The Autism Dialogue Approach serves as both a comprehensive guide and a practical handbook for healthcare professionals, educators, caregivers, and anyone engaging with the autism community.
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.
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
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.
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