Help autistic kids understand their unique gifts and needs and learn strategies for daily living in a neurotypical world. This positive, straightforward reference book offers kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day. Freshly updated, the content reflects changes in the understanding of ASD since the book was first released, including clarification that Asperger's syndrome is no longer a specific diagnosis and what this means for readers. The book also features new stories of young people with autism and an added chapter, "Tech Talk." Some children with ASD are gifted; others struggle academically. Some are more introverted, while others want to be social. Some get “stuck” on things, have intense interests, or experience repeated motor movements like flapping or pacing (“stims”). The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder covers all of these areas, with an emphasis on helping children gain new self-understanding and self-acceptance. Meant to be read with a parent, the book addresses questions (“What is ASD?” “Why me?”) a(more...)

Help autistic kids understand their unique gifts and needs and learn strategies for daily living in a neurotypical world. This positive, straightforward reference book offers kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day. Freshly updated, the content reflects changes in the understanding of ASD since the book was first released, including clarification that Asperger's syndrome is no longer a specific diagnosis and what this means for readers. The book also features new stories of young people with autism and an added chapter, "Tech Talk." Some children with ASD are gifted; others struggle academically. Some are more introverted, while others want to be social. Some get “stuck” on things, have intense interests, or experience repeated motor movements like flapping or pacing (“stims”). The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder covers all of these areas, with an emphasis on helping children gain new self-understanding and self-acceptance. Meant to be read with a parent, the book addresses questions (“What is ASD?” “Why me?”) and provides strategies for communicating, staying safe and smart online, making and keeping friends, and succeeding in school. Body and brain basics highlight symptom management, exercise, diet, hygiene, relaxation, sleep, and toileting. Emphasis is placed on helping kids handle intense emotions and behaviors and get support from family and their team of helpers when needed. The book includes stories from real kids, fact boxes, helpful checklists, and resources. Sections for parents offer additional information. Survival Guides for Kids Helping Kids Help Themselves® Straightforward, friendly, and loaded with practical advice, the Free Spirit Survival Guides for Kids give kids the tools they need to not only survive, but thrive. With plenty of realistic examples and bright illustrations, they are accessible, encouraging, kid-friendly, and even life-changing.

Tools, strategies, and advice help kids in special ed build on their strengths and be their best in and out of school. When kids learn they might receive special education, they often have questions and worries. This book gives kids lots of tools and strategies they can use to deal with their concerns, whether they are in the process of being evaluated for special ed or already receiving special ed services. Readers will learn to cope with their challenges, understand reasons for testing, and see the benefits of accepting special education supports. The book includes special features such as: Stories about kids’ experiences with special education drawn from the authors’ conversations with hundreds of students Approachable and relatable explanations of individual education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans for both parents and kids Reproducible forms to help kids think about their strengths, challenges, goals, worries, and more A section just for parents addressing common questions

An updated edition of an indispensable resource offers practical strategies for teaching and supporting students with mental health and learning disorders. Covering topics including PTSD, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and many others, this accessible, ready-to-use reference explains how each disorder or difficulty might be exhibited in the classroom and offers straightforward suggestions for what to do (and what not to do). Using clear, jargon-free language, the book helps all educators—whether in inclusive classrooms, general education settings, or other environments—recognize mental health issues and learning disabilities that are often observed in students. Fully revised and updated to correspond to the DSM-5, this edition addresses newly diagnosed disorders, as well as incorporating the latest research and interventions for existing disorders. The book also includes current information about educational practices such as creating a culturally responsive classroom and supporting students’ social-emotional learning. Digital content includes customizable forms from the book. A free downloadable PLC/Book Study Guide is available at freespirit.com/PLC.

Every kid’s must-have primer for being a good friend. Whether kids find socializing as natural as smiling or as hard as learning a new language, this book can help them improve their social skills so they can better enjoy the benefits of friendship. Practical advice covers everything from breaking the ice to developing friendships to overcoming problems and being a good friend. True-to-life vignettes, “what would you do?” scenarios, voluminous examples, quizzes to test learning, “Try This” assignments for practicing techniques, and advice from real kids make this an accessible life-skills handbook. Survival Guides for Kids Helping Kids Help Themselves® Straightforward, friendly, and loaded with practical advice, the Free Spirit Survival Guides for Kids give kids the tools they need to not only survive, but thrive. With plenty of realistic examples and bright illustrations, they are accessible, encouraging, kid-friendly, and even life-changing.

