We Need to Talk About Autism and Parent-Carer Blame

Parents of autistic children are often subject to scrutiny of their parenting strategies. At best this can be exhausting and intrusive; at worst it can lead to formal accusations of harm. The consequence is a society where autistic families are unable to access the correct services for their children, increasing risk of family burnout and breakdown.

Based on the author’s lived experience, this book looks at the different ways blame can manifest and how parents can manage these moments. It identifies when and why professionals may incorrectly raise safeguarding concerns without understanding the context of neurodivergence and how professional practice can be improved.

Author Biography

Alice Running is an autistic woman and parent to two neurodivergent children. Alice holds a PgC in Autism and has articles published in The Mighty, Yahoo, Special Needs Jungle, Huffington Post, Yorkshire Evening Post and The Big Issue in the North. She has contributed to academic texts for social workers and autism theorists and including a report based on a large-scale survey on the use of parental blame within autism support provision. Her first book Helping Your Child with PDA Live a Happier Life was published in 2021.