Incentives for Change: Motivating People with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Learn and Gain Independance

As many parents and teachers know, people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be difficult to motivate, especially when asked to learn something new. Finding the right incentives to support learning is one of the crucial first steps in teaching them new skills. Written by two autism specialists with nearly 50 years combined experience, 'Incentives for Change' explores systems for determining what incentives children and adults with ASD will find rewarding, and ways to use motivation as a tool to affect their learning and behaviour. This easy-to-follow guide explains a variety of motivational methods and systems, including how to: Identify potential incentives; Transition from concrete to intangible incentives; Use reinforcements or rewards to increase motivation; Teach a child to express what he wants; Understand 'establishing operation' and other concepts that affect motivation; Motivate children with ASD to make choices; Implement token systems to enable children to delay reinforcement; Encourage independence and self-management skills. What skills and behaviours can be taught using the motivational techniques presented in this book? Parents and teachers will find methods for teaching a wide variety of social skills, such as interacting playfully with others and making eye contact, and life skills such as getting dressed and doing chores. These techniques can also help students with ASD learn academic subjects in school and control interfering behaviours like hand flapping or rocking back and forth. This book contains many real-life case studies of families who are using motivational systems in a variety of situations to help their child learn and gain a greater measure of independence. When put to use, these systems can enhance learning opportunities for every person on the autism spectrum from the youngest to the oldest, and from the least to most receptive to change.

Also by Lara Delmolino and Sandra Harris:
Essential First Steps for Parents of Children with Autism: Helping the Littlest Learners

Also by Sandra Harris:
Siblings of Children with Autism: A Guide for Families
Right from the Start: Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism
Reaching Out, Joining In: Teaching Social Skills to Young Children with Autism

Lara Delmolino PhD is a Research Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and Assistant Director for Research at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers. She is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. Sandra L Harris PhD is a Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology and the Department of Psychology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Division of Research and Training at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers, which serves people with autism from pre-school to adulthood.