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Different Minds: How We Can Help Our Autistic School Children Thrive
If you have an autistic child, you will be painfully aware of the challenges they face in education. Beyond the headlines on SEN provision are real children who struggle from day-to-day – how can we help them?
In Different Minds, neurodivergence campaigner and former teacher Pete Wharmby shines a light on what it’s like to be autistic in Western school systems today, so that we can understand how to support our children through the most important years of their lives. Through a blend of story-telling, polemic and empathetic advice, Wharmby exposes the inadequacies of the current system, explains how differences have been mislabelled as ‘challenging behaviour’ and provides a blueprint for understanding and supporting young autistic minds.
Galvanising and compassionate, this important book empowers parents, teachers and carers to take a stand against the vilification of our autistic school children and provide the scaffolding they need to thrive.
In Different Minds, neurodivergence campaigner and former teacher Pete Wharmby shines a light on what it’s like to be autistic in Western school systems today, so that we can understand how to support our children through the most important years of their lives. Through a blend of story-telling, polemic and empathetic advice, Wharmby exposes the inadequacies of the current system, explains how differences have been mislabelled as ‘challenging behaviour’ and provides a blueprint for understanding and supporting young autistic minds.
Galvanising and compassionate, this important book empowers parents, teachers and carers to take a stand against the vilification of our autistic school children and provide the scaffolding they need to thrive.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Teachers, students, parents of neurodivergent children - whether in mainstream school or not, members of the neurodivergent community, and our allies and advocates (in a time when they are so desperately needed), I implore you to read this book!
Pete uses the fictional neurodivergent pupil 'Joe' as a case study in a candid exploration of the obstacles, struggles and challenges of a typical school day. Set out in bitesize chunks, Different Minds is engaging and easy-to-digest, with cost-effective, uncomplicated suggestions for adjustments in each chapter.
Previously a school teacher, and diagnosed with AuDHD himself, Pete comes at the topic with the empathy, compassion and comprehension of someone who has lived experience from both the teacher and the student's perspective. This gives him valuable insight into how the school day and environment can be improved, taking into account the emotional, sensory and phsyical needs of the pupils, as well as the practical and financial considerations of the school.
My personal favourite was the section where Pete likens the autistic experience of being treated as 'other' and 'different' by society to the Uncanny Valley effect. This really resonated with me, and was an eloquent description of an intangible experience I have tried (and failed) to explain myself in the past.
In a world seemingly hell-bent on dismissing autistic lived experience, Different Minds is a rallying, refreshing read, full of hope that things CAN get better, and Pete Wharmby is a steadfast and impassioned spearhead for AuDHD advocacy.
Pete uses the fictional neurodivergent pupil 'Joe' as a case study in a candid exploration of the obstacles, struggles and challenges of a typical school day. Set out in bitesize chunks, Different Minds is engaging and easy-to-digest, with cost-effective, uncomplicated suggestions for adjustments in each chapter.
Previously a school teacher, and diagnosed with AuDHD himself, Pete comes at the topic with the empathy, compassion and comprehension of someone who has lived experience from both the teacher and the student's perspective. This gives him valuable insight into how the school day and environment can be improved, taking into account the emotional, sensory and phsyical needs of the pupils, as well as the practical and financial considerations of the school.
My personal favourite was the section where Pete likens the autistic experience of being treated as 'other' and 'different' by society to the Uncanny Valley effect. This really resonated with me, and was an eloquent description of an intangible experience I have tried (and failed) to explain myself in the past.
In a world seemingly hell-bent on dismissing autistic lived experience, Different Minds is a rallying, refreshing read, full of hope that things CAN get better, and Pete Wharmby is a steadfast and impassioned spearhead for AuDHD advocacy.
September 11, 2026
Incredible book - such an important and valuable voice. Can't rate it highly enough - will be very impactful for our neurodivergent family, and I'm going to buy a copy for the school.
September 12, 2026
All teachers and educators should read this.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews