Drawing from the author’s extensive clinical experience, this autism casebook offers stimulating reflections and a fresh perspective on how we assess, diagnose, and ultimately treat young children thought to be autistic. Challenging what she perceives as the rampant over-diagnosis and misdiagnosis of autism, and the commonly accepted status of autism as an unchangeable trait, Dr. Levin Fox illustrates how the developmental play strategies of DIRFloortime, combined with the creative psychological perspective of Reuven Feuerstein, create an effective way of identifying the child's strengths behind the autistic symptoms. The chapters are an accessible mix of clinical insights, theoretical reflections and vivid case stories that argue and illustrate that qualitative assessment methods based on play have the power to yield a more accurate clinical understanding of a child's difficulties—and strengths—than conventional symptom-focused autism assessment methods. This engaging casebook will stimulate practitioners, educators and students in the field of autism to question commonly held assumptions when assessing and treating autistic children, as it both urges and illustrates more reflective practice. Parents of children considered autistic will find renewed encouragement and hope in these enlightening case stories.

RESPECTING AUTISM: The Rebecca School DIR Casebook for Parents and Professionals adroitly describes the results of Tina McCourt and Michael Koffler's efforts to conceive and create a new school in New York City for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

This practical, accessible text introduces preservice SLPs to 12 evidence-based interventions that improve the communication and social skills of people with autism spectrum disorders. Enhanced with video clips, case studies, and learning activities.

This book is designed to help parents and professionals respond to the behavioral potential of children and adults diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) through the application of the Feuerstein method, an approach that brings an alternative and innovative treatment modality that uncovers and enhances the learning potential that traditional diagnoses and treatment methods often overlook or discourage. The method is based on Reuven Feuerstein’s formulations of cognitive modifiability and has been implemented successfully and confirmed by both research results and the experiences of teachers and parents. This book is a valued resource for treatment, including descriptions of the basic concepts of the method and their application to the assessment and treatment of those functioning within the spectrum. Each chapter is specifically written by members of the Feuerstein Institute clinical and research team. The chapters are interspersed with case studies that illustrate the principles and practices described therein and is written in an accessible and clear language for practitioners and parents. Presenting a new and optimistic paradigm in defining and responding to ASD, this is an invaluable resource for parents and practitioners concerned about meeting the needs of the ASD individual and acquiring insights and techniques for seeking or implementing treatment.

The Learning Tree offers a new understanding of learning problems. Rather than looking just at symptoms, this new approach describes how to find the missing developmental steps that cause these symptoms. The best solution to the problem comes from knowing what essential skills to strengthen.Using the metaphor of a tree, Dr. Stanley Greenspan explains that the roots represent how children take in the world through what they hear, see, smell, and touch. The trunk represents thinking skills through which children grow both academically and socially. From these, the branches-children's basic abilities to read, write, do math, and organize their work-develop. Both parents and early learning professionals will especially welcome the sections on finding and solving learning problems early. With Dr. Greenspan's characteristic wise optimism, this book "raises the ceiling" for all children who learn differently or with difficulty.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Core Concepts and Clinical Practice is a groundbreaking book that provides an overview of the field from both theoretical and clinical viewpoints. The editors and chapter authors -- some of the field's foremost researchers and teachers -- describe from their diverse perspectives key concepts fundamental to infant-parent and early childhood mental health work. The complexity of this emerging field demands an interdisciplinary approach, and the book provides a clear, comprehensive, and coherent text with an abundance of clinical applications to increase understanding and help the reader to integrate the concepts into clinical practice. Offering both cutting-edge coverage and a format that facilitates learning, the book boasts the following features and content: A focus on helping working professionals expand their specialization skills and knowledge and on offering core competency training for those entering the field, which reflects the Infant-Parent Mental Health Postgraduate Certificate Program (IPMHPCP) and Fellowship in Napa, CA that was the genesis of the book. Chapters written by a diverse group of authors with vastly different training, expertise, and clinical experience, underscoring the book's interdisciplinary approach. In addition, terms such as clinician, therapist, provider, professional, and teacher are intentionally used interchangeably to describe and unify the field. Explication and analysis of a variety of therapeutic models, including Perry's Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics; Brazelton's neurodevelopmental and relational Touchpoints; attachment theory; the Neurorelational Framework; Mindsight; and Downing's Video Intervention Therapy. An entire chapter devoted to diagnostic schemas for children ages 0--5, which highlights the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood: Revised (DC:0-3R). With the release of DSM-5, this chapter provides a prototypical crosswalk between DC:0-3R and ICD codes. A discussion of the difference between evidence-based treatments and evidence-based practices in the field, along with valuable information on randomized controlled trials, a research standard that, while often not feasible or ethically permissible in infant mental health work, remains a standard applied to the field. Key points and references at the end of each chapter, and generous use of figures, tables, and other resources to enhance learning. The volume editors and authors are passionate about the pressing need for further research and the acquisition and application of new knowledge to support the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Core Concepts and Clinical Practice should find a receptive audience for this critically important message.

