Diagnosed with autism at age 4 1/2, 33-year-old Christine Motokane has spent her life breaking barriers as an author, advocate and policy influencer.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Motokane exhibited early signs of autism, such as toe-walking and language delays. However, it wasn’t until an intake meeting with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s special education department that her parents received confirmation of what they had long suspected.

Despite the challenges, Motokane excelled academically. She attended El Camino Community College for two years, graduating with honors in 2013, before transferring to Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a degree in psychology with magna cum laude honors in 2015.

Motokane’s family made the decision to leave Los Angeles for Sequim, a move motivated by her parents’ retirement and a desire for a quieter, more accessible lifestyle. Her journey into writing began when her therapist suggested journaling as a way to process her thoughts and emotions. That evolved into longer and more elaborate stories, eventually fueling her desire to write books.

Christine said the messages from her books are: “Autism is a lifelong disability, and we need to have support throughout the lifespan. I feel like when you’re growing up into adulthood, there’s not that much support like there is for children. You don’t stop having autism when you turn 18 or age out of the school system.”

She has since authored two books: Working a Double: A Young Woman’s Journey with Autism and The Revolving Door: The Story of Disability Support. The first offers a firsthand account of growing up with autism, while the second highlights the challenges of securing consistent, quality caregivers in small communities like Sequim.

She will be discussing her books and signing copies at Barnes & Noble in Silverdale April 5 from noon to 5 p.m.