Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
 

Vera Bernard-Opitz
Pro Ed Publishing, 2007
http://www.proedinc.com

Our knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and effective treatment methods has significantly increased over the last 35 years. For the broad spectrum of impairments, there is now a spectrum of acknowledged intervention methods.


This manual gives an overview of best-practice interventions including Applied Behavior Analysis, Precision Teaching, and experience-based and visual approaches. These methods are integrated into the curriculum component of this manual, called STEP (Structured Therapy and Experience-Based Programs). Guidelines are presented for parents and professionals to match the child’s skill profile, learning style and interest to the best possible intervention method. Numerous case studies, examples, sketches and pictures make this book very reader-friendly. Reproducible forms are provided for skills assessment, data collection and teaching in the following areas:

  • Attention, Eye Contact, and Joint Attention
  • Matching and Sorting
  • Imitation
  • Language Comprehension
  • Active Communication and First Utterances
  • Expanded Communication
  • Play and Social Behavior
  • Self-Help Skills and Independence

    • ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Vera Bernard-Opitz (Ph.D.) has worked as a Clinical Psychologist and Behavior Therapist with more than 1,000 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in autism centers, schools, and behavioral research centers in the United States, Germany, and Singapore. As Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, she initiated and coordinated structured teaching programs for children with ASD for 15 years. She has published several books and has contributed various publications in international journals. She is presently the editor of Autism News (of Orange County & the Rest of the World), an autism newsletter. She works as an international consultant, giving workshops and providing video consultations to help children with autism around the globe. Her website can be found at www.verabernard.org.

     

    BOOK REVIEWS

    "This groundbreaking book is a must-read for anyone interested in providing a comprehensive and appropriate education to young children with ASD. It is a book that recognizes that all children with ASD are unique and may require specific teaching methods that are compatible with their learning style. She offers the STEP approach (Structured Therapy and Experience-Based Programs), a program that attempts to ameliorate 'therapy camps' and place focus on where it should be — the child's needs. This comprehensive and easy-to-read book offers instructional strategies to teach a myriad of skills; including joint attention, language comprehension, play and social behavior, and self-help skills and independence. It also addresses important issues, such as managing behavior problems and using effective reinforcement. Step-by-step information on how to implement strategies, and data collection forms, are included in this book."

    Brenda Smith Myles (University of Kansas)

     

    "I believe the strength of the book is that it recognizes that there is not one approach that meets the needs of all children on the autism spectrum. The need to individualize treatment approaches is critical with this population since there is such a diversity of challenges, strengths, and interests. This book gives an amazing amount of information from which to explore and choose what might best meet the specific needs of your child or the student you may be working with. It is an assemblage of practical, real world information that has benefited many children over the years from a diverse, sometimes competing, set of 'autism camps.' We must thank Vera Bernard-Opitz for putting all of this information under one roof from which we can all benefit."

    Ron Larsen (Former TEACCH therapist & designer of ShoeboxTasks)

     

    "This is a highly practical, and generally well presented manual for those involved in work with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The book covers a number of different issues, beginning with a discussion of Autism Spectrum Disorders more generally, and then a review of the various therapies that are available. Probably the most valuable parts of the book, however, are the chapters devoted to practical ways of managing behavior problems, reinforcing skills and adapting intervention programs to meet the needs of both children with ASD and their families. Readers are taken through various strategies step by step, but the focus on naturalistic teaching, and the need for a highly individualized approach mean that this is not meant, in any way, to be a “recipe book” but rather a structured and detailed guide to facilitate therapeutic skills in those working with, or living with children with autism. It is also important to note that many of the strategies described are based on sound evidence from psychological and experimental studies of children with autism. In summary, this book should prove very valuable for those working and living with children with autism on a day-to-day basis."

    Pat Howlin (St. George's Hospital, London)

     

    "A highly accessible intervention manual that will be welcomed by parents and professionals. Dr. Bernard-Opitz's ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources is in evidence in this wonderful manual. Her STEP program (Structured Therapy and Experience-Based Programs) is an integration of naturalistic behavioral techniques, precision-teaching and experience-based visual approaches, all simmered in a broth of common sense, practicality and, above all, insistence on the need to select and modify techniques to meet the needs of the individual child. This stress on individualized programming is especially important, given the increasing heterogeneity of the population of children with autistic spectrum disorders. Dr. Bernard- Opitz' program is presented with helpful, illustrative everyday vignettes and step-by-step instructions. These are accompanied by delightful stick drawings which, in their simplicity and directness, reflect the author's successful effort to provide information in a clear and accessible way. The book begins with a readable yet scholarly description of autism spectrum disorders and the various therapies available. But it continues as a friendly companion for parents and clinicians, to help in their efforts to manage behavioral challenges and foster a child's social development, cognitive functioning, play and communication."

    Rita S. Eagle, (Psychologist, Marina Del Rey, USA)

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    For more information on the Bright Starts Programme for ages 2-4yo, please visit our website at www.weecare.com.sg.