The Identiplay intervention helps children on the autistic spectrum, and those with specific communication disorders, learn to play. Through the use of play scripts the approach promotes the development of social skills, understanding, imagination and exploration. By learning these skills the young person can enjoy reciprocal play with an adult or peer. Supported by case studies the theory behind the approach is fully outlined and scripts are provided for instant use in a number of settings.

The new edition of this popular book includes:

- More on developing your own scripts

- How to assess the child's current play skills

- The adult's role in play

-The use of visual/verbal support

-New case studies

-New scripts

-Advice on taking learning outdoors

-Links to resources and useful websites

A supporting CD ROM contains video clips of the intervention in practice, printable scripts and a PowerPoint presentation to facilitate professional training making this a vital resource for anyone working with young children on the autistic spectrum or with communication difficulties.

The ASD Feel Better Book is designed to help children on the autism spectrum develop insight into what can upset them and make them feel bad and then increase their awareness of how to make themselves feel good again. With visual maps and icons, the book proceeds through various components of the body and mind to isolate many of the things that can go wrong and explores how children can try to set them right. Designed to be read with an adult, there are problem-solving exercises and skills practice in the form of activities, games and worksheets.

This invaluable resource offers a wealth of strategies enabling you to support children with autism in the mainstream classroom. Cutting through the jargon and recognising the huge variety of ways in which children's perceptions, feelings and behaviours may be affected by autism, the text is packed with practical advice to help you create a classroom environment which will meet the needs of the individual child. Each chapter in the book addresses some of the most common social, practical and behavioural difficulties that a child with autism may face at school, and details tried and tested approaches for improving their experiences and outcomes in your classroom. Topics discussed include: classroom layout, timetables and rules effective communication supporting learning and setting targets breaks, unstructured times and school trips challenging behaviours Supporting Children with Autism in the Primary Classroom - A Practical Approach is a highly accessible resource which will give primary teachers, teaching assistants, SENCOs, and parents, the confidence and knowledge they need to support young children with autism.

Jenny Clark Brack is back with a new book! Following the same structure and philosophy as her first book, Learn to Move, Move to Learn: Sensorimotor Early Childhood Activity Themes, her latest, Learn to Move, Moving Up! focuses on elementary-school age students with sensory processing disorders.

In a comprehensive introduction that covers current trends in education and occupational therapy, the book overviews many evidence-based practices as well as yoga, music, and Speed Stacks. Throughout, the emphasis is on involving the child's team for the best possible outcomes.

The centerpiece of the book consists of 30 sensorimotor, theme-based lesson plans that include literacy and curriculum suggestions for teachers, and suggests ways that they can be incorporated into busy elementary school schedules and environments. As in Brack's first book, the carefully developed lesson plans offer activities structured around seven elements designed for both learning and fun: Warm-Up, Vestibula

In conversation, children on the autism spectrum often struggle to select topics of interest to others. Many have strong, narrow interests and feel compelled to introduce these subjects when they talk. This book provides a simple visual model to help children experience more success in finding common ground in conversation. The "Green Zone" is a visual representation of finding common ground between one person (blue) and another person (yellow) to create a "green zone" that represents the pair's shared interests. The book, illustrated with hundreds of photographs representing the range of other people's interests, clearly explains what the "Green Zone" is and how to find it, and contains many photocopiable conversation practice activities and reinforcement worksheets based on this simple visual. Ideal for use in classroom settings or at home, this attractive, full colour book is suitable for children on the autism spectrum aged 7 and up.

Introducing a Social Theatre (TM), this book provides guidance on how to deliver fun and transformative activities to develop social skills in teenagers and children. Drawing on ideas from Social Thinking (R), CBT, mindfulness and assertiveness training this book develops games, skits and short plays which can be adapted to suit children and teenagers including those who are gifted, typical, and those with mild to moderate cognitive abilities. These activities will help participants become more assertive and flexible as well as improving confidence, focus and self-esteem. Social Theatre (TM) can be used in small groups, in class or throughout the school, as well as in group therapy sessions. It provides a new and inclusive way to teach social skills and collaborative learning and is especially useful for those with anxiety, ADHD and ASD.

Children with autism often have an intense natural musicality. This book explains how music and language 'work' as systems of communication, and why music holds such a fascination for many young people on the autism spectrum. There are strategies for showing how music can be used to support language development and even substitute for verbal communication. Exploring the progression from a young child's intuitive engagement with music, to using it as a scaffold for communication, socialisation and understanding, the book illustrates, through the use of detailed case studies, how music nurtures a sense of self and provides a positive outlet to express inner thoughts and feelings without resorting to challenging or even destructive behaviours. Presenting an innovative approach to the use of music with people on the autism spectrum, this book will be a fascinating resource for speech and language therapists, music therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, teaching assistants, educational psychologists, carers and parents of people with autism.

