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Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages: A Roadmap To An Equitable Life For Autistic Children
Neurosensory Autistic Languages reframes our thinking about how to support autistic children.
Many autistic children feel like the odd ones out, like they don't quite fit in. Parents of autistic children can feel lost, frustrated and exhausted, trying to help their children fit into a world that has narrow expectations of what a child 'should' be.
Helen Daniel, a late diagnosed neurodivergent adult, weaves together autistic lived experiences and scientific studies. She discusses how Neurosensory Divergence can change everything for autistic children - informing autistic languages and ways of being. Alongside highlighting how society often fails to adequately support the sensory aspects of autistic profiles.
Helen offers a roadmap – a societal shift – for the understanding of autistic languages and an equitable life for our autistic children.
Many autistic children feel like the odd ones out, like they don't quite fit in. Parents of autistic children can feel lost, frustrated and exhausted, trying to help their children fit into a world that has narrow expectations of what a child 'should' be.
Helen Daniel, a late diagnosed neurodivergent adult, weaves together autistic lived experiences and scientific studies. She discusses how Neurosensory Divergence can change everything for autistic children - informing autistic languages and ways of being. Alongside highlighting how society often fails to adequately support the sensory aspects of autistic profiles.
Helen offers a roadmap – a societal shift – for the understanding of autistic languages and an equitable life for our autistic children.
- GenresNonfiction
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2023
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13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 21, 2023
Everyone should read this book!
This book is fantastic! As a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent children, I related to so many of the stories and experiences in the book, and yet I still learnt SO much from Helen's excellent research and findings.
I honestly believe she has tapped into something amazing here, and thoroughly recommend everyone read the book, regardless of whether thry have someone neurodivergent in their life. In particular, schools, educators and policy-makers will really benefit from Helen's suggestions for making the school years easier - and happier - for our neurosensory divergent young people.
This book is fantastic! As a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent children, I related to so many of the stories and experiences in the book, and yet I still learnt SO much from Helen's excellent research and findings.
I honestly believe she has tapped into something amazing here, and thoroughly recommend everyone read the book, regardless of whether thry have someone neurodivergent in their life. In particular, schools, educators and policy-makers will really benefit from Helen's suggestions for making the school years easier - and happier - for our neurosensory divergent young people.
March 23, 2024
A well written and deeply informative book that I would recommend any teacher, carer, childcare worker, friend and family member to read. This book isn't a read and put down. This is a resource and is perfect in it's bite-sized layout to refer back to.
November 17, 2024
Book Review Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Language by Helen Daniel.
The book starts with a glossary of terms and explanation of the language used throughout. This is something that I find extremely useful and for me it certainly helps to avoid any potential confusion or misunderstandings.
Early on I feel the book highlights how all communication is valid and the importance of understanding, accepting and accommodating non-spoken communication.
It goes on to explain the deficit based model of the DSM that we all know today and some of the history to how we got to where we are. Another book that highlights why we need to reject the pathology paradigm. Hopefully, more people will start to listen and really understand this.
Professionals should read this to know how important it is to share the right information along with a diagnosis. Sadly in most places, you end up with some leaflets and links to a few charities leaving parents wondering where to turn. This needs to change.
There is a section that goes on to talk about research. How it is slowly changing but how there is so much bias in research historically. Perhaps this is something that professionals can sit with in discomfort as they unpack their privilege to make the change we need to see.
My personal experience highlights how important it is to learn from the #actuallyautistic community. We just need the professionals to listen, learn and take action.
It was interesting to read about the problems with teacher training from a former teacher. “My teacher training qualification was designed to reinforce current ideas about how children learn” it highlights that more Autistic voices are needed in educational research.
Bit of a theme really, more Autistic voices are needed in research full stop! “Those who are being researched deserve a place at the head of the table”
The book has compelling arguments for why we should embrace the Neurodiversity paradigm. I love the authors analogy to explain how a deficit-based narrative can lead to ableism and favours the people in power.
As you get into the third part of the book it starts to break down what Neurosensory Divergence is.
