Autism and the Law: Navigating a legal minefield

This book is an invaluable resource for legal practitioners and lay clients. It provides an accessible insight into the challenges faced by autistic individuals within our legal system; a system which was predominantly designed by and for neurotypical people. Feinstein covers the challenges associated with the assessment process and the pervasive culture of ‘parent blame’, before boldly tackling specific areas of law and the issues associated with each of them.

The book is well structured, allowing the reader to navigate specific areas with ease. However, it does not shy away from complex intersectional issues and the importance of how autistic individuals’ rights should be more effectively harmonised.

Each chapter is well researched and gives a – rather frightening – overview of the law and the challenges autistic individuals have accessing justice. Feinstein describes the exercise of those legal rights as a minefield. His case studies exemplify just how apt this description is.

Access to justice should be an equal right for all. The obstacles highlighted illustrate the need for better training and awareness. Compulsory training across the system akin to that received within the NHS would at least start to level this playing field. That training needs to centralise the needs of the individual. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. This needs to be mandated for everyone working within the justice system. Autism often goes undiagnosed.

This book is a very important read for all practitioners across the entire system.

Jenny Beck is co-founder of Beck Fitzgerald and a founding member of Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community