Your son doesn't do his homework and is failing nearly all his subjects, but his teachers say he just needs to try harder. Your daughter is moody, defiant, and barely speaks to you and you're thinking it's got to be more than just a phase. You hear other parents talk about the great things their kids are doing and you wonder, "What am I doing wrong?" In this second edition of Parenting Children With ADHD, Dr. Vince Monastra provides practical, step-by-step guidance to parents looking for ways to bring out the best in kids with ADHD. He presents updated lessons about the causes of ADHD, how medications work, and the problems that sleep deficits, poor nutrition, and other medical disorders can cause. He also shares his innovative approach for improving organization, task-completion, problem- solving and emotional control. Updates in this edition include: * new procedures and tests for diagnosing ADHD * empirically-supported psychological treatments for ADHD, including neurotherapy * tips for developing a safe, supportive educational environment for your child * a new chapter on teaching life values such as kindness, generosity and compassion

At the heart of this volume is the recognition that children's engagement with play and story are intrinsically and intricately linked. The contributing authors share a passionate interest in the development and well-being of children, in particular through their use of imagination and adaptation of the everyday into play and stories. Following these principles, the volume explores the connections between play, story, and pretense with regard to many cultural and contextual factors that influence the way these elements vary in children's lives. In a departure from earlier collections on play and story, the authors take a particular focus on normative as compared with atypical development. This collection begins with an approach to understanding the developmental relationship between play and story, which recognizes their similarities while acknowledging their differences. Much of the collection addresses pretend play and story in children with autism spectrum disorder, an understudied but important group for consideration, as these dimensions of their lives and development have often been considered problematic. The volume also includes sections on play and story in classroom settings and play and story across cultures, including non-English-speaking environments such as Israel, Romania, China, and Mexico. It concludes with a discussion of how play differs across sociocultural and economic contexts, making a unifying claim for the importance of play in children's lives but also calling for an understanding of what play means to very different groups of children.

The Nine Degrees of Autism presents a much-needed positive tool for understanding the developmental process of autism, and to facilitate the improved mental health and well-being of individuals on the spectrum. The ground-breaking model charts nine distinct stages of development - from pre-identification, to learning to live with changes in self-image following a late diagnosis, through to self-acceptance and wellbeing. Using the model as a framework each chapter focuses on a particular stage of the process. Experts provide personal insights into the environmental and societal challenges faced by individuals with autism, and dispel a number of popular misconceptions. The positive developmental model described in this book will encourage people on the Spectrum to accept themselves by focusing on their gifts rather than weaknesses, and to avoid identifying with negative medical classifications. The developmental process which the authors describe is also applicable to other 'hidden' neurological conditions such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Aphasia, and ADHD. The book should be read by anyone who wants to understand the real nature and experience of autism and will also be essential reading for a range of professionals seeking to work more effectively with individuals on the spectrum.

This practical resource contains a wealth of valuable advice and tried-and-tested strategies for identifying children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This fully updated text describes the different types of difficulties experienced by pupils with ASD and helps practitioners to understand their diverse needs. This fully updated new edition explores key topics, including: organizing the classroom and support staff home-school liaison and working with siblings transition to adulthood independence skills whole school implications. Now fully updated in line with the SEND 2014 Code of Practice, this invaluable guide provides guidance and practical strategies for teachers and other professionals, helping them to feel more confident, and be more effective in supporting learners in a variety of settings. For professional development, this book also provides materials for in-house training sessions, and features useful checklists, templates and photocopiable/downloadable resources.

The fifth edition of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Advancing Positive Practices in Education provides readers with a comprehensive and accessible understanding of current research and evidence-based practices in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), linking research, theory, and practice. This new edition includes new chapters on trauma and co-morbidity, current trends in autism research, social media, neurodiversity, and aging in people with ASD. It also features updated content on international contexts and culturally sustaining and relevant practices. Aligned with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, this text continues to be critical reading for students and researchers in special and inclusive education programs.

