Barry M. Prizant

Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP is among the world’s leading authorities on autism, and is recognized as an innovator of respectful, person- and family-centered approaches for individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental conditions. With fifty years of experience as a scholar, researcher, and international consultant, he is a visiting scholar at Brown University, a certified speech-language pathologist and Director of Childhood Communication Services, a private practice. Barry is coauthor of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published five books, more than 140 articles and chapters and has received many awards, including the Honors of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (their highest recognition), the Princeton University Eden Foundation career award for improving quality of life for persons on the autism spectrum, and the "Divine Neurotypical Award" of GRASP, the world's largest autistic self-advocacy organization. He has been a two-time featured presenter (2013, 2017) at the United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day. Barry has a specific interest on the positive impact of the arts for autistic and disabled children and adults, and sits on the boards of The Miracle Project of Los Angeles and The Spectrum Theatre Ensemble of Providence, RI.

His recent book, "Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism" is the best-selling book on autism since 2015. With a wealth of inspiring stories and practical advice from thousands of children and older people on the autism spectrum and their families, "Uniquely Human" conveys a deep respect for the qualities of people on the autism spectrum. It offers a compassionate and insightful perspective that has been called “life-changing as well as uplifting”. It is now published in 22 languages, was selected as the featured book on autism by the United Nations in 2017, and was ranked by Book Authority as #1 of the “100 best books on autism of all time”. The updated and expanded edition was published in April, 2022, along with the audiobook version narrated by Barry. Barry also co-hosts a podcast, "Uniquely Human: The Podcast" (www.uniquelyhuman.com), with his friend, Dave Finch, an autistic audio engineer and NYT best-selling author.