This book examines real life reflections on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), current practices and issues related to assessing, instructing and life-long planning for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. School systems, mental health facilities, and society are being challenged to deal effectively with the growing number of people with autism and developmental disabilities. This is partly due to the inclusive philosophy of educating, training and treating individuals. This book provides regular, special educators, mental health professionals, clinicians and parents with information on best practices and research based findings related to: identification, characteristics, diagnosis; special, general, early and post-secondary education; and quality of life concerns. The book's chapters are topical, comprehensive and diverse. Chapters on assessment examine the emerging field of infant mental health, testing protocols, barriers to diagnosing diverse students, and recent developments in the diagnosing and assessment of autism spectrum disorders i.e. genetic testing, home movies and robots. A number of chapters on instructional aspects delineate curriculum innovations, procedures to implement social skills, assistive technology use and planning for postsecondary education. Life long planning, provides unique content on self-determination, social competence, sibling aspects, and employment and retirement considerations.

* Discusses how awareness of autism has evolved, beginning with a relatively homogenous group of patients with obvious symptoms and increasingly including a wider range of patients with less obvious symptoms and less need for support * Reviews the DSM and ICD diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, teaching clinicians what each criterion encompasses, particularly in individuals who are less obviously autistic * Describes traits and challenges that are not part of the formal diagnostic criteria, but which commonly co-occur in autistic individuals with less obvious traits * Includes reflections from those with subtle autism who struggled to be diagnosed

Creative Response Activities for Children on the Spectrum is a clear, comprehensive and intuitive guide that offers a wide selection of hands-on interventions to be used in any therapeutic or educational setting with children who are 'on the spectrum'. From drawing and writing poetry to skiing and skateboarding, this book describes these and many other creative activities geared towards children with autistic features, attention deficits, hyperactivity, paediatric bipolar disorder and other related conditions. This new resource provides an innovative blend of theory and illustrative case examples designed to help therapists and educators assess children's needs, formulate therapeutic and aesthetic interventions, and analyze creative outcomes.

Rather than approaching the art of precocious young artists with autism as enigmatic and symptomatic, their work is explored as having its origin in human physiology and in the intrinsic human need for meaning. The narrative images in these young artists' exceptional art serve as both evidence and focus, allowing us to see the commonalities of all art and image-making. No art has been considered more enigmatic than that of young children with autism, for their often extremely early drawings intrigue viewers with their vivid, visually-based, perspective emphasis. Such art, often spontaneously produced by artists frequently considered retarded, is difficult to understand within the usual constructs of drawing pedagogy that emphasizes the necessity of practice and experience for mastery. However, it is a useful means of expressing one's interior self and of sharing with others a tale of one's own creation. Finally, this expression forms enduring links with other people in the common human language of lines and forms.

Tom likes lots of different things. He likes singing and watching TV in the family room. There are also things that Tom enjoys doing in private, like touching his penis. This accessible and positive resource helps parents and carers teach boys with autism or other special needs 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 boys and young men with autism or special needs.

In this unique and original book, Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton come together to have an open and honest conversation about developing positive and responsive relationships in the early years. The book is divided into three main chapters - building positive relationships with children; with other professionals; and with families and the wider community - and each conversation explores a range of key themes, from building trust and listening to the voice of the child, to diversifying practice and creating a setting that represents the wider community. These discussions encourage the reader to consider the connections we make every day, to rethink and empower their practice, and to place a much higher value on their position as an early years advocate. With reflective questions included to allow the reader to think about their own practice, as well as suggested further reading to explore the themes in more depth, this engaging and accessible book is a must-read for all early years professionals - and, importantly, encourages every practitioner to begin new conversations of their own.

