Supporting Adults

Dr Dean Sutherland, University of Canterbury, discusses approaches for supporting adults with Autism including coaching employers and educational institutions to ensure awareness and understanding. He shares stories from adults with Autism which stress the importance of getting to know the person and reassuring them that they are okay just as they are. Adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often share similar needs and dreams as you and me. But how they perceive and interpret the world – particularly the communication and behaviours of other people – can be different.

About this contributor

Dean Sutherland

Dean Sutherland PhD currently teaches communication and evidence-based practices at the University of Canterbury. He has researched and published in the area of communication and ASD over the past 10 years. Dean is a past president of the New Zealand Speech-language therapists’ Association and is a founding member of the International Communication Project 2014.