Out and About: Preparing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Participate in Their Communities

Go out and about with ease! Out and About: Preparing Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders to Participate in their Communities is a short, to-the-point resource that is sure be used repeatedly by parents and educators.

It focuses on everyday events and how to support individuals on the autism spectrum to be active participants in the world around them. Created as a blueprint to be filled in according the child's strengths and needs and the event being planned, the framework lists ten areas that have been identified in best practice as effective supports for children with an autism spectrum disorder.

These include a waiting plan, communication supports, social intervention, visual need, hidden curriculums, rules, sensory support, motivation, behavior supports, transitions tools, and considerations for siblings or other students. The individualized blueprint will become second nature to its users as they become more familiar with the support the child needs and, therefore, serve as an indispensable tool in everyday life.

Jill Hudson, MS, CCLS is a certified child life specialist. Trained at John Hopkins, she formerly worked at children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She received her master's degree in autism from the University of Kansas. Jill is the author of Prescription for Success: Supporting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Medical Environment and Cabins, Canoes and Campfires: Guidelines for Establishing a Camp for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Jill consults and presents nationally and internationally.

Amy Bixler Coffin, M.S., is Program Director of the Autism Center at OCALI. A special educator for 24 years, Coffin has served as an intervention specialist, low-incidence supervisor, director of special education, and autism program director. She currently coordinates and provides regional and statewide professional development for districts, families, and organizations. She has presented at state, national, and international conferences.