This comprehensive and accessible guide contains everything that needs to be known in order to set up and run a Minecraft (R) Social Group for children with autism spectrum disorders. Minecraft (R), often described as 'digital Lego', provides an ideal forum to help children with autism and related conditions to develop social and communication skills. This book offers guidance on how to use the game to support the learning of social and emotional concepts such as having a conversation, showing interest in others and understanding another person's point of view. With over 100 pages of photocopiable and downloadable session plans, visuals and handouts, this manual is essential reading for professionals working with autism who are interested in introducing Minecraft (R) to support social skill development in their students.

Using creativity as a lens to explore the meaningful learning experiences of autistic youth, Carrie Snow evaluates and challenges common conceptions about autism and offers a strengths-based demonstration of the many ways that autistic people express creativity and imagination. She then identifies key qualities of education that are commonly cited by autistic people to be significant to the development of fulfilling lives, healthy identities, promising careers and vocations, and creativity in general. This important resource shows how educators can support autistic K-12 students in public, private, inclusive as well as specialized schools. Creativity and the Autistic Student forwards the idea that autistic people offer valuable skills and abilities that can strengthen communities, within school and beyond.

This practical resource is brimming with exciting ideas and guidance for motivating children with autism and other communication difficulties. The clear, user-friendly format enables quick access to over 300 practical, fun-filled games and activities for developing your child's communication skills. The book suggests creative ways to use everyday toys and objects. For example, if your child likes to pop bubbles, perhaps he would also enjoy counting bubbles, catching bubbles on a wand, stomping them with his feet or even playing bubble volleyball The innovative ideas in this book have been developed over 40 years of clinical and educational experience, and are designed to be fun for both the adult and the child. All resources mentioned in this book are readily available and can be used to advance communication skills at all levels, from reaching out for an item, to extending verbal communication. Motivate to Communicate is perfect for supporting parents, care-givers and professionals in motivating and developing the communication skills of children on the autism spectrum.

The acclaimed approach to helping children with autism, profiled in the award-winning documentary "Autism: The Musical"

This groundbreaking book outlines seven integrated keys for educators and parents to make meaningful connections with children on the autism spectrum. The book is based on the unique approach used by Elaine Hall and Diane Isaacs of The Miracle Project, a musical theater program for children with autism and their peers and siblings. The Miracle Project integrates traditional and creative therapies in an interactive, social dynamic. The book shows how to apply these effective strategies at school and at home to nurture kids' self-expression and social skills.Elaine Hall and The Miracle Project were profiled in the two-time Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary, "Autism: The Musical""Seven Keys" reveals the seven-step program that has proven so successful for children in the Miracle ProjectAfter reading "Seven Keys" teachers and parents will better understand this puzzling disorder and be able to help children with autism draw connections and form more meaningful relationships

"Seven Keys to Unlock Autism" offers readers strategies for creating a personal skill set to make their encounters with autistic children as successful and rewarding as possible.

This updated book offers a comprehensive understanding of music therapy services for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families in home, preschool, and community settings. It addresses recent diagnostic features, evidence-based practices, and effective music therapy interventions backed by rigorous scientific evidence. Determining eligibility, gathering information, and identifying intervention goals for children with ASD are addressed in the assessment chapter followed by prominent approaches applied in music therapy practice. Managing sensory processing and communication issues that may interfere with everyday life is discussed from an interdisciplinary perspective. Inclusion and family practices, effective advocacy efforts, and a reflection of life journeys of four music therapists who are parents of children with ASD conclude the 15 engaging and resourceful chapters.

"We each have Skype accounts and use them to discuss [Moby-Dick] face to face. Once a week, we spread the worded whale out in front of us; we dissect its head, eyes, and bones, careful not to hurt or kill it. The Professor and I are not whale hunters. We are not letting the whale die. We are shaping it, letting it swim through the Web with a new and polished look."-Tito Mukhopadhyay Since the 1940s researchers have been repeating claims about autistic people's limited ability to understand language, to partake in imaginative play, and to generate the complex theory of mind necessary to appreciate literature. In See It Feelingly Ralph James Savarese, an English professor whose son is one of the first nonspeaking autistics to graduate from college, challenges this view. Discussing fictional works over a period of years with readers from across the autism spectrum, Savarese was stunned by the readers' ability to expand his understanding of texts he knew intimately. Their startling insights emerged not only from the way their different bodies and brains lined up with a story but also from their experiences of stigma and exclusion. For Mukhopadhyay Moby-Dick is an allegory of revenge against autism, the frantic quest for a cure. The white whale represents the autist's baffling, because wordless, immersion in the sensory. Computer programmer and cyberpunk author Dora Raymaker skewers the empathetic failings of the bounty hunters in Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Autistics, some studies suggest, offer instruction in embracing the nonhuman. Encountering a short story about a lonely marine biologist in Antarctica, Temple Grandin remembers her past with an uncharacteristic emotional intensity, and she reminds the reader of the myriad ways in which people can relate to fiction. Why must there be a norm? Mixing memoir with current research in autism and cognitive literary studies, Savarese celebrates how literature springs to life through the contrasting responses of unique individuals, while helping people both on and off the spectrum to engage more richly with the world.