Autistic people are empirically and scientifically generalized as living in a fragmented, alternate reality, without a coherent continuous self. In Part I, this book presents recent neuropsychological research and its implications for existing theories of autism, selfhood, and identity, challenging common assumptions about the formation and structure of the autistic self and autism's relationship to neurotypicality. Through several case studies in Part II, the book explores the ways in which artists diagnosed with autism have constructed their identities through participation within art communities and cultures, and how the concept of self as 'story' can be utilized to better understand the neurological differences between autism and typical cognition. This book will be of particular interest to researchers and scholars within the fields of Disability Studies, Art Education, and Art Therapy.

Parents, teachers, carers - whatever our role in a child's life, we all want them to thrive. There are many moments of joy in our relationships with our children: but what about those times we're faced with defiance, disruption and seemingly endless cycles of negativity? Miserable for the child and exhausting for those around them - and almost all completely avoidable. From everyday frustrations to more extreme manifestations, these behaviours may present differently but they are all rooted in one common thread: a need for emotional safety. When a child feels secure and truly heard, their behaviour is transformed. Marie Gentles draws on her decades of expertise supporting children across the behavioural spectrum, along with their parents and teachers, to show us how to establish positive relationships that bring out the best in our children. Using evidence-based research, case studies and her proven methodologies, this book shows you how to: * Establish connection, in order to give the emotional security every child needs to flourish * Take a step back to better understand the feelings behind the behaviour * Embrace even the most 'negative' of emotions * Actively listen to the child and in turn, be heard * See setbacks as positive learning and teaching tools With practical examples of how to prevent struggles before they emerge as well as detailed advice on resetting when you're fire-fighting one explosion after the next, this reassuring guide empowers parents and educators alike. Learn to equip children of all ages to deal with anything life throws at them, building their emotional security in the process - whether they are fifteen months or fifteen years, it's never too late to start.

This book will contribute to the improvement of educational work with children and young people who manifest various types of socio-pathological manifestations, as well as the theoretical study of socio-pathological manifestations and the methods and techniques of work on overcoming these conditions among children and youth. The theoretical elaboration of social problems and the introduction of their causes and consequences, as well as the search for methods for their alleviation and elimination, contributes to the development of a better educational system. Additionally, this book draws attention to the problems of social pathology and proposes a system of methods, measures, and procedures for resolving the problem of social pathology. It explains what social pathology education is, what its characteristics are, the significance of it, and the goals and tasks of raising children and youth with behavioral disorders. It explores the Social Pedagogy discipline and the types of socio-pathological phenomena along with problems in the theory and practice of it. Furthermore, it raises awareness among professionals and the public about the need and prevention of socio-pathological manifestations, and about the types, expansion, causes and consequences of their occurrence and the need for an organized social action to reduce and overcome them. Finally, this book will elaborate the characteristics of all types of children with disabilities and will present the goals and tasks established to prevent these behaviors and handle these competencies and personality traits in education. Both the prevention of these behaviors and the rehabilitation of those affected by socio-pathological manifestations is a key component to this book.

Disability is an increasingly vital contemporary issue in British social policy and particularly so in the area of education. "Education, Disability and Social Policy" brings together for the first time unique perspectives from leading thinkers including senior academics, opinion formers, policy makers and school leaders to explore these issues. Key issues included are: the implications of the law and international human rights frameworks; what these developments in policy will mean for schools and school leaders; how Governments can ensure that disabled children and young people are benefiting from wider efforts to tackle inequalities in the education system, such as widening access to higher education; what changes are needed in the design of the curriculum and qualifications; and, what needs to be done for children who are being failed by the current education system, including those with uncertain futures or children with Autism. The book is a milestone in social policy studies, of enduring interest to students, academics, policy makers, parents and campaigners alike.

