Educating Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for Teachers, Counselors, and Psychologists

According to the CDC, one in fifty American children is diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder. This means more school-aged children are entering classrooms with ASDs and teachers are being called upon to help facilitate their learning. Educating Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders is aimed at providing strategies for teachers, school counselors, and psychologists to help address the needs of children on the spectrum, as well as their families. Erin E. Barton and Beth Harn draw on current research and practices to discuss the possible causes of autism and to help prepare educators not only for teaching children in the classroom but also for providing families with the tools necessary to continue the educational process at home. Included are topics such as:

• Improving communication and socialization
• Developing instructive lessons
• Assessing students' progress
• Including families in educational goals
• Finding students' special interests and using those to help facilitate learning
• Managing challenging behavior
• And more

Including forms, charts, and a range of classroom activities, this is the only resource you will need to gain the insight and tools for making a difference in the educational lives of young children with autism.

Erin E. Barton, PhD, BCBA-D, is an assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado Denver, teaching courses in early childhood special education. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has worked with children and families in school, home, and clinical settings. She has published several papers on evidence-based practices for young children with autism.

Beth Harn, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences at the University of Oregon. She is currently co–principal investigator on a number of federally funded initiatives related to both intervention as well as special education teacher preparation. She also provides professional development to states, districts, and schools nationally.