Art has the potential to bring us together and create lasting connections. As humans, we have a universal need to express ourselves, find meaning, and experience a sense of belonging in our communities.In 2006, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Autism Nova Scotia partnered to develop a recreational art program that provided a safe and supportive environment for participants to express themselves creatively. In these classes, artists work in collaboration with autism support specialists and volunteers to provide meaningful and positive art experiences for children and young adults on the autism spectrum.Autism Arts showcases the collaborative nature and profound impact of the program. Featuring interviews with participants and their families, facilitators, and therapists and autism support specialists, this unique resource gathers reflections, stories, and feedback; documents workshops, representative artworks, and visual stories of social interactions; and reflects on the role museums and galleries can play in inclusion.Richly illustrated and accompanied with real-life stories, curriculum choices, and lesson plans, Autism Arts invites the reader both to celebrate and to share in the optimism and promise inclusive programming holds for all of us.

Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be very challenging, particularly for parents who do not have easy access to psychological treatment. This book presents parent training as a unique approach that is not only more accessible but is also one of the most promising methods for promoting long-term behavioral improvements in children with ASD. Backed by decades of research, parent training is a psychotherapeutic technique in which parents are main drivers of change for their children. The clinician passes knowledge to the parents and teaches them more effective parenting skills and behaviors. This clinical guide shows practitioners how to apply this approach with families of children with ASD. Readers will learn strategies for implementing various assessment and intervention techniques, and for maintaining parental engagement throughout treatment. Individual chapters focus on the most common issues that parents of children with ASD struggle with, including social and communication deficits; disruptive behaviors; sleep disturbances; tendencies to wander off; and key life skills, like feeding and toileting. Vivid case examples demonstrate this clinical guidance being applied in realistic scenarios.

The teenage years are associated with high levels of uncertainty and anxiety, compounded by academic and social demands, and physical and emotional changes. They can be especially tough for teenagers who learn differently. This workbook contains a host of practical activities for teachers and other adults supporting young people with learning differences, whether at home or in the classroom. Drawing on their years of first hand experience, and up to the minute research, the authors outline a trans-diagnostic framework for identifying what might be behind a student's behaviour. They show how the first crucial step all practitioners must take is to work out what could be causing a teen's feelings of anxiety or uncertainty, and how this can be addressed. The activities in this workbook are organised into three sections, each addressing one of the three key areas where anxiety or uncertainty can be found: the structural, sensory and social domains. The tried-and-tested worksheets and activities present a much-needed alternative to a diagnosis-led approach. They can be used with any teenager, with or without a diagnosis, in classroom settings, intervention groups, or one to one work. The Anxiety Workbook will help you to really understand and address the needs of the SEN students you support, thereby improving their well-being, confidence and self-esteem and empowering them to get the most out of their education.

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.

Do you want to help your child on the autism spectrum to verbally communicate with you and others? You've picked up the right book. The Autism Language Launcher gives you something totally new: a step-by-step guide that ignites language lift-off by using methods such as tapping into your child's innate intelligence, going with your child instead of against your child and providing techniques that work with adults on the spectrum. Written for parents, relatives, professionals, educators, or caregivers of a child or adult who is not yet verbal, making some sounds, using some words, speaking in single words, or using two-word phrases, this book uses the author's decades of experience with children and adults on the spectrum. Kate also demonstrates how to effectively address your child's echolalia, repetitious language, and repetitive questions in a way that your child will find supportive, bonding, and even joyful. Ultimately, this book shows you how to make language happen.

This book is for parents and professionals who are guiding adolescents and young adult children with high functioning autism or Asperger's toward employment and independence. Employers are looking for employees who are positive. Employers may list specific "hard" or technical skills that they want an employee to have for a particular job, but surveys show that employers most want to hire people who have positive "soft skills." Employers want to hire someone who can work in harmony with others, someone who can communicate and respond socially to customers, coworkers, and supervisors with positivity. Unfortunately for young people with autism/Asperger's, hard skills may come easily but soft skills are much more difficult to learn and use. This book will help you focus on your child's positivity in their interactions with others, and will help you guide him or her to respond positively to the many challenges he or she faces every day.

