Building Communication And Independence For Children Across The Autism Spectrum

Expert author Elizabeth Ives Field combines over four decades of working in the autism field to provide functional, in-depth teaching strategies for children on the spectrum who struggle with communication. Incorporating descriptions of composite children at different developmental stages, this book sets out individual goals and therapy approaches for children who may have no speech, moderately functional speech or echolalia, as well as for highly verbal individuals who may not always use appropriate language. Covering a wide range of interventions that address communication and the related areas of independence and social behavior, the purpose of each goal is to make progress toward the child's maximum potential. This book sets out skills that are developmentally appropriate and that will be immediately useful to help children express themselves more effectively and build relationships with others.

This book teaches drama and immersive theatre-based activities for parents and professionals working with children and young people on the autism spectrum. The exercises follow the author's simple, person-centred '3C pathway' of connecting, calming and communicating, and enable parents to gain an understanding of the challenges an autistic child may face by 'walking in their shoes', while empowering children to become more self-aware and express themselves in healthy ways. The activities included in the book are tried-and-tested, accessible and easy to implement, such as breathing exercises, mirroring movements, and treasure hunts. Using these activities, parents and professionals can gain insight into the sensory and social challenges experienced by those on the spectrum and can work to build a positive and trusting relationship, offering a secure base for children's emotional development.

A growing body of evidence supports the benefits of high-quality parent interventions for building social and communication skills in 0- to 5-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). How can clinicians coach parents to effectively incorporate learning opportunities into daily routines at home? From preeminent experts, this practical book explores the role of the coach and reviews the "whats," "whys," and "how-tos" of successful collaboration with parents. Topics include structuring coaching sessions, identifying children's needs, facilitating playful engagement, and deepening parents' understanding of how they can boost skills development during everyday activities. Seventeen reproducible handouts and forms include the multipage P-ESDM Infant–Toddler Curriculum Checklist, ideal for use in telehealth assessments. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

An easy-to-use resource for professionals and parents, this book provides fun and practical ideas to help motivate and extend communication and play skills in children with autism with the support of pictures. The book describes how picture scripts can help facilitate play and learning and provides 40 photocopiable scripts across a range of different activities such as drawing, cooking, using construction toys, imaginative play, arts and crafts, and life skills. Tasks are presented in small manageable step-by-step picture sequences and support a range of skills including following instructions, increasing independence, comprehension, story-telling and choice-making. Readers can print copies of the scripts from the CD-ROM that accompanies the book. Ideal for special education teachers, early years practitioners, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and parents, this will be an excellent tool for any classroom, home or therapy setting.

Cutting-edge research reveals that parents can play a huge role in helping toddlers and preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) connect with others and live up to their potential. This encouraging guide from the developers of a groundbreaking early intervention program provides doable, practical strategies you can use every day. Nearly all young kids—including those with ASD—have an amazing capacity to learn. Drs. Sally Rogers, Geraldine Dawson, and Laurie Vismara make it surprisingly simple to turn daily routines like breakfast or bath time into fun and rewarding learning experiences that target crucial developmental skills. Vivid examples illustrate proven techniques for promoting play, language, and engagement. Get an early start—and give your child the tools to explore and enjoy the world. Winner--American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award Mental health professionals, see also the authors' related intervention manual, Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism, as well as the Early Start Denver Model Curriculum Checklist for Young Children with Autism (sold in sets of 15).

Communicating Partners, the result of over thirty years of clinical practice and research work with pre-verbal and verbal children with language delays, offers an innovative approach to working with late talking children that focuses on developing relationships through mutual understanding. Providing detailed maps of what children and their life partners need to do to ensure effective social relationships, the program focuses on five key stages of communication development - interactive play, nonverbal communication, social language, conversation, and civil behavior - and five life-long responsive strategies to use every day to build relationships within the child's own world. Communicating Partners addresses issues such as: * What does a child need to do before language? * What are effective ways to help a child socialize and communicate from early play through civil conversations? * How have parents successfully helped children learn to communicate at home? * How can a child develop socially effective language and conversation skills? * How can a child with an autistic spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome or other significant delays develop rich social relationships? * What have families done to build warm social relationships with their children? * What is developmentally effective therapy and education when social and communicative delays are of major concern? Illustrated with personal stories and research findings, and containing a wealth of practical suggestions to help parents, teachers, and professionals understand their child's world, Communicating Partners is an invaluable resource for all those interacting and working with late talking children.

For young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and others who have challenges in interacting and communicating, early intervention is key--and parents can play a vital role. Developed through work with hundreds of families, this book presents engaging, evidence-based techniques for enriching your child's social communication skills (up to age 6). The strategies can be easily integrated into daily routines, such as meals, bathtime, bedtime, and playtime. Designed for use as part of a therapist-guided program, the manual has a convenient large-size format and includes 20 reproducible forms. You also get access to a companion website, where you can download and print the forms for repeated use and view video clips of parents using the techniques. Professionals who want to implement Project ImPACT should purchase the authors’ two-book set (ISBN 978-1-4625-3814-0), which includes this manual plus a coach's guide. New to This Edition *Reflects the latest research and the ongoing development of the authors' approach. *Even more user friendly; skills parents need to learn are simplified and streamlined. *Chapter on managing challenging behavior. *Numerous graphics to help you remember and use the strategies. *Appropriate for a broader range of children, including those without an ASD diagnosis.

A guide for helping our children lead meaningful and independent lives as they reach adulthood In the next five years, hundreds of thousands of children with autism spectrum disorder will reach adulthood. And while diagnosis and treatment for children has improved in recent years, parents want to know: What happens to my child when I am no longer able to care for or assist him? Autism expert Chantal Sicile-Kira and her son Jeremy offer real solutions to a host of difficult questions, including how young adults of different abilities and their parents can: *navigate this new economy where adult service resources are scarce *cope with the difficulties of living apart from the nuclear family *find, and keep a job that provides meaning, stability and an income *create and sustain fulfilling relationships