this series is Erin Vergez, who told me that every one of these topics is/was an actual special interest of her 15-year-old autistic son’s.
I told her several times, “This is pure genius!”
She had a sheet of paper out for visitors to add their suggestions for even more coloring books.
Feeling very inspired, I added a few of my childhood hyperfixations: roller window shades and sidewalks – as I myself am on the Autism Spectrum.
I also added one of my adult obsessions: wood chippers.
Another visitor alongside me added lawn mowers.
The Unique Interests Coloring Book series is available on Amazon.
Just type “Erin Vergez” into the Amazon search field, and you’re there!
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical and fitness topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer. In 2022 she received a diagnosis of Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder and subsequently has developed an intense interest in ASD.
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