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Book review From Isolation to Intimacy. Making Friends without Words By Phoebe Caldwell with Jane Horwood Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London. 2007. 188 pp., £12.99 (pbk). ISBN-10: 1843105004. Anyone working closely with people with severe learning disabilities or Autism Spectrum Conditions will find this latest book invaluable. Building on the themes she presented in ‘Finding you Finding me’ (2006, Jessica Kingsley), Phoebe Caldwell presents a user-friendly guide to using intensive interaction with people who are unable to communicate ver- bally. Numerous cases are presented in an acces- sible way, highlighting that by taking time to understand an individual’s perspective and sensory experience, we can gain access to their world and thus to a meaningful connection with them. Giving people a sense of self through non-verbal communication can alleviate stress and thus reduce behaviours that challenge us, instead providing opportunities for positive interactions. Sticklers for theory may find the lack of a sound evidence base and the apparent dismissal of major cognitive developmental models frustrating. However, those of us who need to reach people for whom the world is so stressful and confusing may consider this frustration worth tolerating, as the practical benefits of this approach are certainly evident on an individual basis. I will certainly be encouraging colleagues, train- ees, assistants, parents and carers to read this book, as I have no doubt that this approach is a valuable adjunct to other psychological strategies. Fran Davies The Essex Autistic Society, Colchester, UK Journal of Intellectual Disability Research volume 52 part 3 p 269 march 2008 269 © 2008 The Author. Journal Compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

From Isolation to Intimacy. Making Friends without Words

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Book review

From Isolation to Intimacy. Making Friendswithout Words

By Phoebe Caldwell with Jane Horwood

Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London. 2007. 188 pp., £12.99(pbk). ISBN-10: 1843105004.

Anyone working closely with people with severelearning disabilities or Autism Spectrum Conditionswill find this latest book invaluable. Building on thethemes she presented in ‘Finding you Finding me’(2006, Jessica Kingsley), Phoebe Caldwell presentsa user-friendly guide to using intensive interactionwith people who are unable to communicate ver-bally. Numerous cases are presented in an acces-sible way, highlighting that by taking time tounderstand an individual’s perspective and sensoryexperience, we can gain access to their world andthus to a meaningful connection with them. Givingpeople a sense of self through non-verbal

communication can alleviate stress and thus reducebehaviours that challenge us, instead providingopportunities for positive interactions.

Sticklers for theory may find the lack of a soundevidence base and the apparent dismissal of majorcognitive developmental models frustrating.However, those of us who need to reach people forwhom the world is so stressful and confusing mayconsider this frustration worth tolerating, as thepractical benefits of this approach are certainlyevident on an individual basis.

I will certainly be encouraging colleagues, train-ees, assistants, parents and carers to read this book,as I have no doubt that this approach is a valuableadjunct to other psychological strategies.

Fran Davies

The Essex Autistic Society, Colchester, UK

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research

volume 52 part 3 p 269 march 2008269

© 2008 The Author. Journal Compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd