Sexual health and sexuality can be difficult subjects for parents and caregivers to broach with autistic children, made more challenging when children are at the severe end of the autism spectrum. Some parents may even question the validity of teaching sexuality to those who are severely autistic. This practical handbook guides you through the process of teaching about sex and sexuality, answering all of the most crucial questions, including: Why is it necessary to teach this subject to my severely autistic child? When is the right time to start talking about these issues? How detailed and explicit should I be? What methods are most appropriate? It addresses male and female issues separately and covers public and private sexual behaviours, sexual abuse, cross-gender teaching and liaising with school, in addition to the more obvious areas such as physical changes and menstruation. This will be the ideal guide to teaching about sexual issues for any parent, caregiver or health educator caring for a person on the severe end of the autism spectrum.

With specific learning difficulties more prevalent than ever in mainstream schools, this is the essential guide for teachers wishing to create inclusive and successful learning environments in diverse classrooms. Focusing on promoting acceptance and self-esteem of each child rather than on labelling their difficulties, it shows how to make good use of simple resources and meet a wide range of needs, including children with ADHD, autism, OCD, dyslexia and special speech and language needs. The practical advice and strategies in this book enable schools to become more accepting places for all pupils, and embrace neurodiversity as the new 'normal' in education today.

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 primary 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: * advice on supporting students through examinations * examples and case studies to illustrate how the strategies described work in practice * forms to help with information collection and evaluation * templates to scaffold students' comprehension and learning in different subject areas 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.

"I'm looking at the Solar System display when I hear a child close by shouting at his mum, to which she replies 'No need to bite my head off!' I've heard of laughing your head off (to laugh a lot) and even biting your tongue (to be quiet) but biting someone's head off puts a rather more vivid picture into my mind!" During a trip to London, taking in tube announcements, guitar shops, and the Science Museum Michael Barton explores and explains the confusing "neurotypical" world of contradictory signage, hidden meanings and nonsensical figures of speech. His quirky and comic illustrations bring to life the journey from the comfort of his familiar university surroundings into the hectic bustle of central London. A fun and enlightening read for friends, family, caring professionals and anyone interested in an alternative viewpoint on the world. Sure to "strike a chord" with other day trippers on the autism spectrum.

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. "

This activity book is a helpful and creative tool for children aged 4-8 to learn and understand their emotions to help reduce anxiety. It is intended to be used in conjunction with the 10 Steps to Reducing Your Child's Anxiety on the Autism Spectrum: The CBT-Based 'Fun with Feelings' Parent Manual. Come and have fun with us, your feelings! Get to know us so that we can help you express your feelings any time you need to! Say hello to Happy Henry Honeydew and see how his eyes light up, his mouth has a great big smile and how he's always laughing. Sit beside Sad Sally Strawberry and you'll learn that when she is sad her eyes look down, her face has a frown, and sometimes she cries. You can show that you are strong, brave and clever by meeting and getting to know all of your feelings. By getting to know your feelings, and learning about the Tools in your Toolbox, you will be able to express and talk about your feelings whenever you need to.

Autism and depression are very commonly diagnosed together in young adults. This book is for them. Katie Saint and Carlos Torres, authors of Awkward: The Social Dos and Don'ts, have created another user-friendly resource by combining the issues and needs of young adults with both Autism and Depression into one workbook. Autism and Depression uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to target emotional regulation skills, perspective-taking, acceptance, independent goal setting, and skill-building related to symptoms associated with depression. This book can be used individually or with a trusted therapist or friend.

Since the early 90s, Carol Gray's world-famous Social Stories have helped thousands of children with autism spectrum disorders. This 15th Anniversary Edition of her best-selling book offers over 180 ready-to-use stories that parents and educators have depended on for years, and new sections added are: How to most effectively use and apply the stories; How to improve the lives of younger children; and Social Stories for teens and adults with autism. Developed through years of experience, these strategically written stories explain social situations in ways children and adults with autism understand, while teaching social skills needed for them to be successful at home, school, work, and in the community.

