Title: The Autistic Guide to Communicating
and Connecting: Understanding our
communication differences and social
needs

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Publication Date: 21st August 2025

Preorder at https://uk.jkp.com/products/the-autistic-guide-to-communicating-and-connecting?_pos=2&_sid=23e5250a1&_ss=r

Book Blurb: This book combines up-to-date research and lived experience perspectives to create a comprehensive and accessible guide to supporting your autistic social self in everyday life.
Split into three parts covering communication, socialising and strategies for specific
situations, it helps you understand and validate your own needs, explore your unique social
comfort zone and recognise the role that others have to play in creating positive two-way
communication.

Press Reviews

• Sarah Hendrickx, author of Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum. Another great book from Niamh, packed full of insights and strategies on communication and socialising for autistic people and those who support them. The Six Step Social Plan is a piece of genius for every autistic venturing forth on a night out!
• Katy Elphinstone, author of How to Raise Happy Neurofabulous Children A must-read for autistics and non-autistics alike, Niamh’s book represents a strong, welcoming, and carefully-constructed bridge – spanning the communication gap that can too easily divide us. While based on a mountain of research, there are wonderful anecdotes in there too.
• Tony Attwood All forms of communication and connection are explored, and all expressions of autism are included in this remarkable new resource. The descriptions, especially the ‘reasonable adaptations’, are based on an extensive review of the research literature and the experiences of the author and autistic individuals.

Highlights in this book include:

Speaking and non-speaking communication

Alternative and Augmented Communication (AAC)

Milton’s Double Empathy Theory

Social differences and difficulties

Reducing Masking and building confidence in your authentic self

‘Autistic – Autistic communication’ versus ‘Autistic – Non-autistic communication’

Individualised strategies based on research, personal experience and speaking to professionals and other autistic people.