Danny's People: A Memoir and Manifesto About Autism

by Virginia Bovell

Overview

Society disables us more than autism ever could

Society disables us more than autism ever could

‘My brain’s still fizzing, my heart’s still sore and I’m already re-reading’ Sally Phillips

Virginia’s son Danny has a way of lighting up a room. He’s warm, personable and has an infectious laugh. He forms lasting relationships and has known his best friend since they were little. He is also nonverbal and autistic, and requires round-the-clock care and a liquid diet. And for this reason, there are many who would rather not encounter Danny.

Challenging the view that autism is something that needs to be ‘cured’, Virginia Bovell testifies to the extraordinary care Danny has received for over 30 years and the everyday kindness and decency of the people – ‘the band of angels’ – that surround him. She asks us to consider what makes a thriving individual versus an inadequate one; what it means to be ill versus what it means to not to conform; what roles society values and rewards; and how humans might flourish outside of failing political and economic systems.

'An inspiring testament and a celebration of neurodiversity.' Manni Coe, author of Brother. Do. You. Love. Me

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780861548385
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	10/01/2024
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Dr Virginia Bovell is the mother of Danny, 30, who has a diagnosis of autism and severe learning disabilities. A former trustee of the National Autistic Society, she was also one of the founding parents of TreeHouse school and its UK umbrella charity Ambitious about Autism. She has since written and spoken about autism and ethics, for which she received a doctorate in 2015.

Editorial Reviews

'A beautifully written and wonderful insight into the challenges, and yes the rewards of autism. We all need to read this book and be inspired by its uplifting message.' —Jon Snow

'A remarkable book that raises deep questions. Her [Virginia's] compassion for autistic people – in all their multiplicity – and the dedicated people who support them shines through. This book will inspire and educate.' —Prof Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge

‘Moving and deeply thoughtful, Virginia Bovell writes about happiness and struggle with an evenly light touch. She has managed to entwine politics and heart, theory and lived experience so simply and seamlessly that each seems inseparable from the other. At last!’ —Sally Phillips

'Virginia's love for her son Danny is an inspiring testament and a celebration of neurodiversity. This important book dismantles prejudice and shines with honesty and truth.' —Manni Coe, author of Brother. Do. You. Love. Me.

'A book of fierce compassion, wisdom, and love – inspirational.' —Dr Gavin Francis, author of Adventures in Human Being

‘An impassioned plea for better provision for autistic people, as well as a moving and unsparing account of the joys and challenges of raising Bovell's autistic son... Danny’s People radiates with love and Bovell’s warm voice.’ —Jill Dawson, author The Great Lover

'Virginia and I first met when we took on the mammoth task of setting up a school for autistic children in the late 90s. Danny’s People is both a rollercoaster of emotion and a wonderful resource. It confronts a question that haunts parents like Virginia and me: who will look after our children when we’re no longer around?’ —Dr Anna Kennedy OBE, author of Not Stupid

'A beautifully written and searingly honest account of the highs and lows of raising a disabled child, as well as the very special people that can make a difference along the way. But more than that – this book is a must-read for anyone who would benefit from a critical and empathetic reflection on a range of debates and controversies in the field of autism.' —Professor Laura Crane, Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research at the University of Birmingham

'Virginia Bovell’s marvellous book goes to the heart of what it takes to parent a profoundly disabled young man. It charts with tremendous care and unflinching honesty the fearfully challenging health complications faced by her beloved son, Danny, but also the radiant joy that he inspires in so many. She carefully charts, and tries to resolve, the deep and often bad tempered debates surrounding autism, and reminds us of the raw realities of learning disabilities. She goes out of her way to celebrate the many people who have supported and helped Danny through thick and thin, and shares with us, in passages of luminous prose, the overwhelming love that she feels for her son, and the enormous gift that he offers in return. Danny's People is an important, honest and beautiful book. Highly recommended.' —Stephen Unwin, director and former chair of Kids

'A profound, insightful and deeply moving book, Danny’s People explores the human relationships that lie at the very core of any thriving life. Through a series of compelling moments, Virginia Bovell traces the extraordinary changes in our understanding of autism over the last two decades with exceptional subtlety and care. The result is not just one of the best recent contributions to autism research, but one of the most compelling books that I have read in many years.' —Liz Pellicano, Professor of Autism Research, UCL

'Virginia's humanity, warmth and dedication to doing whatever she can to help those who are marginalised and particularly those with learning difficulties or who get the label of autism, shine through. Her son Danny's life and experience leaps out of the pages helping the reader see into the uniqueness of the world he inhabits and beyond the superficiality of sympathy and stereotypes.' —Dr Sami Timimi, author of The Myth of Autism

From the Publisher