Understanding Autism: A Guide for Parents and Teachers emerged out of Dr. Onita Nakra’s practical experience working with children with autism, and their families. She believes that accurate and early diagnosis of autism is essential as it enables the family to begin their journey with intentional, purposeful understanding. The label of autism upholds the child’s unique ability. The book thoroughly examines the many defining characteristics of autism using case studies and exemplars from Onita’s professional practice. The book also discusses research-based interventions useful for the child’s learning. Onita’s personal belief reflects throughout the book – each child with autism shines in their own light, reflecting amazing facets of humanity. Understanding Autism: A Guide for Parents and Teachers is Onita Nakra’s second book. Her first book titled, Children and Learning Difficulty is now in its second edition.

This straightforward guide offers a complete overview of Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) and gives practical advice for overcoming the difficulties it poses in a wide range of contexts from diagnosis through to adulthood. Starting with an exploration into the background of PDA that answers many of the immediate questions triggered when a child is first diagnosed, the book goes on to look at the impact of the condition on different areas of the child's life and what can be done to help. The authors present useful information on early intervention options and workable strategies for managing PDA positively on a day-to-day basis. They also examine ways to minimize common difficulties that may be encountered at home and school, making life easier for the child, family and peers. The final chapters tackle new problems that can arise when the teenage years hit and how to assist a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. Illustrative case examples are included throughout, and the book concludes with a list of valuable resources for further information and advice. Full of helpful guidance and support, this user-friendly introductory handbook is essential reading for anyone caring for, or working with, children with PDA.

Createan appropriate learning environment to help children with ASD develop...

This is a research-based guide that provides a framework for effective training around autism for teachers. An edited collection of short chapters, the book is full of practical activities and discussion points ideally suited for time-stretched trainee teachers, those leading training courses and busy teachers continuing to learn on the job. Focusing on the myriad ways that autism affects pupils and their education, it covers key training strategies around autism including maths, physical education, sex and relationships, behaviour management and more. Each contains the material for a session to be delivered to trainee teachers or to provide a unit of self-study. Combining research into the needs of trainee teachers, parents, and students with autism, this book offers an effective roadmap for teacher training and a better understanding of how to meet the needs of autistic pupils.

Rebecca Moyes takes on one of the biggest challenges in the classroom: problem behaviors. She not only evaluates explanations for these behaviors, she explains why traditional approaches to managing poor behavior do not work for children with autism and Asperger's syndrome. She supplies practical tips on how to tackle the problem behaviors both in the classroom and outside it, including many individual examples. She also incorporates a case study with a behavior support plan which contains environmental supports to strengthen teaching strategies.

This book looks at what it feels like to be an autistic parent, offering valuable insights, knowledge and wisdom on parenting autistic and non-autistic children. Three mothers reflect on their experiences of growing up as undiagnosed autistics, venturing into and embracing motherhood, and connecting with their children in a unique and powerful way. They offer advice on overcoming the challenges of parenting when you are autistic, such as socialising with other parents or sensory issues that come with excessive touch. Reflecting on their own experiences, they also emphasize the positives of being an autistic parent to an autistic child, such as understanding of why their child is struggling or the open-mindedness that can come from not being constrained by societal norms. They also explain how out-of-the-box thinking leads to creative parenting of non-autistic children, forming strong and loving bonds. Full of wit and warm advice, this book empowers autistic parents and reassures them that autism is a strength in raising their children with love, knowledge and experience, while also giving non-autistic parents and professionals a fresh perspective on helping autistic children to thrive.

Autism is in the public spotlight now more than ever as new research and information appears almost daily. Although in many ways this is a positive development it also presents challenges to families and practitioners who want to keep up with the latest developments and are left to sift through new information by themselves to see what is credible and relevant for them.Each of us needs a personal research assistant who can determine which information we need to pay attention to and let us know how it might affect our daily work and the children we are living with or serve. Since we each don’t have our own research assistants on staff, I am delighted to recommend this wonderful book by Fred Volkmar and Lisa Wiesner. Both of these talented professional leaders have combined their scientific skills and understanding of the field with great practical experience and ideas about how research can be translated into clinical practice. The result is a book that provides the best and most comprehensive information about recent scientific developments and a splendid practical guide for how they are being implemented and what we are learning in the process. The issues are presented in all of their complexity but translated into language that is clear, direct, and easy to follow. The format also lends itself to understanding the complex issues and their implications through excellent charts, question and answer sections, and chapters that vary from describing diagnostic issues to stating very specifically how to expand and evaluate the services one is receiving. The comprehensive references and lists of additional resources also add greatly to the overall package. As a professional dedicated to understanding scientific advances and helping families and teachers to utilize them most effectively, I am very pleased to have an ally like this book available. I am very grateful to the authors for providing a very credible, practical, and relevant addition to our field to help the many advocates and family practitioners to better understand the exciting new developments and how they can be implemented in our day to day work. Those taking the time to read through this superb volume will find it time well spent that pays back dividends in many different ways. —FOREWORD by Gary B. Mesibov, Ph.D., Professor and Director of TEACCH, Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

During the past decade of working with children with autism, I have found that misconceptions abounds. It is not certain why some people are wired cognitively different, appears and behaves differently, nor is it certain why rainbows arise. The fact remains that these events occur and must be embraced. Working with children who have autism have not always been easy neither has it been difficult. I have felt joy in the little progress made. I have also expressed frustration at my inability to fully understand the condition and thereby have the ability to effect change. Here lies the crux of the matter, the desire to gain information in order to manipulate changes, in effect to change a person to become like everyone else? No one can do that moreover, it is a wrong approach, best to work with what is now; seek not to improve on creation and reinvent a new person. Autism is constant; autism is predictable; autism is unvarying in its behavior, its rigidity and its resistance to change.

Before you plunge into selecting an autism treatment it's important to know what your options are, and how to evaluate whether a treatment is working. The autism world is filled with new and alternative treatments - some of which seem to hold some promise, and many are expensive. Find out what's out there, what seems to work for whom, and how to figure out whether a treatment is working well for your child. An in depth report on autism has been generated to give you the facts about the disorder. The most recent research will be discussed along with helpful hints in how to communicate, educate, and deal with the stress and confusion that surrounds the world of autism. It offers in-depth analysis of evidence-based treatments for young children, providing coverage on interventions within social skills training, school curricula, communication and speech training, and augmentative communication. It also covers treatments for adolescents and adults, including vocational programs, social integration programs, and mental health resources. Finally a one of a kind guide that answers all the questions the parent or a teacher of an autistic child would have. Filled with informative literature the reader will get the real facts about autism and learn how to cope with the stress of raising and teaching an autistic child. You will learn what autism is and you will learn how to deal with the problems associated with it. Not only is there monetary value in the information you will receive, but you will value in the information. From toilet training to childproofing you house, this e-book will answer all the questions you have about why your child is different and what you can to do to help them on their journey through life. You will be able to easy reference the table of contents to find just what you need for every autistic question or circumstance that comes up. You can learn about autism, what research is being done, how to care for and educate an autistic child and much more...