Autism and Understanding: The Waldon Approach to Child Development - Hardcover

Solomon, Walter; Holland, Chris; Middleton, Mary Jo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1446209237 ISBN 13: 9781446209233

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2012

Synopsis

This book does not offer a ′miracle cure′ for autism, although the authors aim to counteract the prevailing view that autism is a lifetime condition. Authors Walter Solomon, Chris Holland and Mary Jo Middleton demonstrate that with the appropriate intervention, children with autism – and other special needs – can gain a fuller understanding of the world and learn to take a constructive and contributing place in it.

The authors set out an approach based on Dr. Geoffrey Waldon′s philosophy of the development of understanding, which centers on helping children learn how to learn. The Waldon Approach is presented through accounts of how it has helped to enrich many lives.

About this title

Review:

′Dr Waldon offered hope to parents, not only changing lives but also often saving lives. The book is a worthy tribute to how Dr Waldon dediated his life to helping children and their families′

-Saira Pester, Special Children

′A regular one hour lesson using the Waldon Approach can have a significant and lasting impact. It is refreshingly low-tech, and complements and reinforces the student′s learning and activities throughout the rest of their day. But, most important, it provides a framework for understanding how children learn and how children who have difficulties might be helped′

-Peter Bowker, Teacher of the Waldon Approach

′Geoffrey′s theories were about development and learning and they were applicable to everyone at every stage of life. Although his ideas were actually far broader, he became identified with learning disabilities and with autism. But anyone, from any culture or of any age, could benefit′

-John Gooding Teacher of the Waldon Approach

′Author Walter Solomon is a father

inspired to write about his son and the

educational programme which the

author feels was crucial to his son

overturning the experts’ expectations to

become an employed, happily married

man...He puts his case convincingly,

leading you into an understanding of the

method, rather than trying to define it up

front.This is a book I am going to treasure′
- Communication

′This is an important book for mental health professionals about the Waldon approach to child development, and based originally on the author′s experience with his son...This is clearly a philosophy that deserves to be more widely known, and the author has done a fine job in this respect′
-David Lorimer, SCI-MED Network News

′It is meant to be, and succeeds in being, accessible to parents and teachers...It is a fascinating and highly readable publication′ Author: Aspect Source: Aspect Published On: 2013-03-21

The book is easy to read and is often written as a dialoguebetween people discussing an experience or teachers andother professionals retelling a case study and the progressthose children made. There is an extensive bibliographythat has been personally selected by the author andsorted into books on autism, child development,neuroscience and movement. However, I question theauthor’s opinion that autism is not a lifelong conditionand that the Waldon Approach can be used at any age inany culture.This book would be informative for teachers and otherprofessionals who work with autistic children that maybe further along on the spectrum, although it may havelimited application for the specialist literacy teacher. Author: Siobhan Smillie, specialist teacher and parent of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome

"The authors of this book should be congratulated for producing a useful resource that explains the journey of one family through the maze of autism....it explores most of the important issues of autism in an accessible and jargon-free way.  It also gives the reader access to a website with relevant videos, podcasts, forums and other valuable materials."
-Mike Gibbs, Keele University Author: Mike Gibbs Source: Learning Disability Practice Volume 16 Number 1

About this edition

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1446209237
• ISBN 13: 9781446209233
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240