NZ Author Launches Unique Book On Autism

A former Northland counsellor now based in Brisbane, is taking her work to the world with the launch of her book on Autism and Neurodiversity - ‘Neuro – WHAT?’.

And Dee Jones believes it will help support neurodivergent people or people associated with neurodivergents, with a particular focus on Autism.

It is now available at https://www.clark-mackay.com.au/shop/

She hopes her book will provide the tools and knowledge to improve communication in relationships where at least one is neurodivergent (with main emphasis on Autism).

“For a couple of decades, autistic people have repeatedly asked me to explain how neurotypicals think and work because autistic people are often confused by neurotypicals, and visa versa,” says Dee.

“My clients regularly ask how they can take home what’s in my head and whether there was an easy-to-read book on the subject, which there wasn’t, so I wrote what I believe is the only one of its kind in the world.

“’Neuro – WHAT?’ Is written in everyday language (non-academic) with an explanation of all things autistic, supported by numerous case studies and illustrations. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so Dee has included plenty of images to help explain neurodiverse differences in perception and interpretation of social and personal situations.

“I recognise the words and terminology around neurodivergence have changed in recent years but to ensure this book can be understood by, and is within reach, of everyone, I have purposely included a mix of historical and modern words, descriptions and analogies.”

Dee is determined to help people in neurodiverse relationships communicate better – at home and in the workplace – and says the development of ‘Neuro – WHAT?’ has been a project of passion as much as it has been the development of a manuscript based on nearly three decades of clinical study, counselling, observation and learning.

She says the easiest way to describe neurotypicals is that most of the population is typical, meaning that their brains are all wired the same way. A smaller group are wired differently and are referred to as neurodivergent, which includes Autism, ADHD and Tourette’s, among other neurological or brain wiring differences.

Dee is an author, counsellor, Autism consultant and public speaker, who has helped individuals and couples in relationships for over 25 years – much of that time based in Te Kamo until she took up a sabbatical to work in Brisbane in 2021

She is a fully registered counsellor in New Zealand and Australia, and while most her clients are New Zealand-based, Dee also offers Australian and international consultations via tele-health apps due to her travelling schedule. Additionally, Dee consults through all aspects of neurodivergence, with a particular focus on ADHD and Autism - which includes what was previously termed Asperger(s) Syndrome - among them.

She works with individuals, families and couples in this regard too.

As the diagnosis of Autism in children has increased by 657% in the past ten years, Dee believes there are significant numbers of autistic people in workplaces.

“I want to help people create safe work environmental spaces for neurodivergent people, so we encourage employers, HR personal, and management to read ‘Neuro – WHAT?’.

“I believe it will help anyone in the workspace and places of education, particularly where Autism is apparent, by giving people insight and understanding to help make the workplace more efficient and mutually accommodating, while creating a workspace that is more understanding and comfortable,” says Dee.

She plans to hold workshops on neurodivergence/Autism throughout Australia and New Zealand in the latter part of 2025 and hopes those, combined with the learnings people can take from ‘Neuro – WHAT?’, will assist people communicating and understanding each other’s needs better.

Interestingly, the foreword to Dee’s book is written by one of the most pre-eminent academics within the Autism field, Professor Tony Attwood, an Associate Professor at Griffith University - so it comes with the support of well-established experts.

Says Dee: “Tony Attwood has said to me that every counsellor, teacher, psychologist, speech therapist, doctor and anyone who works in the field where there is Autism, should have a copy of this book. I feel incredibly grateful for my work to receive an accolade like that from someone so highly experienced and respected in the field.”

Dee Jones and her colleague, Dr Yvette Ahmad, are also working on a screening tool for identifying females on the Autism spectrum.

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