When in 1996, Patricia Stacey gave birth to her second child, a baby boy, she quickly noticed an emptiness in his gaze - a vacant quality that emphasized her sense that he was ill at ease in his own body. By the time Walker was five months old, his gaze was obsessively directed towards windows - light had become his true north.;Despite the reassurance of many health professionals that Walker was fine, during the weeks and months that followed the family continued to question the experts, who finally arrived at a diagnosis of "sensory integration problems"; a term inextricably linked with autism.;Refusing to accept that this diagnosis would lead to the finality of an autistic disorder, the family dedicated four years to incessantly drawing Walker away from the sirens that seemed to call him inwards, using the latest play-based techniques. Progress was often painfully gradual, and yet sometimes they made astonishing leaps on the back of seemingly bizarre treatments like simply rubbing the roof of Walker's mouth.;Not only a story of Walker's development, "The Boy Who Loved Windows" also follows his parents' journey of understanding and coming to terms with Walker's difficulties.; In 20

This ground-breaking book gives an accessible overview and synthesis of current knowledge of relevance to the development of excellence in autism education. By situating understandings of autism within a 'bio-psycho-social-insider' framework, the book offers fresh insights and new ways of thinking that bring together global pedagogic practice, research, policy, and the insider perspective. Guldberg critiques current notions of Evidence-Based Practice and suggests ways of bridging the research-practice gap. She explores the interrelationship between inclusive principles, distinctive group learning needs and the individual needs of the child or young person. Eight principles of good autism practice provide a helpful framework for how education settings and practitioners can adapt classroom environments and teaching so that autistic children and young people can thrive. Written for anyone who wants to make a difference to the lives of autistic pupils, Developing Excellence in Autism Practice provides practitioners and students on education courses with tools for best practices, and shows how to draw on these to implement true positive change in the classroom.

School-Based Consultation and Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder examines the preventive and remedial powers of consultation for indirectly supporting the needs of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), through collaborating with their parents and educators. Given the unprecedented numbers of students with ASD in schools, and the variety of evidence-based interventions currently available, consultation helps ensure appropriate service delivery across the range of student functioning. Focusing on foundational knowledge and skills that school consultants need to incorporate ASD service delivery into their research and practice, this text addresses consistent and effective service delivery for students with ASD to optimize their positive academic, behavioral, adaptive, and social communicative outcomes. Highlighting relevant cross-cultural research throughout its chapters, the book concludes with a section on future directions in the field that includes areas for improvement in meeting the needs of diverse students, families, and schools.

The transition to secondary school can be a daunting time for parents of autistic youngsters, as well as children themselves. Have you selected the right place? What if staff don't really understand your child's needs? Will they adapt sufficiently - and if not, then what happens? The good news is that you have the ability as a parent or carer to address these concerns, rather than leaving it all to chance. This book will give you the tools to do just that. From choosing the right school for your child (and spotting the tell-tale signs of the wrong one), to preparing both your child and the new school for the transition, to overcoming barriers and building a positive, collaborative and effective relationship between home and school. Tackling key topics from the point of view of both parent and teacher and using examples of great practice, this contains everything you need to know in order to build a more positive secondary school experience for your child.

Often thought of as a predominantly 'male' disorder, autism has long gone unidentified, unnoticed and unsupported in girls - sometimes with devastating consequences for their social and mental well-being. As current research reveals a much more balanced male-to-female ratio in autism, this book provides crucial insight into autistic girls' experiences, helping professionals to recognize, understand, support and teach them effectively. Drawing on the latest research findings, chapters consider why girls have historically been overlooked by traditional diagnostic approaches, identifying behaviours that may be particular to girls, and exploring the 'camouflaging' that can make the diagnosis of autistic girls more difficult. Chapters emphasize both the challenges and advantages of autism and take a multidisciplinary approach to encompass contributions from autistic girls and women, their family members, teachers, psychologists and other professionals. The result is an invaluable source of first-hand insights, knowledge and strategies, which will enable those living or working with girls on the autism spectrum to provide more informed and effective support. Giving voice to the experiences, concerns, needs and hopes of girls on the autism spectrum, this much-needed text will provide parents, teachers and other professionals with essential information to help them support and teach autistic girls more effectively.

Adolescence is a challenging stage for all individuals, especially for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Individuals with ASD face increased social isolation and engage in more challenging behaviors during adolescence. They also experience increased mental health challenges including anxiety and depression, and they are among the least likely of any disability group to attend college, be competitively employed, or live independently. At the same time, adolescents with ASD face a major shift in available services and support as they exit the K-12 educational system. The need to present what is known about this group in order to inform clinicians, researchers, and educators cannot be understated. Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder synthesizes current science on adolescents and young adults with ASD in order to inform mental health practitioners and education professionals who work directly with these individuals. While early childhood interventions for ASD have been extensively developed and tested, research on adolescents and young adults with ASD has lagged behind until recently. This comprehensive handbook can be utilized to train students and professionals in applied mental health roles. The handbook includes three sections: Part I reviews diagnosis and treatment of adolescents with ASD; Part II details how to support their educational needs; and Part III discusses special populations including college students and young women. Chapters highlight recommendations for clinicians and include study questions and additional resources.

Ellie likes lots of different things. She likes listening to music and making pizza. There are also things that Ellie enjoys doing in private, like touching her vagina. This accessible and positive resource helps parents and carers teach girls and young women with autism or related conditions about masturbation. It covers when and where it is appropriate and helps to establish boundaries surrounding privacy more generally. With simple but explicit illustrations, this book provides the perfect platform to talk about sexuality with girls and young women with autism or related conditions.

This highly practical resource introduces the concept of 'Gymtherapy'; a pioneering approach to working with children that uses movement as a means of promoting emotional wellbeing. Gymtherapy brings together the physical and emotional benefits of activity alongside the importance of safeguarding and supporting children, particularly those who are socio-economically deprived or emotionally vulnerable. Written in an accessible and vibrant style, Gymtherapy provides a full programme of lesson plans, structured across five key areas: Identity and Self Esteem, Mindfulness, Anger Expression, Protective Behaviour and Gender Stereotypes. Each lesson plan is based on accessible, tried and tested strategies, and outlines learning objectives, equipment needed and step-by-step instructions for facilitating practical activities. The chapters are illustrated with engaging real-life examples, case studies, survivor stories and tips, while at the same time linking practice to the underpinning social theory. Gymtherapy is an invaluable guide for teachers, social workers, school leaders and anyone with an interest in providing for the welfare and wellbeing of the children they work with.

The Autism Discussion Page blue book focuses on the core challenges associated with autism (cognitive, sensory, social, and emotional) and provides concise, accessible information and simple tools for supporting children with these vulnerabilities. Based on posts on the popular online community page and organised by subject for ease of reference, this book offers an excellent understanding of how children with autism process and experience the world and effective strategies for coping with the challenges.

The Autism Discussion Page green book covers anxiety and stress, challenging behaviors, stretching comfort zones, discipline, and school issues. It also provides more general teaching and mentoring strategies for coaching children on the autism spectrum in basic daily living strategies to improve their day-to-day lives. Based on posts on the popular online community page and organised by subject for ease of reference, this book offers an excellent understanding of how children with autism process and experience the world and effective strategies for coping with the challenges.

In this fully revised third edition, Corinna Laurie sets out practical strategies to help autistic children develop their sensory and motor skills. Learn to identify possible challenges, recognise signs of overload and work in a co-productive way with your student or child, developing sensory regulation strategies and improving motor skills to aid well-being. The simple, low-cost activities provide practical solutions to help children meet the demands of any situation, building skills from handwriting and using scissors to improving posture, co-ordination and motor planning. Sensory strategies include calming techniques and simple environmental modifications to prevent overwhelm, among many others. Helping to improve functional abilities and enable children to thrive and build independence, this is an essential resource for anyone working with children on the autism spectrum.