From the bestselling author duo behind Can You See Me? comes this exceptional portrayal of autism diagnosis, with diary entries by 12-year-old autistic author Libby Scott. Taking place before Can You See Me? and Do You Know Me? this standout prequel follows Tally through her autism diagnosis in her final year of primary school. Ten-year-old Tally had high hopes for Year 6. Being in the top class at school means a whole host of privileges, but even better than that is the school production - and Tally is convinced she'll win the lead role. But at home, things aren't going so well. Mum and Dad have been making Tally feel pressured and upset, and Tally wishes things didn't bother her so much - but they do, and sometimes she feels so misunderstood and frustrated, she could explode. Then Tally's mum and dad tell her about something she's never heard about before. Something called autism. And everything changes. The third book written in collaboration with Libby Scott & prequel to the bestselling Can You See Me? When Libby's mum shared a short piece of Libby's writing online it soon went viral, with tens of thousands of people saying that Libby's writing helped them understand autism for the first time This fictionalised portrayal of a young autistic girl is written by Rebecca Westcott, in close collaboration with Libby Scott, making it a truly original and inspirational book that will give readers of all ages a deeper understanding of what it's like to be autistic Perfect for fans of The Goldfish Boy, Wonder and The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-time PRAISE FOR CAN YOU SEE ME 'This is a powerful and highly relatable story about fitting in and being yourself. Tally's diary entries give an authentic insight into one girl's perspective of being autistic, and smashing a host of common assumptions and stereotypes about autism as we see Tally's potent sense of humour and her deep empathy.' Booktrust 'Recommended for readers with autism who will feel genuinely seen and for those desiring to see others more clearly' Kirkus

At least one in seven people are thought to be neurodivergent. So what exactly is neurodiversity? What does 'executive functioning' mean? What are 'spiky profiles'? In this simple guide, expert speaker and trainer Daniel Aherne provides a clear introduction to neurodiversity and the four most common neurodivergent identities of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Using an analogy of a cactus needing a desert to grow in, he emphasises the importance of getting the environment right for neurodivergent people, rather than expecting them to adapt to the neurotypical world. Daniel, who himself has ADHD, also explains how neurodivergent people often have great strengths alongside areas of difficulty, and writes about the interplay between diagnoses, as well as unpacking tricky concepts such as working memory, sensory processing, communication differences and more. Busting common misconceptions and setting out simple tips and guidance for supporting the neurodivergent people around you, whether among your family, friends or at your school, college or workplace - or if you yourself are ND and want to improve the understanding of others - this essential guide will help us all celebrate neurodiversity and foster more inclusive communities.

Language development, and the challenges it can present for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, have long been a focus of research, theory, and practice in D/deaf studies and deaf education. Over the past 150 years, but most especially near the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, advances in the acquisition and development of language competencies and skills have been increasing rapidly. This volume addresses many of those accomplishments as well as remaining challenges and new questions that have arisen from multiple perspectives: theoretical, linguistic, social-emotional, neuro-biological, and socio-cultural. The contributors comprise an international group of prominent scholars and practitioners from a variety of academic and clinical backgrounds. The result is a volume that addresses, in detail, current knowledge, emerging questions, and innovative educational practice in a variety of contexts. The volume takes on topics such as discussion of the transformation of efforts to identify a "best" language approach (the "sign" versus "speech" debate) to a stronger focus on individual strengths, potentials, and choices for selecting and even combining approaches; the effects of language on other areas of development as well as effects from other domains on language itself; and how neurological, socio-cognitive, and linguistic bases of learning are leading to more specialized approaches to instruction that address the challenges that remain for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. This volume both complements and extends The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Volumes 1 and 2, going further into the unique challenges and demands for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals than any other text and providing not only compilations of what is known but setting the course for investigating what is still to be learned.

Special education encompasses a broad range of techniques and tools for a catering to children with unique educational needs. Children in need of additional learning support, including children on the autism spectrum, benefit from continued research in emerging educational tools and pedagogies for best catering to their needs. Supporting the Education of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders focuses on a well-rounded approach to special education, including perspectives on administration and leadership, course development, psychological and counseling support, educational technologies, and classroom management strategies. Emphasizing timely research focused on creating opportune learning environments for children on the autism spectrum, this publication is an essential reference source for educators, school administrators, graduate-level students, and researchers in the field of education.

