Phoebe Caldwell is an expert practitioner in Intensive Interaction working mainly with children and adults on the Autistic Spectrum. She has over 30 years experience as a practitioner with people with severe learning disabilities. She describes her clients as experiencing 'behavioural distress' rather than their exhibiting challenging behaviour to others.
Her lecture was interspersed with well chosen video clips of her her practising in a variety of settings. The remarkable communicative 'break throughs' she demonstrated indicate an effective, if unconventional, approach to enhancing communication with people isolated by their autism.
I have written to the Director of Education and the Education Convener to suggest the Council consider inviting Phoebe Caldwell to work with practitioners in Dundee who work with children whose severe learning disabilities are linked with behavioural distress.