Sue Fletcher-Watson – författare

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Neurodiversity is the idea that human brains function in a variety of ways. By understanding that people take in, process, and respond to information differently, we can appreciate how these profound differences affect the ways in which we experience the world and form relationships with one another. In spite of the central simplicity of this concept, the consequences of fully understanding and exploring neurodiversity can be transformative.This Very Short Introduction looks at how neurodiversity has been understood in a variety of settings including education, research, workplace, health and social care, and criminal justice. Robert Chapman and Sue Fletcher-Watson also draw out interesting connections to models of disability, human rights, anti-capitalism, and intersectionality. Alongside this, they discuss how issues of gender, sexuality, neuroqueering, and decoloniality bear on neurodiversity. The book is an engaging read for students, thinkers, and practitioners interested in neurodiversity and its links to philosophy, psychology, sociology, political theory, medicine, and biology.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

It Takes All Kinds of Minds provides an inspiring and accessible introduction to neurodiversity in educational settings, informed by research and real-world experience.Drawing upon core principles that underpin the neurodiversity paradigm, the book offers a carefully curated collection of chapters exploring many different kinds of minds and how they can best learn and flourish at school. The book is divided into three main parts: Environments, Practice and Pedagogy, and Relationships In and Around School, with each chapter underpinned by core values of care, inclusion, celebration of difference and the collective power of diverse minds. Pioneering contributions help to realise a vision of environments, relational systems and pedagogical practices that are designed for all minds, learners and educators.Placing a focus on amplifying neurodivergent voices and having a direct impact on practice, this book is essential reading for practitioners at all stages of teacher education and professional development, as well as clinicians and outside agencies that work in partnership with schools.

Based on Francesca Happé’s best-selling textbook, Autism: An Introduction to Psychological Theory, this completely new edition provides a concise overview of contemporary psychological theories about autism. Fletcher-Watson and Happé explore the relationship between theories of autism at psychological (cognitive), biological and behavioural levels, and consider their clinical and educational impact. The authors summarise what is known about the biology and behavioural features of autism, and provide concise but comprehensive accounts of all influential psychological models including ‘Theory of Mind’ (ToM) models, early social development models and alternative information processing models such as ‘weak central coherence’ theory. The book also discusses more recent attempts to understand autism, including the ‘Double Empathy Problem’ and Bayesian theories. In each case, the authors describe the theory, review the evidence and provide critical analysis of its value and impact. Recognising the multiplicity of theoretical views, and rapidly changing nature of autism research, each chapter considers current debates and major questions that remain for the future.Importantly, the book includes the voices of autistic people, including parents and practitioners, who were asked to provide commentaries on each chapter, helping to contextualise theory and research evidence with accounts of real-life experience. The book embraces neurodiversity whilst recognising the real needs of autistic people and their families. Thus Autism: A New Introduction to Psychological Theory and Current Debate provides the reader with a critical overview of psychological theory but also embeds this within community perspectives, making it a relevant and progressive contribution to understanding autism, and essential reading for students and practitioners across educational, clinical and social settings.

It Takes All Kinds of Minds provides an inspiring and accessible introduction to neurodiversity in educational settings, informed by research and real-world experience.Drawing upon core principles that underpin the neurodiversity paradigm, the book offers a carefully curated collection of chapters exploring many different kinds of minds and how they can best learn and flourish at school. The book is divided into three main parts: Environments, Practice and Pedagogy, and Relationships In and Around School, with each chapter underpinned by core values of care, inclusion, celebration of difference and the collective power of diverse minds. Pioneering contributions help to realise a vision of environments, relational systems and pedagogical practices that are designed for all minds, learners and educators.Placing a focus on amplifying neurodivergent voices and having a direct impact on practice, this book is essential reading for practitioners at all stages of teacher education and professional development, as well as clinicians and outside agencies that work in partnership with schools.