Educating College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders is one of the first books to specifically address the accommodation of students with significant learning differences in postsecondary education. Developed with the support of Autism Speaks, and piloted at Pace University, each component of this book is scientifically-based and provides a model of emerging best practices for college instruction involving students with ASD. The text is designed to give college faculty a deep understanding of students with ASD and help faculty to productively engage students with ASD, while also meeting the needs of all students in their classes. The strategies included in the manual are solidly grounded in principles of universal design and will prove indispensible for teaching college students of varying ability levels and diverse learning styles. A companion video shows clips of students and educators that are engaged in inclusive practices to illustrate approaches that have been successful in dealing with challenging situations in the classroom.

Responding to disruptive or troubled pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) remains a highly topical issue. The challenges these children present relate to wider issues of continuing political concern: the perceived declining discipline in schools; school and social exclusion; the limits to inclusion for children with special needs; increasing mental health difficulties in children; youth crime and parenting skills. It s little wonder that the 'EBD' (often known as BESD or SEBD ) category is one of the most common forms of SEN around the world.

This topical and exhaustively-researched Companion examines the difficulties of defining EBD, and the dangers of allocating this imprecise label to children. Bringing together the work of contributors from fifteen countries and across four continents, this book features the research of leading experts in the global field of EBD, who discuss and debate educators key concerns by:

• looking at the overlaps between EBD, ADHD and mental health difficulties;
• outlining the types of appropriate schooling for children with EBD;
• urging readers to look beyond pupils challenging behaviour in order to understand and respond to the social, biological and psychological causation;
• considering the key areas of assessment, whole-school and targeted approaches that help pupils with EBD in mainstream and in special settings;
• outlining helpful work with families, the crucial contribution of effective multi-agency working and the importance of supporting and developing teachers who work with challenging pupils.

Containing contrasting views on controversial topics, this Companion s approachable style makes it an essential reference book for academics, policy makers, practitioners, educators and students who are working towards a higher degree in education.

Playfulness is important; it creates an alternative space where emotional, cognitive and social dimensions can be explored and tested. This highly practical book explores the endless possibilities of using playful, creative and interactive activities to meaningfully engage with children with multiple learning difficulties or autistic spectrum disorders. The author presents playfulness as 'an experimental frame of mind', and encourages practitioners to play with roles, ideas, words, concepts and objects in order to enhance relationships and interventions. By providing accessible steps to playfulness, this text explores some of the contemporary issues surrounding the education of children with severe learning needs, in particular the use of 'intensive interaction'. This text considers different areas of creative interactive work for practitioners to draw inspiration from, including: Music Interactive Musical Movement Finger Dance Story and Drama Artwork Reflective Circle. The varied array of tried and tested original activities have been devised to encourage the development of social interaction, cognition, play, experimentation and creativity, in particular but not exclusively, for children whose learning needs are more complex. The author also invites teachers working in mainstream, particularly early years and primary education, to investigate the creative possibilities inherent in playfulness and to use the activities in this book to enhance the learning environment. This text offers an abundance of advice, practical strategies and tips for teachers working in special and mainstream early years and primary education. Practitioners such as therapists, care workers, community musicians and creative arts specialists will also find this book useful.

• Why are some teachers and student teachers better at managing pupil behaviour than others?
• What are the factors which make a difference to classroom climate?
• Can any teacher or student teacher become accomplished at managing pupil behaviour?

Managing Pupil Behaviour provides routes through the classroom management maze to help practising and aspiring teachers learn to manage behaviour effectively in their classrooms. Using a unique 10-point scale, it encourages teachers to think about the degree to which they are relaxed and in assured control of their classrooms and can enjoy their teaching.

Drawing on the views of over 140 teachers and 700 pupils, it provides insights into the factors which enable teachers to manage learning effectively in their classrooms, so that pupils can learn and achieve, and teachers can enjoy their work. Key issues explored include the factors that influence the working atmosphere in the classroom, the impact of that atmosphere on teaching and learning, and tensions around inclusive practice and situations where some pupils may be spoiling the learning of others.