Autism is now the second most commonly diagnosed serious developmental disability, and the number of children identified as autistic continues to grow. Introducing what autism spectrum disorders are, and identifying the great need to build and manage programs for different youth with these disorders, Farmer offers librarians in or outside a school environment all the information they need to build a library literacy program geared towards these children. Designed to both awaken sensitivities of library staff and address the questions of those who are already aware of the issue, this book Shows how children with this diagnosis are increasingly mainstreamed into traditional library and school programs and identifies the special needs and issues they face in a library setting Equips readers to meet the needs of young library users who are autistic with practical tools for training library staff, teachers, and volunteers Explains hyperlexia, the main barrier to the development of literacy among these children, and how programs using sensory experiences can strengthen both literacy skills and socialization Proposes strategies for using library design to ensure that materials and resources are accessible to all patrons Including a glossary of terms and bibliography of additional resources, Farmer’s book is an important tool for raising awareness and supporting literacy development for children with these disorders in the library setting.

This highly practical resource book is full of realistic and achievable strategies to help teachers to support neurodiverse students in a range of situations that, whilst often seemingly insignificant, can quickly become substantial and disruptive challenges in the mainstream classroom. Written with the busy teacher in mind, chapters are easy to dip in and out of, with jargon-free language and simple explanations which are easy to understand and put into practice. Clear chapters explore a variety of situations and topics to help children engage in their learning and make the classroom a safe and inviting place to be for autistic students. Key features include: Practical and achievable strategies to support autistic students in the mainstream classroom Real-life scenarios to help you find concrete solutions to issues as they arise Memorable mantras and quick quotes to help embed strategies in everyday practice for both students and teachers Photocopiable and downloadable resource sheets Written by an advisory teacher for autism with a wealth of experience, this book will be an invaluable tool for both primary and secondary teachers in mainstream settings, as well as other education professionals.

The book will help you navigate the DSM-5. It will assist you in learning the diagnoses as they are required by agencies and the insurance companies in order to obtain reimbursement for services. Each chapter presents the more common disorders as they are typically encountered in agencies. It is a book for mental health and human service professionals--graduate students in social work, marriage and family counseling, psychology, and mental health counselors. It is also a book for the experienced practitioner, psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to stay grounded in traditional psychology or systems theory but often are required to present cases or diagnose from an individual or psychodynamic point of view. The book imparts technical knowledge in a non-technical view. it is based on the feedback from graduated students as they enter the mental health fields, and based on discussions with experienced professionals. Looking though the framework presented in this book allows practitioners to see individuals within a context and to free them from mutually exclusive outlook. Each chapter is separated into the following format: (1) a presentation of the disorder, along with the symptoms as they are typically presented, (2) a case history of someone who exhibits the disorder, (3) a description of how a therapist can recognize the disorder- for example, what does a depressed person look like, (4) a description of how the client feels, (5) The clients dilemma, (6) A brief explanation of the theories used to describe the etiology of the disorder, (7) An assessment from an individual lens, (8) An assessment from a systemic lens, (9) A list of individually based therapeutic strategies, (10) and a list of family therapy strategies that could be used for treating the client.

"Each family's journey with autism is as unique as a fingerprint." Think about autism differently. That's what Vivian M. Lumbard does. She's a mom to teenage twins with high-functioning autism challenges. As a retired air traffic controller, she is familiar with long-term and short-term goals, changing plans on a moment's notice, as well as being able to laugh when stressed. All of which comes in handy when raising a child with autism. Autism awareness is on the rise. But what about autism understanding? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) manifests differently for each individual. Yet stereotypes hinder understanding and impact our choices as parents and educators. Using examples from her family's life, she reframes common ASD stereotypes and competencies to highlight commonalities with the neurotypical world. Vivian advocates an approach of loving, parenting and supporting the whole, unique child and offers a chapter of helpful tips based on her experiences. See how she applies those tips while staying at home during COVID-19. Frank. Compassionate. Intimate. Sometimes humorous. Join her as she shares her family's journey. Award-winning Finalist in the Parenting/Family category of the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Bronze Medal winner in the Parenting/Family Relationships category of the 2020-2021 Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Awards Award-winning Finalist in the Parenting & Family category of the 2020 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest Red Ribbon Winner in 2020 The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

Autism is a baffling brain disorder that profoundly affects children's communication and social skills. This work provides a reference guide to this disease. It includes approximately 500 entries that address the different types of autism, causes and treatments, institutions, associations, leading scientists and research, social impact, and more.