A Beginner's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Essential Information for Parents and Professionals

by Paul G. Taylor

Overview

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? What does a diagnosis of ASD mean for the child and for you? How can you learn to fully understand behaviours common to ASD and help the child grow and prosper?

This short introduction is an ideal starting point for anyone encountering ASD for the first time. The book covers all of the essential information needed to ground an understanding of the condition and offers effective practical strategies for assisting children who are living with ASD. It advocates putting aside conventional thinking and considering things from a different perspective – the way that the child with ASD sees the world.

This concise and straight-talking guide to ASD will ensure parents, carers, teachers and other professionals feel confident, informed and able to cope with the road ahead.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849052337
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	07/15/2011
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Paul G. Taylor is an experienced consultant paediatrician working in a regional general hospital in New Zealand. He specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder and works directly with many young people with ASD, their families and their schools. He has been giving talks on ASD for the past 12 years.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction 11

Part I ASD - The Simple Facts

1 Nuts and Bolts 15

2 Diagnosis 18

3 Autism Spectrum Disorders are Hard-wired 21

4 How to Recognize the Person Who Has ASD 27

5 How People with ASD See the World 35

6 Stress and Anxiety 41

7 And Now for the Good News 44

Part II ASD - What Can We Do About It?

8 Guiding Principles 49

9 Remember, This Person is Hard-wired Differently 52

10 Seek Alternative Explanations for Behaviour 54

11 Make Sure That Everybody Involved Understands 58

12 Listen to What the Person with ASD Tells You 63

13 Listen to What the Family Tells You 65

14 Make Sure You Have the Right Chair of the Board 67

15 Create Structure and Predictability 71

16 Anticipate and Deal with Transitions 73

17 Create Self-help Options 75

18 Compensate for Lack of Self-directed Learning 77

19 Work Through Strengths, By-pass Weaknesses 79

20 Abandon the Standard Curriculum 82

21 Teach Skills for Life 84

22 Use Visual Approaches to Learning Whenever Possible 86

23 Stay Concrete; Avoid Metaphor, Irony, Sarcasm, Cynicism, etc. 88

24 Reinforce Teaching of Social Skills 90

25 Deal with Stress 93

26 Remember That Not Much Learning Occurs When There Is Stress 95

27 Remember That Punishment Does Not Produce Learning 97

28 Avoid Power Struggles 99

29 Specific Intervention Programmes That May Help 101

30 Specific Intervention Programmes That Have No Proof That They Work 104

Editorial Reviews

A Beginner's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Essential Information for Parents and Professionals is an excellent short book to start with when someone knows nothing about ASD but needs a quick and brief introduction to it... What is unique about this book is that the author has managed to touch on and explains aspects of the condition in simple terms, avoiding scientific jargon that might put people off... It will be a useful guide to parents who have just received a diagnosis for their child and need some quick answers and top tips, and it will be beneficial to professionals who have come across an individual with ASD for the first time and want to find out more about them.

The Hoffmann Foundation

Whilst concise, this book provides an up – to – date commentary as well as practical advice on numerous aspects of diagnosing and coping with autism. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better their understanding of autism.

Families Online

This book is handy, easy to read and gives a good understanding of ASDs. It gives a good idea of how someone with an ASD behaves and the reasons for doing so and therefore would be a good book for anyone new to the conditions...The chapter on Punishment was really good as was the chapter about Specific Intervention Programmes That Have No Proof They Work. The part about the MMR vaccination was important and something that needs publicising more widely and Paul has made a very good start in getting the message across.

OAASIS

Teachers, parents, and others associated with someone with ASD will undoubtedly value this guide. Those with ASD will, in turn, profit from their community's understanding of their challenges, thus aiding stress, aggression, and transition management.

Fore Word Reviews