Autism and Education
- Neil Humphrey - The University of Manchester, UK
Research on autism education has seen rapid expansion in recent years and this worldwide trend shows no signs of abating. This body of knowledge is published in journals from a wide range of disciplines but this major work brings together seminal papers in a four-volume set with accompanying commentaries, to create an invaluable reference point for scholars.
The literature suggests that the experience of education for learners with an Autistic Spectrum Conditions is often markedly worse than that of their peers. Hence, scholarly work in this area focuses primarily on developing understanding and informing provision to improve outcomes and quality of life for learners with ASC, and is also the focus of this set.
Volume One: Key perspectives and themes in autism education
Volume Two: Peer relationships among learners with autism in the educational context
Volume Three: School, teacher and support staff issues in autism education
Volume Four: Improving experiences and outcomes of education for learners with ASC
"The four volumes focusing on 'Autism and Education' in the Major Works series (Key Issues and Perspectives, Peer Relationships, School and Staff Issues, and Improving Experiences and Outcomes) bring together the many relevant strands of theory and research into a cohesive, coherent whole which is greater than the sum of its parts.
The editor, Neil Humphrey, and his colleagues, have produced a work that is well synthesised and clearly communicated, an excellent guide to enable the reader to navigate complex theory and research relevant to autism and education and most importantly interprets the research as it applies to, or potentially applies to, practice.
The introductory chapters and the selection of articles are respectful and constructive, while acknowledging the very significant issues faced by children and young people in education systems. The authors successfully combine the research evidence base with the lived experience and perspectives of both those with autism and those working with them.
The work is grounded in major systems theories relevant to education generally and to education of children with special needs, while making strong case for the need to address characteristic issues affecting children and young people with autism.
Excellent well organised selection of key research papers highlighting key foci for autism, excellent consideration of the perspective and voice of those with autism, of their peers, their teachers and their families.
Highly recommended synthesis of all you need to know about the education of children and young people with autism."
Neil Humphrey and colleagues have brought together a world-class collection of papers that demonstrate the many important ways in which people’s experiences with autism are always shaped by family, community, economics and politics. The volumes are an essential resource for anyone interested in autism education. They uniquely highlight the experiences of learners on the autism spectrum – the good and the bad – as they navigate their interactions with peers, teachers and other staff who support them and the broader system itself. In so doing, they implore us to be especially attentive to these experiences as we aim to enhance the life chances and opportunities for such learners.
Finally education comes to the forefront in Neil Humphrey’s Autism and Education! Highly accessible, the 4- volume compendium of school based studies signals a touchstone in the field.