Supporting Change in Autism Services explores the theoretical and practical dimensions of improving service provision for children, young people and adults with autism. The core aim of the book is to identify and critically examine some of the key factors that either facilitate or inhibit the implementation of good autism practice at both practitioner level and workplace level. It shows practitioners and students how to successfully translate autism theory into practice across service contexts and showcases a range of practitioner case studies throughout the text in order to illustrate effective implementation. Topics explored include: controversies and ambiguities in autism policy, theory and discourse; understanding autism in an inclusive context; enabling participation; making sense of behaviour; autism and interprofessionalism; strategic planning for autism friendly services; bridging the implementation gap. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in improving services for people with autism in the education, social care, health and voluntary sectors.

Children on the autistic spectrum experience varying degrees of difficulties; all of which can be understood as a disassociation of mind and body. Expressing feelings, making eye contact, keeping a steady heartbeat and recognizing faces are all part of the autism dilemma which can be poetically explored by Shakespeare. Over ten years, Hunter worked with children on all points of the spectrum, developing drama games for the specific purpose of combatting autism. These unique games, derived from specific moments in the plays, shed new light on how to teach Shakespeare to children, using the drama as an exploration of how it feels to be alive. Shakespeare's Heartbeat is a step-by-step guide, detailing how to demonstrate, play and share these sensory games. The book includes: Games based on A Midsummer Night's Dream Games based on The Tempest Tips and advice for playing one-on-one with the children An afterword describing Hunter's journey from performer and practitioner to creator of this work. Shakespeare's poetic definitions of seeing, thinking and loving reveal the very processes that children with autism find so difficult to achieve. This book provides an indispensable learning tool for those wishing to encourage children's eye contact and facial expression, improve their spatial awareness and language skills and introduce them to imaginative play.

Written to meet the needs of teaching assistants and learning support assistants, this book provides a practical toolkit for supporting students on the autistic spectrum in mainstream secondary schools.

The book offers a clear, jargon free explanation of autism spectrum conditions and examines the difficulties arising from these conditions and how they can impact on students learning. Addressing issues which arise on a daily basis, it is full of practical advice and strategies for supporting students socially and academically across all areas of the curriculum.

Features include:

Packed with photocopiable resources that can be adapted to suit individual students needs, this book is essential reading for teaching assistants that want to help their students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential. "

Being a teen or tween is tough for anyone. And if you're on the Autism Spectrum, life can feel like a game you're playing without knowing the rules. Jennifer Cook knows - she's been there! Her internationally bestselling handbook is the key to unlocking those unwritten, often confusing, not-so-obvious social guidelines and bolstering confidence, all at once. Finally, teens can play the game of life with instructions. The 10th Anniversary Edition of The (Secret) Book of Social Rules reveals the essential secrets behind the baffling social codes surrounding making and keeping friends, dating, and catastrophic conversation pitfalls, with all-new content on social media and talking about neurodiversity. It's no wonder Jennifer's is the navigation tool tens of thousands of fans have come to love! Full of brand-new funny illustrations, take-it-from-me explanations, and comic strip examples, this Book of the Year award winner is real, positive, and speaks from the heart (without ever sounding like your mother's guide to manners). It's confidence, humor, and smarts. For the Human Spectrum.

* The program and philosophy described in the book is unique as it presents the concept with a basis in behavioral analysis, and how improvised theatre can be used as a tool, rather than as simply a recreational activity or social event * Includes a comprehensive listing of 80+ different games/activities. Each activity is clearly explained, including the methodology, process and insight for teachers, as well as the underlying purpose each game is designed to address * In addition to professionals teaching social skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, the content of the book is also designed so that parents of special needs students can easily access the activities for at-home instruction and recreational use with their children

This highly practical resource book is full of realistic and achievable strategies to help teachers to support neurodiverse students in a range of situations that, whilst often seemingly insignificant, can quickly become substantial and disruptive challenges in the mainstream classroom. Written with the busy teacher in mind, chapters are easy to dip in and out of, with jargon-free language and simple explanations which are easy to understand and put into practice. Clear chapters explore a variety of situations and topics to help children engage in their learning and make the classroom a safe and inviting place to be for autistic students. Key features include: Practical and achievable strategies to support autistic students in the mainstream classroom Real-life scenarios to help you find concrete solutions to issues as they arise Memorable mantras and quick quotes to help embed strategies in everyday practice for both students and teachers Photocopiable and downloadable resource sheets Written by an advisory teacher for autism with a wealth of experience, this book will be an invaluable tool for both primary and secondary teachers in mainstream settings, as well as other education professionals.

