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Phoebe Caldwell is an practitioner in Intensive interaction, working mainly with children and adults on the autistic spectrum. She has over 30 years experience as a practitioner with people whose severe learning disabilities are linked with behavioural distress. Caldwell graduated from the University of Bristol with an honorary doctorate of science in 2011. In 2009, Caldwell was awarded with the Times Sternberg Prize as she has major contributions beyond the age of 70.

She was a Rowntree Research Fellow for four years. She trains professionals, therapists, managers, practitioners, parents and carers in the approach known as Intensive Interaction. She is employed by the NHS, anSocial Services, Community Services and Education Services to work with difficult-to-provide-for individuals.

She is the author of eight books, including 'Finding You Finding Me', 'From Isolation to Intimacy, and 'Using Intensive Interaction and Sensory Integration' (the latter two with Jane Horwood, Paediatric Occupational Therapist) published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She also features in four training films.

At the beginning of her career with autism, she began her work as an untrained occupational therapy assistant. The work consisted of men with autism who were in long term institutions in the Bristol area. As Caldwell began her work, she began to undertake unconventional ways of working with and assisting those in the institution. She decided that painting and creating murals would help liven up the dull corridor in which they were confined to during her time as an assistant. After being terminated from her first position, she continued her work elsewhere in the surrounding areas of Bristol. After recognition spread about Caldwell's work, Bristol University sponsored the fabrication of a training video, featuring Caldwell.