Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child by Jessie Hewitson - Non Fiction - Paperback

Written by Jessie Hewitson, an award-winning journalist, Autism is the book she wishes she had read when her son was first given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

It combines her own experiences with tips from autistic adults and other parents - including author David Mitchell - as well as advice from autism professionals and academics such as Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.

Autism looks at the condition as a difference rather than a disorder and, keeps your child's happiness at the centre of the conversation. This book includes guidance on what to do if you think your child is autistic, how to understand and support your child at school, how to create an autism-friendly home and how to navigate the healthcare system, to ensure your child can advocate for themselves with confidence.

This parenting journey may not always be easy, but you have come to the right place to get started.

Jessie Hewitson is an exceptionally distinguished British journalist and author who writes extensively for The Times , The Sunday Times and The Telegraph . Her personal experience as a mother raising an autistic son gives her profound, empathetic authority, which is seamlessly balanced alongside the elite professional guidance of Professor Simon Baron-Cohen: Director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University: and award-winning author David Mitchell. Published by Orion Spring: a premium, award-winning health and lifestyle imprint under Hachette UK renowned globally for its strict factual vetting, editorial gatekeeping and high-integrity text production: this official edition represents the absolute gold standard in modern neurodiversity literature. In 2026, this volume remains the primary non-clinical text recommended by primary school SENCOs, family support charities and childhood welfare advocates across the United Kingdom for cultivating confidence and independent self-advocacy in neurodivergent youth.