Galardonado con el simbolo de excelencia de la revista Exceptional Parent magazine para padres excepcionales Seleccionado como uno de los 10 mejores libros de la revista sobre crianza de ninos con discapacidades "Brain Child" Seleccionado como uno de los 19 libros que los bibliotecarios dicen que cambio sus vidas. Destacado en la revista "Oprah" como uno de los libros que marco la diferencia con Rachel GriffithsLa edicion revisada del innovador libro de 1998 que introdujo el Trastorno del procesamiento sensorial (SPD) a padres, maestros y otros no especialistas. SPD es un problema comun y frecuentemente diagnosticado erroneamente en el cual el sistema nervioso central malinterpreta los mensajes de los sentidos. Esta nueva edicion presenta informacion adicional sobre deficits visuales y auditivos, dificultades de habilidades motoras, TDAH, autismo, sindrome de Asperger y otros trastornos relacionados. This is the Spanish edition of the innovative and bestselling book, The Out-of-Synch Child, that introduced the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) to parents, Teachers and other non-specialists. SPD is a common and frequently misdiagnosed problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets the messages of the senses. This new edition presents additional information on visual and auditory deficits, motor skills difficulties, ADHD, autism, Asperger syndrome and other related disorders.

A practical guide to the innovative Autism Movement Therapy (R) (AMT) approach - structured movement and music classes designed to stimulate the brain, aid sensory processing and decrease problem behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorders. Reflecting a growing interest in the body-brain connection, and incorporating the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, the AMT approach uses music and movement to develop audio, visual, gross motor and spatial awareness skills in children with autism. The book breaks down the components of the typical 45 minute session, from circle games to story dances, and explains how the reader can create their own AMT program. This exciting new approach will complement other therapeutic techniques for children on the autism spectrum and can be used by a wide range of professionals, such as teachers, arts therapists and dance instructors, as well as parents and carers.

This book takes a fresh look at approaches to teaching reading, writing and communication skills. It presents a wealth of innovative ideas specifically designed to support visual learners, including those with autism spectrum conditions and special educational needs. Some children are more responsive to visual stimulation than spoken words, and this book shows how to engage these children in literacy lessons by using strategies that cover everything from the latest assistive technology to getting creative on a limited budget. There are tips for sharing stories with children who find it hard to sit still, supporting reluctant writers, enabling the pre-verbal child to answer questions and helping the child who never stops talking to develop listening skills. The strategies are supported by practical resources, examples and case studies, to show how to instil in children the confidence to create and share their thoughts. This is a must-have resource for special education teachers and coordinators, as well as speech and language therapists, looking for new strategies for teaching literacy.

This choose your own adventure story is a unique, illustrated resource and a compelling mystery, focused on developing the social skills of children on the autistic spectrum. Trapped in Tudor England in 1535, in a world very different from their own, the reader must take on the role of the main character and work out why horses are mysteriously dying. Confronted by challenging social situations and decisions that will either help or hinder the narrative, they need to solve the mystery in order to get home. The story provides a springboard for children to test out different actions and to experience a range of possible consequences and pathways. Decisions the reader must make tackle challenges such as working together and overcoming conflict, processing information and managing emotions and anxiety. This book: is an engaging interactive story to enable discussion and create moments for deeper thinking and self-reflection; can be used either in small groups or 1:1 intervention; links directly to worksheets from the accompanying teacher resource, providing a personalised development tool that can be flexible according to the child's needs. Although created with girls in mind, positioning the reader as the main character allows all children to become fully immersed in the narrative. This is an invaluable resource to develop social skills and build confi dence among children aged 8-12.

This guide brings the most recent advancements in evidence-based interventions to both novice and experienced educators who are looking for practical and meaningful strategies for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The authors provide step-by-step, field-tested guidelines that connect with Individual Educational Program goals, illustrate to how write a behavior intervention plan, and demonstrates how to deliver effective interventions, including applied behavior analysis, functional behavior assessment, and positive behavioral supports. This concise handbook features sidebars highlighting major points, vignettes, and summaries, and includes many sample materials, tools, and reproducible forms. Teachers get the "nuts and bolts" on Identifying and including students with ASD in the general education classroom Organizing the classroom environment, creating space, and managing time Promoting independence, communication, and socially appropriate behaviors Selecting visual strategies, tools, and curriculum resources This user-friendly resource presents educators with a solid framework for delivering first-rate services to foster confidence and success for every student with ASD.