Autism diagnosis can be an overwhelming time for many families. This is an accessible, easy to navigate guide for parents, answering the questions they may have before, during and after diagnosis. Written by a highly experienced author team, this book will support parents from the moment somebody mentions autism, through the diagnosis process and beyond. It provides reliable advice on every stage, with guidance on what to do during the long wait for assessment and diagnosis. Working from a pro-neurodiversity perspective it encourages parents to see beyond the diagnosis and to celebrate each child's unique personality and strengths. Combining information on medical diagnosis, educational needs and more, the book shares case studies and direct quotes from families to help parents to give their children the best start following an autism diagnosis, and help them to achieve their full potential. There is also a bonus downloadable chapter with information from the key professionals involved in the diagnostic process, so you know who you can turn to for the support and help you need.

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.

Oh no! It's raining! Oh no! People everywhere! Oh no! It's getting noisy! But I count to ten, take a deep breath...and I'm okay. This rhyming story helps children aged 3-7 face unfamiliar surroundings and experiences and feel less anxious when they are out and about. It offers calming techniques that can help when things don't go to plan, when you get stuck in a crowd, or when you start to feel tired at the end of a long day. Particularly suited to children with special needs and learning differences, including autism, symbols on each page help pre-readers begin to recognise words. With bright illustrations, and accompanying notes, lesson plans and worksheets available to download, this book can be used to help children think about situations they find tricky and better cope with feelings of anxiety.