The Autistic Spectrum: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

'Authoritative, compassionate and commonsensical . . . an honest, sensitive and thorough introduction to understanding and living with autism . . . highly recommended.' - Psychological Medicine

'Packed with down to earth, practical ideas . . . readable, interesting . . . informative . . . if you buy only one title about autism this year it should be this one.' - Collette Dritte, Nursery World

Over 500,000 people of all ages in the UK have disorders in the autistic spectrum. About one-third also have varying degrees of learning difficulty. All have impairment of social interaction, communication and imagination - the world appears a bewildering and sometimes frightening place.

This acclaimed, authoritative guide explains how people with autism experience the world and why they need an organized, structured environment, presenting a window into the world of those with the disorder. Wing suggests ways of improving communication, developing abilities and widening social interaction, and how to cope with stresses within the family.

Lorna Wing is a psychiatric consultant for the National Autistic Society, and the mother of an autistic daughter.