This new edition has been fully updated to take account of recent research and inspection findings and includes a new chapter exploring the wide range of sophisticated skills that expert teachers deploy in order to get pupils to want to learn, and to enable teachers to work in classrooms where the climate is perfect for learning.

Managing Pupil Behaviour will help all teachers ensure the right to learn for all the pupils in their care and to think about different ways to approach this vitally important aspect of their working lives.

In this welcome second edition of The Effective Teacher 's Guide to Autism and Communication Difficulties, best-selling author Michael Farrell addresses how teachers and others can develop provision for students with autism and students that have difficulties with speech, grammar, meaning, use of language and comprehension. Updated and expanded, this book allows the teacher to be self-critical in developing classroom approaches and offers up-to-date research combined with professional experience on how to best achieve good practice in the classroom. This accessible book offers down-to-earth information on:

• Terms and definitions
• Legal considerations
• Classroom strategies
• Useful resources
• Pedagogical issues.

This new edition will be a useful source of ideas and guidance for teachers and others working with children with autism or other communication disorders. It will also be useful for all new teachers, for those continuing professional development, school mamagers and administrators.

Macciomei and Ruben provide the first compendium entirely devoted to the exigency and pathology of serious teen aggression, including homicidal and combative problems. It responds to the national wave of school shootings and teen crime dangerously threatening classrooms. Failures of traditional disciplinary practice cause perennial frustrations for principals, teachers, and school districts in general.

This professional guide steps up to the challenge of this chaos and provides empirically tested methods for classroom application including advancing steps to integrate school and community, alternative assessments, cultural diversity programming, and peer-mediation innovations. Easy-to-use methods based in research discussion prove that public school systems can win the war against urban oppression.

Basic Skills Checklists is an easy-to-use, informal assessment tool that brings method to the madness of classroom assessment. It focuses on pre-academic, readiness, and academic skills expected from learners in the early elementary years. Author and experienced teacher Marlene Breitenbach developed these helpful checklists in special-needs and inclusive classrooms while serving children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
The checklists have been used by resource teachers, special educators, mainstream teachers, and paraprofessionals. Simple, customizable charts make it easy to record children's progress in skill areas such as basic concepts, reading/language, math, fine motor, and independence. This flexible tool is great for one-on-one or group assessment
These checklists will help educators: Identify current skills and problem areasDevelop appropriate, realistic learning objectivesCreate individualized programsMonitor and measure progress over timeKeep clear records for the IEP team and future teachersAssess over 40 different skills

Helpful sections include: AdministrattionChecklistsBasic ConceptsReading and Language ArtsMathFine MotorIndependenceParent Checklists

In a readable and highly accessible ethnographic account that is shaped by the stories of families and the voices of parents, De Wolfe examines how parents of children with autism navigate the educational and medical systems, understand their own and their children's bodies, and support and educate one another.

- This key book provides fresh strategies for school leaders to thrive, build resilience and reflect upon and manage their stress and wellbeing. - It provides both a big picture perspective of school leader stress around the world and a practical guide to addressing it. - It provides solutions at government, institutional and individual levels, including fresh approaches for school leaders to reflect upon and address their own wellbeing.

Diverse learners with particular needs require a specialized curriculum that will help them develop socially and intellectually. As educational technologies and theoretical approaches to learning continue to advance, so do the opportunities for exceptional children. Instructional Strategies in General Education and Putting the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) into Practice is a pivotal reference source for the latest teaching strategies for educators with special needs students. Featuring extensive coverage on relevant areas such as instructional adaptions, locomotor apparatus diseases, and intellectual disabilities, this publication is an ideal resource for school administrators, general and special education classroom teachers, and graduate-level students seeking current research on instructional strategies for educating students with disabilities.