Product Description

The long-awaited landmark guide to autism and ASD by the authors of the timeless classic The Child with Special Needs

The inspiring success of Dr. Stanley Greenspan's unique approach to autism and ASD (autistic spectrum disorders) is known to grateful parents and to professionals throughout the world. Now at last his highly effective and influential program is presented in one clear and accessible volume.

A number of innovative, exciting features distinguish Greenspan's approach to autism: First, his program has demonstrated that children with signs of autism or autistic spectrum disorders do not have a fixed, limited potential, but in many cases can join their peers and lead full, healthy lives, emotionally and intellectually. Secondly, his approach can be applied at a very early stage, when signs of autism first appear. Thus, the hope of preventing the full onset of autism becomes a real possibility. Third, the approach empowers the entire family to promote their child's development throughout each day. Also, the DIR Floortime approach guides the efforts of speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and educators to work with the family and builds on the latest research on the development of the mind and brain.

As cases of autism continue to rise worldwide, Dr. Greenspan's extremely successful Floortime approach is producing very promising results that could one day stem the tide against this dread disorder. No one involved in the care of children with autism, parent or professional, can afford to be without this landmark work.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24467 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Greenspan and Wieder (The Child with Special Needs) start out by redefining autism in realistic yet positive terms which open the door for successful intervention: instead of focusing solely on the autistic spectrum, a more flexible axis measuring progress, on which placement is not fixed, can give parents and children a "a healthy developmental trajectory," taking into account such goals as "showing intimacy and warmth ... communicating with gestures ... and talking meaningfully." The authors give readers a pragmatic approach to thinking about people on the autistic spectrum, including specific ideas for enhancing connectivity and communication in people of any age, most of whom "rarely advance intellectually above the ten-to-twelve-year-old level ... when they could progress far beyond the level of concrete thinking," if only there were a curriculum that would "challenge them to do so." Most of the text is used to help develop an engaging program for someone with autism, including resources and examples, in order to address "relationships, specific behaviors, the creative use of ideas, and the various processing areas." This is essential reading for caregivers, parents and friends of people on the spectrum, as well as compelling reading for anyone who wants to learn more about autism.
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Review
"Highly effective and influential approach to autism and autistic spectrum disorders is presented in one clear and accessible volume." -- Family Therapy, 2006

"Highly effective and influential...one clear and accessible volume... Preventing the full onset of autism becomes a real possibility." -- (Adolescence, Summer 2006)

"Offers hope to parents...Confirms the worth, feasibility, and the necessity of comprehensive programs for youth with autistic spectrum disorder." -- Psychologist-Psychoanalyst, Summer 2006

"There’s no better expert on the subject." -- Midwest Book Review, 6/06

"[An] excellent book…The definitive guide to Greenspans respected 'floortime' method...illuminating...highly recommended." -- Library Journal, starred review 04/12/06

Â"An excellent introductionÂ…A thoughtful theoretical examination of autism and autism spectrum disordersÂ…a reassuring and hopeful guide.Â" -- Parent and Preschooler Newsletter, September 2006

About the Author
Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at George Washington University Medical School. The world's foremost authority on clinical work with infants and young children, he is the author or editor of over thirty-eight books, translated into over a dozen languages, including Growth of the Mind, The Challenging Child, The First Idea with Stuart G. Shanker, D. Phil., and, together with T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., The Irreducible Needs of Children.

Serena Wieder, Ph.D., Associate Editor of the Journal of Developmental and Learning Disorders, is co-author, with Dr. Greenspan, of The Child with Special Needs and a close colleague of Dr. Greenspan's in all his work in the field of autism.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Resource
I have been a fan of Stanley Greenspan since I switched from treating adults to treating children. I am an occupational therapist and Dr. Greenspan's books have been a guiding force in treating all of the children on my caseload, not only the ones with autism specturm disorders. If ABA is just not working for you or you are looking for a an approach that will build a closer relationship with your child, read this book. I would also recommend the book The Special Needs Child, also by Greenspan.

The books teaches you how to get your "tuned out" child's attention. How to get your child to begin to communicate with you. How to build communication from fleeting moments to real back and forth communication.

I use the recommendations from this book everyday in my practice and I frequently recommend it to my client's parents.

Excellent Book! Recommended for ALL parents with special needs child(ren)
Excellent book! Highly recommended! Our son is progressing with more positive results and LESS tears! We found this in our library and HAD to purchase it.

Engaging Autism
Really well-written and so on target. I have shared it with several families and their response to it has been so positive...they feel they now have a realistic way to try to play with and communicate with their child. We are also using this approach with several students at our school and witnessing appropriate responses from them.