Evidence-Based Treatment for Children with Autism: The CARD Model (Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional)

This manual is a user-friendly, comprehensive description of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) model of autism treatment―the latest scientific information on what truly works in treating autism in an integrated, organized, consumable format. The book details effective early behavioral intervention, covering topics such as challenging behavior, visual modification, parental involvement, improving language, cognition, and social skills, and ends with a section that explains how all of the treatments can be put together in real-life service provision organizations. The CARD model is highly comprehensive and provides useful clinical information to form cutting-edge treatment programs.

• Describes in detail the world-renowned, state-of-the-art CARD model of treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders
• Provides practitioners critical guidance in how to combine the best components into comprehensive treatment programs for individuals with autism that are not only backed by research, but also the most effective, and the least intrusive
• Includes practical information, presented in a user-friendly, professionally-oriented format, with tables, figures, and flowcharts to help guide real-life clinical decision making

Dr. Jonathan Tarbox is the Co-Founder and Program Director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Southern California, as well as Director of Research at FirstSteps for Kids. Dr. Tarbox is the past Editor-in-Chief of the journal Behavior Analysis in Practice, a Board Member of the ABA Task Force to Eradicate Social Injustice, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Women in Behavior Analysis (WIBA) conference. He has published five books on applied behavior analysis and autism treatment, is the Series Editor of the Elsevier book series Critical Specialties in Treating Autism and Other Behavioral Challenges, and an author of over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters in scientific texts. His research focuses on behavioral interventions for teaching complex skills to individuals with autism, Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), and applications of applied behavior analysis to issues of diversity and social justice.

Adel C. Najdowski, PhD, BCBA-D (she/her/hers), is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Master of
Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program at Pepperdine University as well as Research Manager at
Halo Behavioral Health. Dr. Najdowski has provided ABA-based services to children with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities since 1995. She has more than 45 publications, including her
books Flexible and Focused: Teaching Executive Function Skills to Individuals With Autism and Attention Disorders
and A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves on the
editorial board of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and has previously served for Behavior Analysis in
Practice and as Guest Editor for a special issue in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She currently serves
on the board of directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and previously served on the
board of directors for the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA). She is also on the disciplinary
review committee (DRC) for the BACB. Her current research interests include topics related to social justice
teaching higher-order skills to children, teens, and adults diagnosed with ASD. She is a frequent speaker at conferences
and on podcasts and web-based shows.