Meeting a growing need for school-based practitioners, this book provides vital tools for improving the academic, behavioral, and social outcomes of students with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS). Research-based best practices are presented for conducting meaningful assessments; collaborating with teachers, students, and parents to prevent school difficulties and problem solve when they occur; and developing effective individualized education programs (IEPs). In a large-size format to facilitate photocopying, the book features a wealth of practical prevention and intervention strategies, illustrated with concrete examples. Over a dozen reproducibles include interview forms and observation sheets. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by Sandra M. Chafouleas.

Helps parents and professionals navigate the challenges for early learners with high-functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger Syndrome (AS). This book builds a foundation by explaining HFA/AS and some typical characteristics, such as sensory issues, attention deficit disorders, and difficulties of socialization.

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!

Rebecca Moyes takes on one of the biggest challenges in the classroom: problem behaviors. She not only evaluates explanations for these behaviors, she explains why traditional approaches to managing poor behavior do not work for children with autism and Asperger's syndrome. She supplies practical tips on how to tackle the problem behaviors both in the classroom and outside it, including many individual examples. She also incorporates a case study with a behavior support plan which contains environmental supports to strengthen teaching strategies.

This is an excellent travelers' guide because it is written by people who have been there. The stories are enthralling and the authors' experiences enable us to understand the culture and perspective of people with autistic spectrum disorder. This book is recommended for anyone who has embarked on a journey to explore a part of our world that we have only recently discovered.' - from the foreword by Tony Attwood 'I had a great many of my hunches and hopes confirmed when I read the words of the generous parents, and their even more generous children, who contributed to this book ... Most important, I learned it is possible to be inspired to see the glass as half full, no matter how many leaks there seem to be in the cup ... I believe the community who reads this book will join me in thanking those who wrote it, for their courage, their wit and their plethora of ideas.' - from the foreword by Liane Holliday Willey For the families who have contributed to this book, living with autism spectrum disorders has been a journey of self-discovery. With honesty and humor, they describe the ways autism has affected their daily lives, the challenges they have faced and the approaches they have found beneficial. They share their practical and original strategies for dealing with issues such as helping children to develop empathy and humor, developing and maintaining friendships and explaining their autism spectrum disorders to other people. This book will be a source of advice and inspiration for families of children with autism and the professionals who work with them. It is practical, realistic and positive - autism is seen as something to be understood and celebrated. As 11-year-old Glen states in the Appendix, written by some of the children with autism featured in the book: 'I like myself and consider my difference something positive.' Linda Andron is a licensed clinical social worker, Adjunct Lecturer in Psychiatry and Bio-Behavioural Sciences and Clinical Instructor at the University of California at Los Angeles. She is the director of the UCLA Family Support Community Program and the clinical director of the Center for Asperger's Assessment and Intervention at the HELP Group. She has worked with over 500 families of children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome and is a member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Autism Society of Los Angeles. She has written many articles and chapters on developmental disabilities.

*Winner in the Education/Academic category of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards* *Shortlisted for the 2011 NASEN Award 'The Special Needs Academic Book'* With a focus on best practice and the importance of early diagnosis, this book provides a practical and scientifically-based approach to the assessment and diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and autism spectrum conditions. This book offers a balance of conceptual, practical and empirical information designed to bridge the research-to-practice gap in identifying, assessing, and treating school-aged children with autism-related conditions. Assessment tools and intervention strategies will support school-based professionals in: · identifying and assessing young people with high-functioning autism spectrum conditions · developing and implementing classroom-based intervention programs · initiating a dialogue between parents and teachers · accessing community resources · promoting special needs advocacy. With illustrative case studies, FAQs, quick reference boxes, and a glossary, this accessible guide will appeal to teachers, counsellors, psychologists, social work practitioners and students.

This volume, the first in the series, explores the high-functioning group of people within the spectrum of autism disorders. It is the culmination of over a decade of clinical work and research, including the most current information available about this group. Written in a style that is accessible to both seasoned clinicians and concerned lay persons, this volume is a unique resource.