Danny's People

Society disables us more than autism ever could ';My brain's still fizzing, my heart's still sore and I'm already re-reading' Sally Phillips Virginia's son Danny has a way of lighting up a room. He's warm, personable and has an infectious laugh. He forms lasting relationships and has known his best friend since they were little. He is also nonverbal and autistic, and requires round-the-clock care and a liquid diet. And for this reason, there are many who would rather not encounter Danny. Challenging the view that autism is something that needs to be ';cured', Virginia Bovell testifies to the extraordinary care Danny has received for over 30 years and the everyday kindness and decency of the people ';the band of angels' that surround him. She asks us to consider what makes a thriving individual versus an inadequate one; what it means to be ill versus what it means to not to conform; what roles society values and rewards; and how humans might flourish outside of failing political and economic systems. 'An inspiring testament and a celebration of neurodiversity.' Manni Coe, author of Brother. Do. You. Love. Me