This is a book written to celebrate the humanity of people, and to share experiences of what brilliant care and support can look like for families with learning disabled or autistic children and adults.

Sara Ryan steers clear of jargon and 'doublespeak' to conjure authentic experiences of families. Speaking with families and professionals, she conveys the love, laughter and joy which binds families and the harsh realities many face; of separation from loved ones, substandard care and frustration and helplessness in the face of inflexible services. From their experiences, Sara looks to capture those pockets of brilliance that families have encountered, and which outstanding practitioners have pioneered, for us all to learn from.

We know so much about what support and services should look like in order to enable flourishing lives - this book aims to help families and professionals to achieve it, together.

Celebrating brilliance - in families living with learning disabled children and adults, and the professionals who support them

About the Author
Dr Sara Ryan is a social scientist at the University of Oxford, specialising in autism and learning disabilities. She is a mother, campaigner and author of Justice for Laughing Boy: Connor Sparrowhawk - A Death by Indifference.

Reviews
Beautifully written and absorbing, Love, Learning Disabilities and Pockets of Brilliance shines a joyful light on the kind of good support that enables people to flourish. Sara Ryan's book is a heartening exploration of the extraordinary role families play in the lives of their loved ones and reveals the benefits - for everyone - when practitioners embrace their experience and knowledge. An essential, rewarding read for anyone who cares about their fellow humans. -- Saba Salman, journalist and editor of Made Possible: Stories of success by people with learning disabilities - in their own words
This book should become a seminal work, central to all social work training. It will teach you more in a single chapter about love, hope and uniqueness than any other core text you can hope to find. -- from the foreword, Elaine James, Learning Disabilities Commissioner and Rob Mitchell, Principal Worker



Book Information
ISBN 9781787751910
Author Sara Ryan
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Weight(grams) 220g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 152mm * 22mm