I'm still trying to get my head around it all and think it may take me some time to do so. That's probably as its new language and more in-depth concepts of the sensory experience than I've read before.
But it does go into great detail about peoples sensory experiences. Not just “what you can observe” it builds on how neurodivergent people can take in more detail through some or all of their senses. Which in turn when you understand and believe the full sensory experience will mean better support, so I feel it will be beneficial for many professionals and parents to read.
I think the book was well researched, not suprising as the author has a masters in autism studies. But I did find it strange to see SBC and Temple Grandin cited given some of their more problematic views. But this could be due to the authors academic background or lack of research in some of the areas discussed.
I found the section on Autistic traits vs society’s conventional expectations and targets in educational settings insightful. Reframing traits through a neurosensory lens.
It goes on to highlight the importance of language and how it transfers values, biases and expectations.
There is an in depth section on stimming and its importance. Probably the most detail I've read in a book in relation to it.
If you are a teacher then I'm sure the chapter on educational settings will be useful. It may help you to think differently when considering teaching methods and inclusion. It also highlights the current challenges many parents in the UK face obtaining an EHCP, perhaps our DFE can learn from this.
At the end of the book the author writes about a roadmap for the future. All of which includes working with and listening to #actuallyautistic voices being included in research and decisions. Something so many have been saying for some time.
The book starts with a glossary of terms and explanation of the language used throughout. This is something that I find extremely useful and for me it certainly helps to avoid any potential confusion or misunderstandings.
Early on I feel the book highlights how all communication is valid and the importance of understanding, accepting and accommodating non-spoken communication.
It goes on to explain the deficit based model of the DSM that we all know today and some of the history to how we got to where we are. Another book that highlights why we need to reject the pathology paradigm. Hopefully, more people will start to listen and really understand this.
Professionals should read this to know how important it is to share the right information along with a diagnosis. Sadly in most places, you end up with some leaflets and links to a few charities leaving parents wondering where to turn. This needs to change.
There is a section that goes on to talk about research. How it is slowly changing but how there is so much bias in research historically. Perhaps this is something that professionals can sit with in discomfort as they unpack their privilege to make the change we need to see.
My personal experience highlights how important it is to learn from the #actuallyautistic community. We just need the professionals to listen, learn and take action.
It was interesting to read about the problems with teacher training from a former teacher. “My teacher training qualification was designed to reinforce current ideas about how children learn” it highlights that more Autistic voices are needed in educational research.
Bit of a theme really, more Autistic voices are needed in research full stop! “Those who are being researched deserve a place at the head of the table”
The book has compelling arguments for why we should embrace the Neurodiversity paradigm. I love the authors analogy to explain how a deficit-based narrative can lead to ableism and favours the people in power.
As you get into the third part of the book it starts to break down what Neurosensory Divergence is.
I'm still trying to get my head around it all and think it may take me some time to do so. That's probably as its new language and more in-depth concepts of the sensory experience than I've read before.
But it does go into great detail about peoples sensory experiences. Not just “what you can observe” it builds on how neurodivergent people can take in more detail through some or all of their senses. Which in turn when you understand and believe the full sensory experience will mean better support, so I feel it will be beneficial for many professionals and parents to read.
I think the book was well researched, not suprising as the author has a masters in autism studies. But I did find it strange to see SBC and Temple Grandin cited given some of their more problematic views. But this could be due to the authors academic background or lack of research in some of the areas discussed.
I found the section on Autistic traits vs society’s conventional expectations and targets in educational settings insightful. Reframing traits through a neurosensory lens.
It goes on to highlight the importance of language and how it transfers values, biases and expectations.
There is an in depth section on stimming and its importance. Probably the most detail I've read in a book in relation to it.
If you are a teacher then I'm sure the chapter on educational settings will be useful. It may help you to think differently when considering teaching methods and inclusion. It also highlights the current challenges many parents in the UK face obtaining an EHCP, perhaps our DFE can learn from this.
At the end of the book the author writes about a roadmap for the future. All of which includes working with and listening to #actuallyautistic voices being included in research and decisions. Something so many have been saying for some time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews