Product Description

This book provides practical, hands-on strategies to teach social skills to children with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome. It includes a detailed description of the social deficits of these children as they appear in the classroom - difficulties with such things as understanding idioms, taking turns in conversation, understanding and using tone of voice and body language - and ways to address them. Instruction is included in the book to enhance the development of appropriate, measureable, and meaningful individualized education plans (IEPs) to incorporate social goals. Lesson plans are included to facilitate the ability to 'teach' these social goals. Parents will find this text an excellent training tool to help develop social education curriculums for their children, and teachers will find it particularly helpful as an easy-to-read manual containing many 'nuts and bolts' strategies to utilize in the classroom.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #232057 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 187 pages

Book Info
(Jessica Kingsley Publishers) Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA. Practical hands-on strategies for parents and teachers of children with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome. Includes a detailed description of social deficits children may exhibit in the classroom, and includes lesson plans for 'teaching' these goals. Softcover.

About the Author
Rebecca Moyes is one of the founders of ABOARD (The Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders, Inc), which provides support and information for families of children with autism and the professionals who work with them. Her oldest child was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome six years ago. She used to work as a teacher, and now produces a quarterly newsletter entitled Building Bridges for teachers and parents of children with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome.

Customer Reviews

Very useful and positive
Although I haven't purchased a copy of this book, a read a copy that I borrowed from a library, and I find it very useful and positive.

As a middle-aged adult with Asperger's Syndrome, I know how useful and helpful a book like this would have been if one had existed when I was in elementary school, as well as if the social training programs that this book's author recommends had existed back then. I was in special ed classes from the ages of 6 to 14, and although they were very helpful in giving me every chance to achieve academically, they did not give me the social skills training that I needed. On a positive note, the peers I had in the special ed classes I was in were also quite advanced intellectually (or at least average intellectually), and this, as well as the work my teachers had me doing, helped me to mature intellectually more than I would have if I had been put in with kids who were much more limited intellectually. I was put in with those who had behaviour problems, and also those who probably had A.D.D. and A.D.H.D., as well as with others with A.S., and all of them were fairly advanced (or at least average) intellectually. One problem, however, was that they did not give me the social skills training that I needed, and, unfortuantely, I still didn't have the social skills that I needed even after graduating from a regular high school. I might add that my elementary school years were from 1965 to 1973.

Bought the book too soon.
This book is geared towards children who are already speaking and who have mediocre social skills. I was excited to get this book so I could help my kindergarten age son, whos teachers are having a hard time setting the goals I'M most concerned about (not through lack of trying, we all just seem at a loss as of WHAT and HOW to break down the goals into an IEP format that is recognizable and measurable.) Unfortunatley my son rarely speaks and seems unable to bridge the gap between himself and other children (although he is aware of and obviously WANTS to interact on most occasions.) So, although this book seems as though it will be a WONDERFUL help in years to come, until then it's not really something we can put to use.

Classroom success!
My son's teacher has been using this wonderful book to help my child improve his social skills. We are already seeing him take turns in converstion instead of interrupting everyone.He is also showing a better understanding of personal space.I am lucky to have a teacher that is so in tune and concerned with offering these types of lessons in the classroom. She recently incorporated stress and anxiety management(which is also an issue) with the help of a new curriculum called the "Children's Awareness Curriculum".

I recommend both of these guides for teachers with or without special needs children.