The casebook aims at providing the latest case materials for researchers and students who are keen to learn about the consumerization and transformation effects of digital technology.It is one of the first books covering the best practices of digital enablement in China, which has been the focus many observers among the practitioners as well as academics.The 22 projects analyzed include Zhongguancun InnoWay, OFO Bicycle, Esheke, Taobao, and more.

Edward R. Ritvo md is an internationally recognized medical expert, researcher and pioneer in the field of autism and Asperger's disorder and co-author of the official diagnostic criteria in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Much of what is known about these disorders today is based on his painstaking research and groundbreaking discoveries. In this book he shares his forty years' experience and opens his extensive UCLA casebook to the reader. Understanding the Nature of Autism and Asperger's Disorder is 'a consultation with Prof. Ritvo' - a thoroughly accessible introduction for professionals, families, spouses and individuals with autism and Asperger's Disorder. Prof. Ritvo traces the historical development of understanding about autism and Asperger's Disorder, from the centuries of misdiagnoses and the first recognition of the characteristics of the disorders to his own highly-regarded methods for making a diagnosis. Drawing on case histories from forty years' of clinical practice, he explains their basic nature, what the causes are, what is different in the brain, treatments that work (and those that don't), what a child with a diagnosis might be like when he or she grows up, and what future research may hold. This book will be an absolute must-read for anyone with an interest in autism and Asperger's Disorder, whether a practitioner, a parent, a student, or an affected individual.

Presents real-life cases along with rationale behind diagnoses and connections to DSM-5 criteria with symptomatology This unique casebook for graduate level programs in the mental health professions is a masterful vehicle for students to put the new DSM-5 into practice bypresenting actual clinical experiences from practitioners. It is distinguished from other casebooks by its presentation of real-life cases along with therationale behind diagnostic criteria and a connection of DSM-5 criteria with symptomatology for each case. In addition, the detailed vignettes include acomplete discussion of treatment interventions and client management that is crucial for students in helping professions. These treatment considerationsare inclusive of a wide range of evidence-based approaches. Multiple cases are presented within each major category of disorders to help studentsunderstand the nature of differential diagnosis. Cases also reflect cultural and social consideration in making diagnostic decisions. Each chapter is consistently formatted to include an overview of the client, symptoms/problems, diagnosis, and treatment interventions includingcomponents, applications, and results/prognosis. Readers will have an opportunity to formulate their own reactions and diagnostic impressions for each casebefore the commentary reveals the correct conclusion. An ideal text to enhance courses in psychopathology and diagnosis, as well as practicum andinternship, the casebook will diversify and broaden the classroom experience by enlightening students with compelling clinical cases that have beenexperienced by practicing professionals. Key Features: Presents in-demand DSM-5 content in depth Designed to meet the training needs of non-medical mental health professionals Offers breadth and depth of coverage including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment planning Includes multiple cases in each DSM-5 diagnostic category to illustrate differential diagnosis Describes cultural and social implications in each case

Smart kids with autism spectrum disorders need specific interventions to find success in school and beyond. Featuring a foreword by Temple Grandin, School Success for Kids With High-Functioning Autism shares practical advice for implementing strategies proven to be effective in school for dealing with the“Big 10” obstacles, including social interactions, inflexibility, behavior issues, attention and organization, homework, and more. Based on the new criteria in the DSM-5, School Success for Kids With High-Functioning Autism also describes how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social communication disorders (SCD) will now identify the students formerly identified as having Asperger's syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, high-functioning autism, or PDD-NOS. Relying on the latest research, and presenting it in easy-to-understand and practical language, the authors identify how the key components of ASD and SCD will appear to parents and professionals and what steps should be taken once these signs are evident. This book is sure to help any parent or teacher wanting to see their smart kids with autism succeed!