Swimming with the Current But against the Tide: Reflections of an Autistic Social Worker

Abstract

Abstract Autism in social work generally focuses on working with children or adults who are users of services. This reflexive account focuses on the author’s lived experience as an Autistic social worker in the UK and why it is still important to inform the social work profession about autism. Using the creative and connective power of analogy, the author identifies the strengths Autistic social workers can offer within the trauma of the everyday as an Autistic person, locating this within the context of social work practice. The author challenges the deficit focus on autism within research and practice and offers opportunity to connect with your understanding of autism and what that may mean in terms of developing your own relational, anti-oppressive practice.