Savant and splinter skills are seen in memory, art, music or spatial skill amongst others. They can appear remarkable, but tend to be seen as 'obsessive' behaviors. Exploring Giftedness and Autism is based on a unique study which introduces and explores a differentiated curriculum and presents a combination of strategies employed in the education of gifted children and autistic children. Providing insights on the obsessive nature of savant skills, the challenging behaviors of savants and the familial link between the subject child's savant abilities and giftedness, the author highlights how the inclusion of this curriculum is critical in promoting better school performance and post-school employment opportunities. The study has demonstrated the importance of using a 'strengths' rather than a 'deficits' approach in the education of students with a disability, and regards autistic savants as gifted students with disabilities, or as 'twice-exceptional' students with autism. With a practical section dedicated to putting the research into practice this book is an incredibly important read for anyone working with gifted young people with disabilities in the classroom.

This practical resource takes a holistic view of the learning and development of children with autism, taking into account the nature of their social-emotional learning and the transactional nature of difficulty. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this accessible and practical text invites practitioners, pupils and parents to reflect on their understandings, beliefs and values and to make appropriate adjustments in their practice. Split into five chapters, this book covers some of the main issues involved in observation-based teaching and learning, including: educational assessment for pupils with special educational needs and disability points to consider when observing autistic pupils methods for listening within inclusive autism education learning outcomes for autistic pupils in relation to well-being, social participation and communication compiling pupil profiles that are suitable for autistic pupils. Aligning research with practice, this sociocultural perspective on autism is of interest to teachers, learning support assistants and SENCos, as well as professionals working in an advisory capacity. Observation, Assessment and Planning in Inclusive Autism Education will also be of interest to students on courses that cover autism as well as anyone who wants to develop their practice and find new ways of supporting children and young people.

Working with young children on the autistic spectrum and supporting them as they learn can be fascinating, challenging, often overwhelmingly difficult, but more than anything else, hugely rewarding. Strategies to Support Children with Autism and other Complex Needs bridges the gap between explaining what autism is and finding ways to interact through having a balance of play activities interspersed with more formal teaching of skills of everyday living. This highly practical text provides a bank of strategies that are specially designed to be matched to the developmental status of each child. These strategies are endorsed by academics who have monitored the children's responses in communicating, pretending, playing, moving, and singing and describe how the children have responded positively over time. This book covers a variety of topics such as: The importance of play for enhancing learning for children with autism and other complex needs Evaluating different ways of developing communication Transferring learning from one environment to another to aid memorizing. Understanding the impact of sensory hypo and hyperactivity on children's learning. Developing a 'Theory of Mind' The importance of movement, music and having fun Observation and assessment schedules are provided, along with clear and helpful evaluation forms which show staff in primary and early years settings how children on the autistic spectrum can be helped to make meaningful and encouraging progress. This text is an vital read for any practitioners working with children on the autistic spectrum or with complex learning difficulties.

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.

Anxiety is the root cause of many of the difficulties experienced by people on the autism spectrum, and is often caused by things such as a change in routine, or sensory overload. Deborah Lipsky takes a practical look at what happens when things spiral out of control, exploring what leads to meltdowns and tantrums, and what can be done to help. Drawing on her own extensive personal experience and using real-life examples to explain how autistic people think, the author distinguishes between meltdowns and tantrums, showing how they are different, how each can begin, and most importantly, how to identify triggers and prevent outbursts from happening in the first place. Practical and simple solutions to avoiding anxiety are offered throughout, and these are accompanied by calming techniques and suggestions for dealing with tantrums when they occur. This book will be an essential read for those on the autism spectrum, their families and friends, professionals working with them, and anybody else with an interest in autism spectrum conditions.