Autism in Lockdown: Expert Tips and Insights on Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, schedule changes, safety protocols, and school closings have added unique challenges to everyone’s lives. But even more so for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

Autism in Lockdown includes the most needed tips and insights from 34 of the world’s leading autism experts, including:

Dr. Temple Grandin – Temple in Lockdown
Carol Stock Kranowitz – In-Sync Activities to Help Kids Cope with Being Cooped Up
Dr. Tony Attwood – COVID-19 and Autism
Carol Gray – Social StoriesTM for the Pandemic
Ellen Notbohm – When Leaders Fall Short
Sheila Wagner – Homeschooling and Homework
Dr. Raun Melmed – Tools for Stress Management
Dr. Jed Baker – Dealing with the New Normal
Dr. Jim Ball – Build Structure for Better Behavior
Bobbi Sheahan – Everyone Go to their Rooms!
... And many more!

Temple Grandin earned her Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Illinois and is currently a Professor at Colorado State University. Dr. Grandin is one of the most respected individuals with high-functioning autism in the world. She presents at conferences nationwide, helping thousands of parents and professionals understand how to help individuals with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and PDD. She is the author of Emergence: Labeled Autistic, Thinking in Pictures, Animals in Translation (which spent many weeks on The New York Times Best-Seller List), The Autistic Brain, and The Loving Push, co-written with Debra Moore, Ph.D. One of the most celebrated -- and effective -- animal advocates on the planet, Dr. Grandin revolutionized animal movement systems and spearheaded reform of the quality of life for the world's agricultural animals.

Carol Gray is the author of The New Social Story Book. She has over twenty-five years of experience educating students with autism. Carol initiated the use of Social Stories™ in 1991 and has written numerous articles, chapters, and books on the subject. Currently, Carol works privately with students, parents, and professionals in a variety of educational and vocational settings. Every year, Carol gives many presentations and workshops throughout the world. She addresses topics related to the teaching of social understanding, bullying prevention, and friendship skills. Carol has received several awards for her work and international contributions to the education of individuals with autism and those who work on their behalf. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Dr. Tony Attwood is a practicing clinical psychologist with more than twenty-five years of experience. He has worked with over 2000 individuals of all ages with Asperger's syndrome. He presents workshops and runs training courses for parents, professionals, and individuals with AS all over the world, and is a prolific author of articles and books on the subject.

Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., is the author of The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up, The Out-of-Sync-Child, The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, and a children's book, The Goodenoughs Get In Sync: 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory Issues. She was a preschool teacher for 25 years and helped to develop an innovative program to screen young children for Sensory Processing Disorder. She speaks regularly about the subject in the United States and abroad. In her books and presentations, she offers a fun and functional approach that integrates sensory-motor activities into everyday life at home and school. A graduate of Barnard College, she has an M.A. in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University.

Beth Aune is the owner-therapist of Desert Occupational Therapy for Kids, Inc., a pediatric outpatient clinic in Palm Desert, California. Beth and her team of dedicated and passionate professionals provide assessment and intervention for at-risk children with a variety of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, developmental delay, feeding dysfunction, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and others. Desert OT for Kids, Inc. provides skilled intervention in the clinic, school, and home settings. Beth is a co-author of Behavior Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom (2010) and Behavior Solutions in and Beyond the Inclusive Classroom (2011), and sole author of Behavior Solutions for the Home and the Community (2013). She is a knowledgeable, fervent, and energetic speaker throughout the nation on the topic of identifying, understanding, and treating children's problematic behaviors and sensory issues. Her presentations, workshops, and books offer practical solutions and strategies for teachers and parents to implement in the school, home, and community settings. Beth is a clinical instructor for Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions and is on the advisory board for the Masters of OT program. She is a board member for Future Horizons, Inc., a major publisher for the autism and sensory processing disorder.