A key issue for researchers and practitioners is how to support the social engagement of children with autism in ordinary, everyday social processes that are transactional in nature and involve mixed groups of children, with and without autism, in rich and varied relationships. Autism and the Social World of Childhood brings together current understandings about the social engagement of children with autism, gained from psychology-based research into autism, with well-established ideas about children's everyday social worlds, gained from sociocultural theories of childhood. It describes the experiences of interaction, friendship and play from children's own point of view as a way of giving insight into children's lives as they are lived and understood by them. Such an understanding serves to inform educational practice and aids the provision of more effective learning environments. Autism and the Social World of Childhood includes sections on: the nature of play, social interaction and friendship in autism the nature of children's ordinary social worlds, including children's cultures of communication and variation in children's play research approaches to investigating the social engagement of children with and without autism in natural contexts educational approaches to supporting the integration of children with autism within a school setting the importance of assessment in autism education. Autism and the Social World of Childhood includes real life descriptions of children's social experiences taken from ethnographic research into the play and interaction of children with and without autism. Practical guidance is provided on educational approaches to supporting the inclusion of children with autism within the ordinary social worlds of childhood.

Teaching Children with High-Level Autism combines the perspectives of families and children with disabilities and frames these personal experiences in the context of evidence-based practice, providing pre- and in-service teachers and professionals with vital information on how they can help children with high-level autism reach their full potential. Many children with high-level autism are capable of regulating their behaviors given the right interventions, and this cutting edge text explores multiple methods for helping such children succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally. The book: * draws from interviews with twenty families who have middle- and high-school-aged children with high functioning autism or Aspergers syndrome; * presents a synthesis of the most cutting-edge research in the field; * provides practical advice for educating children with high-level autism; * is authored by two special education professors who are also both the parents of children with disabilities. Teaching Children with High-Level Autism is essential reading for anyone who works or plans to work with children on the upper range of the autism spectrum.

The range of learning difficulties associated with children who have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) has been highlighted as an emerging but little understood area of Special Educational Needs. This engaging, timely, and highly practical book will raise awareness about FASDs and their associated difficulties across the entire education workforce. It provides a range of specialist, practical tried-and-tested teaching and learning strategies, from which teachers and support staff may construct personalised learning plans for students with FASDs, and will help improve outcomes for all their children. It also: explains the impact that FASDs can have on the child's brain; discusses the overlapping and co-existing disorders, such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders; shows how to support and empower teachers; provides ready-to-use teaching resources and strategies that can be used directly in the classroom. Informed by the very latest research and written by leading experts in the field, Educating Children and Young People with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders will prove invaluable for experienced teachers and teaching assistants who are engaging in Continuing Professional Development, as well as newly qualified and training Initial Teacher Training students.

The range of learning difficulties associated with children who have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) has been highlighted as an emerging but little understood area of Special Educational Needs.

This engaging, timely, and highly practical book will raise awareness about FASDs and their associated difficulties across the entire education workforce. It provides a range of specialist, practical tried-and-tested teaching and learning strategies, from which teachers and support staff may construct personalised learning plans for students with FASDs, and will help improve outcomes for all their children. It also:

• explains the impact that FASDs can have on the child s brain;
• discusses the overlapping and co-existing disorders, such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders;
• shows how to support and empower teachers;
• provides ready-to-use teaching resources and strategies that can be used directly in the classroom.

Informed by the very latest research and written by leading experts in the field, Educating Children and Young People with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders will prove invaluable for experienced teachers and teaching assistants who are engaging in Continuing Professional Development, as well as newly qualified and training Initial Teacher Training students."

Autism is a complex and often puzzling disorder in which pinning down a set of rules surrounding the teaching of children with it is almost impossible to do. Many theories and approaches claim to have the solution to teaching, yet few provide the answers when an autistic child goes against the status quo.

Autism and Learning addresses this problem with a principled approach that is based on the understanding of the pedagogy and psychology of autism. It shows how theory can influence practice and sets out a cognitive view of the relationship between learning and autism whilst explaining how the curriculum must be constructed as to accommodate that relationship. The book also sets out principles of pedagogy and illustrates their application.

