BOOK REVIEWS
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Structured Teaching and Experience-Based Program for Therapists, Teachers, and Parents
"This groundbreaking book is a must read for anyone interested in providing a comprehensive and appropriate education to young children with ASD. It is a book that recognizes that all children with ASD are unique and may require specific teaching methods that are compatible with their learning style. She offers the STEP approach: Structured Therapy and Experience-Based Programs program that attempts to ameliorate 'therapy camps' and place focus on where it should be — the child's needs. This comprehensive and easy-to-read book offers instructional strategies to teach a myriad of skills, including joint attention, language comprehension, play and social behavior, and self-help skills and independence. It also addresses important issues, such as managing behavior problems and using effective reinforcement. Step-by-step information on how to implement strategies and data collection forms are included in this book."
"I believe the strength of the book is that it recognizes that there is not one approach that meets the needs of all children on the autism spectrum. The need to individualize treatment approaches is critical with this population since there is such diversity of challenges, strengths, and interests. This book gives an amazing amount of information from which to explore and choose what might be best meet the specific needs of your child or the student you maybe working with. It is an assemblage of practical, real world information that has benefited many children over the years from a diverse, sometimes competing, set of 'autism camps.' We must thank Vera Bernard-Opitz for putting all of this information under one roof from which we can all benefit."
"This is a highly practical, and generally well presented manual for those involved in work with children with autism spectrum disorders. The book covers a number of different issues, beginning with a discussion of Autism Spectrum Disorders more generally, and then a review of the various therapies that are available. Probably the most valuable parts of the book, however, are the chapters devoted to practical ways of managing behavior problems, reinforcing skills and adapting intervention programs to meet the needs of both children with ASD and their families. Readers are taken through various strategies step by step, but the focus on naturalistic teaching, and the need for a highly individualized approach mean that this is not meant, in any way, to be a “recipe book” but rather a structured and detailed guide to facilitate therapeutic skills in those working with, or living with children with autism. It is also important to note that many of the strategies described are based on sound evidence from psychological and experimental studies of children with autism. In summary, this book should prove very valuable for those working and living with children with autism on a day to day basis."