Warren: From passive and sensuous compliance to a more lively independence: limited therapeutic objectives with a

Acknowledgements

The largest debt of gratitude goes to our patients, from whom we have learned so much. We have been overwhelmed by their parents' enthusiasm for this project, and they have generously given us permission to write about their children in the hope that it might help other children with autism and their parents.

This book could also not have been written without the invaluable secretarial support of Debi Schifreen, whose tolerance and forbearance we have greatly appreciated. Many other secretaries have also been generous in their assistance Pamela Gair, Anne Joyce, Tracy Lakin, Jane Rayner and Jane Stockwell. We have been grateful for the friendly interest in our patients' progress provided by Jenny Allen, Allen Kirby and Juliet Tash in reception.

We are indebted to the staff of the Tavistock library; Margaret Walker, Angela Haselton and Helen Oliver have generously given us their time and expertise.

Our research projects are heavily dependent upon the technical support of David Wisker, Paul Watson, Andrew Mewitt and Suzanne Pike. A particular vote of thanks must go to our colleague, Dr Anthony Lee, who has put his time, advice and research and editing experience at our disposal. Dr Mary Sue Moore brought another dimension to our thinking in presenting relevant neurobiological research to the Autism Workshop, and she has given us much helpful advice in our research. Collaboration with colleagues in education and in other professions has been central to helping these children and their families. There are many with whom we have only recently begun to work, but we would particularly like to thank Johanna Ruggeri, Teresa Wasilewska, Enid Colmer and Jenny Gridley, with whom we have enjoyed a long association. We also need to mention our long association with Dr Sally Hodges and Dr David Simpson, both of whom have, to our delight, recently joined the Autism Team and Workshop at the Tavistock Clinic.

Our research and clinical activities have been supported by grants from the Winnicott Trust, the Tavistock Foundation, the Handicapped Children's Aid Committee, the Variety Club Children's Charity and the Goldsmith's Company, and we are very grateful to them.

An earlier version of Chapter 2 was presented to the annual conference of