Written by practitioners experienced in teaching children with autism, the book covers examples of good practice in the most salient areas of the curriculum including:

• Developing play
• Group work
• Science
• Dance and drama
• ICT
• Assessment
• Communication
• Outdoor learning.

Now with an updated preface from internationally renowned editors, this classic text should be on the bookshelves of all practitioners working with autistic children.

Similar to a handbook in its comprehensive description of the theory and research supporting current practices in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders, this interdisciplinary text shows how the existing knowledge base can be used to explore promising new possibilities related to the field's many unanswered questions. Key features include the following:

Comprehensive ? This is the first book to consider the history and current state of autism as a field in transition, to cover its varied approaches and philosophies, and to describe the interventions used throughout the developmental cycle.

Cross Disciplinary ? Serving students with autism necessitates communication and collaboration among professionals from several disciplines as well as family members. The editors have, therefore, brought together divergent perspectives, theories and philosophies in order to demonstrate that scientific evidence, rather than educational orientation, must determine which practices should be selected for use in particular situations.

Research Based ? Whereas many existing texts advocate a particular type of treatment, this one recognizes that interventions must be selected and evaluated based on the scientific evidence of their effectiveness.

Integrated Methodology ?Chapter authors consider findings from studies that employed single-subject designs, experimental large-scale studies, and qualitative methodology. The inter-relatedness of therapies and disciplines will be highlighted throughout.

Expertise ? The volume editors are all highly visible researchers in autism and developmental disabilities. Likewise, each chapter is directed by a senior, highly accomplished author who is nationally recognized for his/her work in the topic being addressed.

This book is appropriate for practicing professionals in education and psychology and for speech/language therapists and other clinicians. It is also suitable as a graduate level text in these fields.

In the real world, people on the autism spectrum need the same kinds of day-to-day skills everyone else needs to be functional! It's true. No matter how high-functioning children with autism or Asperger's may be or may become, they function better as adults if they've had the chance to learn basic skills, from being on time to good personal hygiene. Many reach adulthood without those skills; enter Jennifer McIlwee Myers, Aspie at Large! Co-author of the groundbreaking book Asperger's and Girls, Jennifer's personal experience with Asperger's Syndrome and having a brother with autism makes her perspective doubly insightful. Jennifer can show you how to: Create opportunities for children to learn in natural settings and situations Teach vital skills such as everyday domestic tasks, choosing appropriate attire, and being polite Help individuals on the spectrum develop good habits that will help them be more fit and healthy Improve time management skills such as punctuality and task-switching and much more! Jennifer's straightforward and humorous delivery will keep you eagerly turning the page for her next creative solution!

One of the largest and most complex human services systems in history has evolved to address the needs of people with autism and intellectual disabilities, yet important questions remain for many professionals, administrators, and parents. What approaches to early intervention, education, treatment, therapy, and remediation really help those with autism and other intellectual disabilities improve their functioning and adaptation? Alternatively, what approaches represent wastes of time, effort, and resources? Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, 2nd Edition brings together leading behavioral scientists and practitioners to shed much-needed light on the major controversies surrounding these questions. Expert authors review the origins, perpetuation, and resistance to scrutiny of questionable practices, and offer a clear rationale for appraising the quality of various services. The second edition of Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities has been fully revised and updated and includes entirely new chapters on psychology fads, why applied behavioral analysis is not a fad, rapid prompting, relationship therapies, the gluten-free, casein-free diet, evidence based practices, state government regulation of behavioral treatment, teaching ethics, and a parents' primer for autism treatments.

This fully revised new edition is a clear and concise guide to effective classroom practice. It is designed for teachers and assistants supporting children with Asperger syndrome in mainstream schools and other non-specialist settings. The book provides up-to-date information on the latest developments in this area and relates this to educational practice. With examples of innovative strategies and approaches to facilitate progress in learning, this new edition: * outlines the underlying impairments and their educational implications; * explores the process of assessment and diagnosis in Asperger Syndrome; * offers practical strategies for effective and realistic classroom intervention, including access to the National Curriculum; * considers the behavioural challenges the child with Asperger Syndrome may pose; * shows how transitions can be supported. Asperger Syndrome: A Practical Guide for Teachers, 2nd Edition seeks to inform professionals meeting a child with Asperger Syndrome for the first time and equip them with effective educational and behavioural intervention strategies. This new edition is also updated with reference to Every Child Matters, the Disability Equality Duty and Access Inclusion Planning. This book will be essential to professionals in mainstream schools, educational psychologists, INSET providers (including initial teacher training), as well as to parents, carers and others supporting social and behavioural progress for students with Asperger Syndrome.

