Tony Attwood


Anthony John Attwood is a British psychologist notable for his work on Asperger syndrome. He resides in Queensland, Australia, where he is an Associate Professor at Griffith University.

Education

He received an honours degree in psychology from the University of Hull, an M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Surrey and a Ph.D. from University College London supervised by Uta Frith.

Research and career

His books include Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, which has been translated into 20 languages and provides information on diagnosis, problems of social relations, sensory issues, motor control and other typical issues which face people with Asperger's and their support networks. His other books include The Complete Guide to Aspergers Syndrome, Exploring Feelings for Young Children with High-Functioning Autism or Aspergers Disorder, From Like to Love for Young People with Aspergers Syndrome : Learning How to Express and Enjoy Affection with Family and Friends.
Attwood has a clinical practice at his diagnostic and treatment clinic for children and adults with Asperger's Syndrome, in Brisbane, begun in 1992.
Attwood has expressed support for facilitated communication, a scientifically discredited communication technique, to an extent in Lucy's Story: Autism and Other Adventures.
Tony Attwood took 30 years to notice that his own son, Will Attwood, was autistic. Will became addicted to drugs in the meantime and ended up in jail. He later wrote a book on his experience, Asperger’s Syndrome and Jail.

Books

Karla Fisher, another autism advocate, said many of his jokes about autism were a mockery of autistic people. Other autism advocates also claimed that many of his descriptions of autistic people in his lectures are based on false stereotypes and he makes sweeping generalisations that are not based on evidence. In May 2019, there was a protest in Sheffield which was critical of his views.
This controversy is further supported by his many disparaging comments about autistic people in the book "Neurodiverse Relationships: Autistic and Neurotypical Partners Share Their Experiences" where he talks in about how:
Further, he continually refers to "the Aspie" despite this being discouraged by the National Autistic Society due to the Nazi links with Hans Asperger.