The Little Book of Autism FAQs

Davida Hartman gives parents an honest, nuanced and above all empowering and heart-warming answer to perhaps the most pertinent question they have: Do we tell our child that he/she has autism? – Peter Vermeulen, Autism in Context, BelgiumThe more I read on, the more there was to love. Hartman covers difficult questions in a compassionate yet straightforward manner, offering clear and positive guidance to parents who may be wondering how on Earth to talk to their children about their diagnosis - all the while discussing autism and neurodiversity in a respectful and encouraging way. – Chris Bonnello, author of AutisticNotWeird.com

Davida (she/her) is an Adjunct Professor in the UCD School of Psychology and Chartered Educational & Child Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland. She founded and is Clinical Director at The Adult Autism & ADHD Practice, a fully online service that covers the UK and Ireland, with a vision of providing respectful, neurodiversity affirmative, autism and ADHD identification (assessment) work within a team that is shaped by the Autistic and ADHD voice and experience. She is also co-founder, Clinical Director and Principal Psychologist at The Children’s Clinic, based on these same principals. Established in 2016, The Children’s Clinic now has locations now across Ireland supporting Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent children 0-18 with a focus on best practice neurodiversity affirmative child autism identifications. Prior to this, Davida worked for many years within the Irish public health service, in teams supporting Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent children. Davida has also brought to Ireland the not for profit Gig Buddies, where she is a Board Director. Gig Buddies aims to reduce loneliness and increase social participation for adults with a learning disability who may or may not also be Autistic. Davida is late identified ADHD and part of a multiply neurodivergent family. She is a passionate ally of the Autistic community. Davida has written several books (alone and alongside her Autistic colleagues) with Jessica Kingsley Publishers in the area of Autistic experience, including the first ever book on adult autism identification and the first ever book on neurodiversity affirmative child autism identification.