Being Bea | A Graphic Memoir

Beatrice Tassone is a young autistic woman with a passion for Japanese culture. Working with editor Silvia Amodio and screenwriter Marco Madoglio, she has created a manga that tells the story of her life—the discrimination she faced at school because of her albinism, and the daily struggles that trigger her crises. But Essere Bea is more than a personal story. It grew out of an initiative by Coop Lombardia, the supermarket chain already known for its autism-friendly stores, in partnership with PizzAut, the restaurant where Beatrice works alongside other colleagues with disabilities. The manga succeeds brilliantly at its larger purpose: presenting autism without stereotypes and showcasing real examples of inclusion that prove a more welcoming society is possible.