Autism in Your Classroom: A General Educator's Guide to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Topics in Autism)

: More and more children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are being educated in inclusive general education classrooms today than ever before. However, teachers are often unprepared for these kids’ special learning needs – which vary widely – and may already be over-burdened with the demands of their typically developing students. Now general education teachers can turn to Autism in Your Classroom for the information and guidance they need. While the authors acknowledge that inclusion may not be appropriate for every child with ASDs, they provide teachers with the insight, support, and knowledge they need to do the best they can with the students they are presented with. Written by two neuropsychologists with extensive clinical and classroom experience, Autism in Your Classroom is a concise, easy-to-read guide developed for primary school teachers in grades K- 6. Part I provides a complete overview of the types, causes, characteristics, and treatments of autism spectrum disorders. It also explains various secondary characteristics of autism that create challenges for students, such as sensory abnormalities, behavioral issues, and limited social skills and peer interaction. Part II focuses on the student in the classroom: It covers a variety of strategies to manage learning & behavior, such as: • Modifying classwork & homework • Helping with language difficulties • Using visual strategies • Keeping students focused & organized • Teaching reading & math • Using positive reinforcement & rewards • Handling challenging behavior • Explaining autism to other students • Teaching social skills in the classroom • Balancing the needs of typical and special students Part III features two useful case studies. Both stem from the authors' hands-on work and consultation with teachers, students, and parents. The book concludes with an appendix of questions frequently asked by educators about children with autism. Today’s teachers must meet the needs of students with a wide array of abilities and learning styles. Autism in Your Classroom gives them concrete tools to make teaching children with ASDs the best experience possible for all concerned.

Deborah Fein, Ph.D., is currently a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Connecticut. She has 35 years of clinical and research experience with children on the autism spectrum, and currently conducts NIH-funded research on early detection and recovery from autism. Michelle Dunn, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and pediatric neuropsychologist and neurophysiologist who has worked with children on the autism spectrum for the past 25 years and trained staff in many New York area school districts.