About the Book
The Autism Dialogue Approach Handbook serves as both a comprehensive guide and a practical handbook for healthcare professionals, educators, caregivers and anyone engaging with the autism community. Jonathan Drury presents the Autism Dialogue Approach (ADA), a pioneering framework rooted in dialogue and mindfulness practices. It addresses the diverse needs of autistic and neurodivergent individuals, emphasising that ‘the autism community’ includes everyone, promoting an inclusive understanding of neurodiversity.
The book critiques traditional therapeutic and coaching models, proposing ADA as an alternative that values co-creation and shared meaning-making. By exploring practical strategies, Drury demonstrates how ADA transforms therapy, coaching and leadership by fostering environments where neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals can connect authentically and transcend division. With clear tools, exercises and real-world examples, this handbook guides readers in applying ADA to cultivate neurodivergent-affirming, inclusive spaces. It also delves into the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of dialogue, offering insights into how societal structures impact autistic experiences and how systemic change can occur through dialogue.
Aimed at those committed to building compassionate and inclusive settings, this handbook equips readers with practical skills for nurturing deep connections, promoting wellbeing and driving societal transformation through a neurodiversity-affirming approach.
Table of Contents:
Foreword, Preface, Acknowledgements, PART I: What are we dealing with here?, 1. What brings us here?, 2. Autism as a way of being, 3. Dialogue in historical context, 4. Bringing together autism and Dialogue, PART II: Communities of meaning-making, 5. Introduction to Dialogue in autism contexts, 6. Autism theories and common themes, 7. Autism and Dialogue through the lens of social sciences, 8. Neurodiversity, 9. Autism Dialogue and mindfulness, 10. Guide to hosting an Autism Dialogue, 11. Autism Dialogue facilitation skills, PART III: Wider contexts, 12. Intersectionality and Dialogue. 13. Insight Dialogue and other models, 14. Autism Dialogue in therapy and coaching, 15. Spirituality in Autism Dialogue, 16. Resistance to change, Appendix 1 Case example: Autism Dialogue in Derby City and Derbyshire (England, UK), Appendix 2 Case example: community online series 2022, Appendix 3 Case example: post-dialogue group community – 'Autism Dialogue friends', Appendix 4 Case example: Autism Dialogue coaching, Appendix 5 Case example: an encounter, Appendix 6 A note on research and evaluation, Appendix 7 An open letter about communication
About the Author :
Jonathan Drury has been an expert in autism, neurodiversity and environmental trauma for over ten years, working with individuals, teams and organisations across the UK and internationally. He has designed experiential programmes that explore the healing power of dialogue from a unique and universal perspective, and a range of transformative tools and approaches for wider perspectives and deeper understanding in autism wellbeing and leadership. His work has empowered countless individuals to navigate their lives with increased confidence and clarity. A regular speaker and trainer, Jonathan draws on ancient health philosophies, somatic awareness, the arts, spiritual disciplines and many established dialogue modalities to offer a fresh lens on neurodiversity and leadership. The Autism Dialogue Approach Handbook is his first book.
Review :
'The Autism Dialogue provides an insightful perspective… [and] aims to replace a negative deficit-based view with teaching people about the benefits of autistic ways of perceiving the world.'
Temple Grandin, author of Visual Thinking and Thinking in Pictures, USA
'This text succinctly outlines the value of the Autism Dialogue Approach and the ways it can be used to enable deeper communication, respect and connection.'
Professor Elizabeth Milne, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, UK
'a vital contribution to researchers and practitioners across many fields.'
Lori Hogenkamp, Center for Adaptive Stress, USA
'With this impressive handbook, Jonathan not only emancipates "Autism" from the shackles of conventional labelling, he also provides us all – whatever our neurotype – with deeply considered ideas to help us fully embrace our own uniqueness and that of others.'
Vincent Traynor, Associate Professor of Change Leadership, Sheffield Business School
'With this book, Jonathan offers us the gift of a veritable view from within the world of autistic experience, a perspective that takes seriously the notion that practical knowledge about human experience is the royal road – and the active principle – for understanding how our minds are not isolated but work together to bring forth meaningful worlds.'
Amy Cohen Varela, Clinical Psychologist, Chair of Mind & Life Europe, Switzerland
'The principles of Autism Dialogue are eloquently explained in this innovative book. It provides the reader with insights into a strengths-based approach that can empower. The author invites us to consider the richness of lived experiences via self and mutual understanding. This approach has great potential to reduce harmful societal misunderstandings of autism. The Autism Dialogue Approach needs to be embraced.'
Megan Freeth, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Psychology. University of Sheffield, UK
