Product Description

Friendship, even for the most able, requires hard work, and the odds are heavily stacked against those with autism spectrum disorders. Designed for younger children, typically between the ages of two and eight, this comprehensive set of activities emphasizes foundation skills such as social referencing, regulating behavior, conversational reciprocity and synchronized actions. The authors include over 300 objectives to plan and evaluate a child's progress, each one related to a specific exercise. Suitable for parental use, the manual is also designed for easy implementation in schools and in therapeutic settings. A comprehensive website acts as companion to the book, free to purchasers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48210 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 331 pages

About the Author
Clinical Psychologists and husband/wife team Steven Gutstein and Rachelle Sheely are founders of the internationally known Connections Center for Relationship Development and the Monarch Therapeutic School. Dr. Gutstein, author of Autism/Aspergers: Solving the Relationship Puzzle and Dr. Sheely, a nationally respected expert in Autism, reside in Houston, Texas with their two daughters Esther and Hannah. Dr. Gutstein has spent over twenty years as a professor, researcher and clinician, creating powerful tools for social and emotional growth.

Customer Reviews

Friendships Are Relationships
I found Drs. Gutstein and Sheely's new book very helpful for implementing the Relationship Development Intervention curriculum for our son who has Asperger's.

The Activities were presented in a very user friendly format in a step-by-step manner. The corresponding Objectives were clearly stated, and it will be easy to monitor his progress. I know that these objectives will be beneficial when planning for his IEP at school next year.

I've always wished that our son came with a manual....well now I've got one. Thanks.

After reading so much, finally what I needed
As a mother of two, I like to help my kids, in everyway posible, to grow up as wholesome happy persons. I have a 3 year old who at home is a normal kid, but at school, parties or just anywhere else she won't speak and is in a constant state of panic and anxiety. I have read so many books on anxiety and other related pathologies without finding a real way to help her. This wonderful program RDI has helped my daughter in an incredible way! She is now a happier child, communicates more with all her family and extended family. And she is starting to make friends and interact with other children and adults just like any other kid. I am also using the program with my older daughter to help her in the building of her friendships. This book is not just for autistic kids.

Excellent book for parents and clinicians of ASD youth
The title of thie book is a little misleading, as the book is not really a downward age-extension of Gutstein's other RDI book but an expansion of exercises useful for the first 3 stages of RDI. Therefore, it is THE book for most parents of children with ASD, as usually these are the stages you end up starting with/on when doing the RDI exercises with your child. And, having more than double the options for the exercises is very helpful. I strongly recommend this book.