This easy-to-use resource is a compilation of theoretical background and concrete approaches designed to increase understanding and outline strategies to support autistic children and young people who experience anxiety in the school environment. This resource also has practical application for parents, carers and professionals across a range of educational and community-based settings. Using real life examples and case studies, the book explains and explores the different forms of anxiety and their impact across the school environment. Each chapter offers practical information and strategies that may help reduce the negative symptoms of anxiety and help support emotional resilience across home and school environments. Key features of this book include: Chapters aimed at enhancing the understanding of anxiety in autism, considering potential triggers of anxiety, discussion on cognitive theories, social communication and means of assessing anxiety. A wealth of downloadable anxiety management strategies and resources that can be adapted and used by a teacher, parent or other professional. This resource has been developed by the multidisciplinary team at Middletown Centre for Autism, and is a useful resource for the busy parent, teacher and other professionals who wish to provide individualised support strategies for anxiety across a range of settings.

This original and imaginative book has been created by five-year-old Heath. In it, Heath illustrates his understanding of his autistic mother Joanna, giving insight into the different ways in which autistic and neurotypical people understand language. In his simple and uncomplicated style, accompanied by bright and colourful illustrations, Heath explains why his mother's brain understands words at a different rate than his own, and how they communicate in spite of their differences. Heath's work is accompanied by explanatory notes exploring Joanna's own experience of autism and language. Key features include: A Foreword by broadcaster, environmentalist and author Chris Packham, on acceptance, understanding, and expressing an autistic reality A unique exploration of language processing differences told through the eyes and mind of a child. Bright, colourful pictures and simple language, perfect for inspiring conversations about neurodiversity between people of all ages. Explanatory text that can be read alongside the story. Autism portrayed as a positive and permanent neurological difference, not deficit. The combination of story and commentary makes this book a unique tool for all people seeking to explain and understand difference, regardless of age and experience. Although focusing on autism as an example of neural difference, it can be used to explain and celebrate neurodiversity in all its forms and will help to build relationships across the divide of neurological difference.

This book addresses the specific mental health needs of girls and young women with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Looking at the ways autism presents differently in girls than in boys, and the mental health conditions that occur most frequently in girls with ASD, this is the essential guide for clinicians and educators on tailoring interventions and support to meet girls' needs. Describing the current assessment process for autism diagnosis, the book explains why girls are under- or mis-diagnosed, leading to later mental health issues. It outlines the types of intervention that are particularly helpful for working with girls to reduce anxiety, improve social interaction skills, and manage self-harm. The book also covers how to manage eating disorders and feeding difficulties, focusing on working with girls with sensory processing difficulties. There is advice on how to deal with the emotional impact on parents, carers and families, and the challenges they face when negotiating appropriate psychological and educational support.

Produced in conjunction with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), Australia's largest provider of services with people on the autism spectrum, this new text explores the experiences, needs and aspirations of adults on the spectrum. The volume utilises the structure of a recent survey (the only one of its type in Australia and one of few conducted internationally) and presents data from the study with contributions from adults on the spectrum to illustrate the findings with first person accounts and case studies. By drawing on these unique experiences, this valuable resource is presented in a way that will be both engaging and accessible for a wide range of readers.

Technology for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders provides readers with an in-depth look at the characteristics of learners with ASD and explains how different forms of technology can be used to create learning opportunities for autistic students. The book is both academic and practical to appeal to multiple audiences: academicians, parents, teachers and therapists. Currently, there is scant literature speaking to the types of academic activities that should be developed and used to help children with ASD gain skills in academic areas: reading, writing, effective communication and mathematics. This book fills that void by including sample academic activities, explaining strategies for working with children diagnosed with ASD and examining ways a variety of technology tools can be used. All of the activities are visually appealing and they have been used with learners diagnosed with ASD.