Pervasive Developmental Disorder, or PDD, is the umbrella term used to cover the whole family of autistic spectrum disorders – including autism and Asperger Syndrome. Within this group there is a subgroup called NOS – not otherwise specified – which covers the conditions which do not quite meet the diagnostic criteria for autism or Asperger Syndrome. Because PDD covers such a wide spectrum, it presents very differently from child to child. Written principally for parents, this is a book which explains what it means for your child to be diagnosed with PDD, NOS, autism or Asperger Syndrome, and where you go from there. The authors describe the symptoms of PDD, what a diagnosis means, how a child fits into the diagnostic terminology and the diagnostic procedures involved. They also review associated disorders such as OCD, and discuss the different treatments and therapies available. The book includes frequently-asked questions, as well as the experiences of other parents. It is accessible, informative and supportive, a practical introduction to PDD.
When his son, Matthew, was finally diagnosed with autism at 12 years old, Mike Stanton thought the diagnosis marked the end of their troubles. In fact, despite the increase in reported levels of autism, appropriate support and clear information were hard to find. Mike had to teach himself and then attempt to pass on his knowledge and understanding to those who worked with his son. But because Matthew has high functioning autism his obvious abilities helped to disguise his more fundamental autistic spectrum disorder. As a consequence, Mike found that his efforts were not always appreciated. Like many parents, who ought to be a valuable source of information and help to busy professionals, he was sometimes made to feel as though it was him and not his son's autism that was the problem. So he wrote this accessible, informative book which provides a clear explanation of the autistic spectrum and dissects and dispels some of the myths about autistic behaviour and the various types of autism. Intended for the professionals who work with autistic people and their families and friends, Learning to Live with High Functioning Autism draws on the Stanton family's experience, and compares it with the experiences of others, to offer an honest portrayal of what living with autism is actually like for all of those involved. It offers an insight into the world of autistic children and the problems that they and their families face. It provides support and encouragement for families of children with autism, as well as being an invaluable source of information and advice for professionals working with autistic children and their families. Most important of all, it argues convincingly that learning to live with autism is a two-way process. We have to reject all models of intervention based upon coercion and compliance in order to work in partnership with young people with autism.
This book provides practical, hands-on strategies to teach social skills to children with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome. It includes a detailed description of the social deficits of these children as they appear in the classroom – difficulties with such things as understanding idioms, taking turns in conversation, understanding and using tone of voice and body language – and ways to address them. Instruction is included in the book to enhance the development of appropriate, measurable, and meaningful individualized education plans (IEPs) to incorporate social goals. Lesson plans are included to facilitate the ability to 'teach' these social goals. Parents will find this text an excellent training tool to help develop social education curriculums for their children, and teachers will find it particularly helpful as an easy-to-read manual containing many 'nuts and bolts' strategies to utilize in the classroom.
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a term used to describe children who have difficulty with movement and specific aspects of learning, and includes dyspraxia, Asperger Syndrome and associated conditions. This easy-to-read booklet answers commonly asked questions about DCD and presents all the necessary information to aid parents, carers and professionals in selecting the best options for their child; sometimes correcting the little things can lead to big results. In clearly laid out chapters, the author describes the features of Developmental Coordination Disorder and provides practical solutions ranging from maintaining posture and personal care through to the more complex tasks of learning. Practical exercises to help improve the DCD child's motor and sensory skills are included, plus an extensive list of useful addresses and resources.
Martha Kennedy Hartnett is the mother of a child with Asperger's Syndrome who made the courageous choice to homeschool. Emerging from the author's personal experience, this book is a step by step account of successful home education. Choosing Home will take you into the homes of Asperger families as they journey from survival of the playground bully to making it work at home. Hartnett embraces those pertinent questions raised by parents: Will I be limiting my child's emotional and social development? How will I know if my teaching is good enough? What if I can't cope? These questions and many more are answered in this touching and insightful narrative. This is a book of hope and encouragement to all parents with an interest in homeschooling.
Friendship, even for the most able, requires hard work, and the odds are heavily stacked against those with autism spectrum conditions. Designed for younger children, typically between the ages of two and eight, this comprehensive set of enjoyable activities emphasizes foundation skills such as social referencing, regulating behavior, conversational reciprocity and synchronized actions. The authors include many objectives to plan and evaluate a child's progress, each one related to a specific exercise. Suitable for parental use, the manual is also designed for easy implementation in schools and in therapeutic settings.
Understanding How Asperger Children and Adolescents Think and Learn helps educators appreciate the learning process and improve its effectiveness for students with Asperger Syndrome. The author provides a compelling inside view of how AS pupils perceive and understand what goes on in the classroom, and how they, in turn, are perceived by fellow pupils and teachers. She adopts a pragmatic approach to improving communications in the classroom and offers practical intervention strategies to increase mutual understanding and create a rewarding and supportive learning environment. The book also includes many examples of behavior commonly observed in AS children, and illuminating accounts of specific children's experiences, which help to understand the learning process and avoid misunderstandings. This accessible book is a key resource for educators and parents of AS children and provides invaluable guidance and strategies for professionals who need to understand how AS pupils learn and communicate.
Based on twenty-five years of teaching and working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), Christy L. Magnusen contends that it is those teachers who can blend the 'science' of education methodology with the 'art' of teaching who are best able to reach these children. Examining both these aspects of teaching, she takes a fresh look at established and more recent teaching methods such as structuring spaces, emphasizing language and planning strategies for transition and generalization, and then explores the art of implementation: why, when and how these techniques should be applied. By highlighting workable solutions to everyday problems, and emphasizing that teachers need to understand techniques and have the ability to adapt them to the situation that faces them, this book will be invaluable to all those involved in teaching children with ASDs.
The Social Stories(TM) approach is widely acknowledged as a key technique for teaching social and life skills to children with autistic spectrum disorders. This text, endorsed by the originator of Social Stories(TM), Carol Gray, offers clear and comprehensive guidance for professionals, parents and carers on how to write successful and targeted Social Stories(TM) that will help develop the autistic spectrum child's understanding of social interaction. The book outlines the kinds of social challenges that people with ASD may experience and highlights the importance of learning social skills in meaningful contexts. An extended review of the guidelines for writing Social Stories(TM) will help writers to structure and develop their stories. The authors explain the key elements and highlight the potential difficulties that a writer may encounter, while providing encouragement and guidance through the various stages of what is often a challenging process. They include examples from their own professional experience, and suggest ways in which the Social Stories(TM) approach may enhance other strategies. Helpful advice on presentation and implementation is provided. Revealing the Hidden Social Code is essential reading for any professional, parent, carer or teacher wanting to employ Social Stories(TM) to develop social understanding in people with ASDs.
Progress made with children with conduct disorder in specialist schools often does not transfer to the home, but this book shows how behavioural parent training and applied behaviour analysis can help professionals work with parents to continue improving their child's behaviour. Conduct Disorder and Behavioural Parent Training provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of conduct disorder and the individual, familial and social factors that influence the development of persistent antisocial behaviour. The author presents thorough evidence for the effectiveness of the following aspects of behavioural parent training: * compliance training * encouraging good behaviour through praise, enthusiasm and attention * using `time out' as an effective punishment technique * transfer of improvements to school setting * effects of treatment on the child's siblings. He considers the relative impact and costs of different settings for parent training, and outlines ethical issues and future directions for research in this area. This book is essential reading for all professionals involved in the care of children with conduct disorder, as well as psychology and social work students and academics.