Social Work with Autistic People
About the book
Yo Dunn's book Social Work with Autistic People: Essential Knowledge, Skills and the Law for Working with Children and Adults helps social workers and adult social care practitioners to find achievable solutions to support autistic people - including those with complex needs - to live fulfilling lives in their communities.
Far too many autistic people are currently in inappropriate institutional placements or living in poor quality and restrictive community provision with high levels of staffing. These situations result in autistic people experiencing trauma, having a poor quality of life and disproportionately interfere with our quality of life. Good quality support for autistic people is achievable, even in a social care system under pressure. This book helps practitioners to develop high quality community support, facilitate discharges and prevent admissions, by providing them with effective, practical strategies to communicate with and more effectively support autistic people right across the spectrum.
Common assumptions and beliefs are challenged, including the idea that 'behaviours' are an inevitable part of autism, and practical approaches are offered to promote autonomy, respect for human rights and empathy with autistic perspectives as a basis for preventing distress (and, therefore, distressed behaviour). Yo’s book is a valuable resource, enabling practitioners to support and empower all autistic people to achieve a good quality of life in their communities.
About the author
Yo Dunn PhD is an independent trainer and consultant who works across the public sector with specialisms in autism and law. She creates and delivers training for social workers on the legal frameworks of social care, safeguarding and autism for local authorities and other clients.
What readers are saying
‘It has been a privilege to read this textbook. I commend it to all social workers, and I will certainly by drawing upon the content to support my teaching and learning responsibilities.’
— Paul Hollingdale, Senior Lecturer, Division of Social Care and Counselling, University of Huddersfield
‘Wise, thoughtful and practical. This book should be compulsory reading for lawyers, who require all the help they can get responding to the needs of persons with autism.’
— Alex Ruck Keene KC, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers and Visiting Lecturer, King’s College London
‘Accessible and engaging, by an author who really knows her stuff. This is not like other texts on autism; it gives an insight that is rarely seen. I recommend that everyone with an interest in autism reads this book.’
— Kabie Brook, Autistic activist, co-founder of Autism Rights Group Highland and National Autistic Taskforce board member