Social Behavior and Self Management

Buron, who taught students on the autism spectrum and developed an autism spectrum disorders certificate program for educators at Hamline U., et al. contend that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) understand social information better when it is explained using visual systems and show how the 5-point scale can help explain social and emotional concepts to these individuals. They outline the use of the scale by those advocating for, living with, or working with adults with ASD. They offer examples of scales used for 15 different social situations, such as emotional regulation, relaxation, stalking behavior, friendships, dating, roommates, workplace issues, and handling obsessive behavior, and include discussion of issues that can arise and ideas and words to use when explaining issues to people with ASD. No index is included. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Kari Dunn Buron taught in K-12 with students on the autism spectrum for 30+ years. She developed an Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate program for educators at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and has done volunteer work specific to autism in Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, Tanzania and Ghana. In 2003, Kari received a Self-designed Bush Leadership Fellowship that allowed her to spend a year interviewing and working internationally with a number of scientists and researchers in the area of Social Cognition, Education and Autism with a focus on challenging behaviors. Kari is the co-author of The Incredible 5-Point Scale, and the author of When My Worries Get Too Big, A 5 Could Make Me Lose Control and A 5 is Against the Law! (2008 ASA literary award winner). Kari is the co-editor of a textbook for educators titled Learners on the Autism Spectrum: Preparing Highly Qualified Educators (2009 ASA literary award winner) and is the creator of an original social skills magazine designed for students with Asperger Syndrome called The Social Times (2010 Gold Winner, National Parenting Publications Award and Gold Medal Winner Moonbeam Children s Book Awards). Mitzi Beth Curtis, MsEd, is an autism resource specialist currently working for Intermediate School District 287 in Minnesota and is consulting with Minnesota Life College. She has worked in special education, supported employment and residential programs for individuals with disabilities since 1978. Her youngest sister, Maria, sent her on this journey with her birth in 1963. Lisa King, MEd, is a co-director of College Autism Spectrum, an educational consulting company that provides training and guidance to colleges regarding best practices for working with students on the autism spectrum, in addition to working directly with students on the spectrum and their families as they transition to, through, and beyond college. Additionally, she serves as an access consultant for St. Catherine University. Under the guidance of colleagues and co-authors, Jane Thierfeld Brown and Lorraine Wolf, Ms. King led a two-year pilot program at the University of Minnesota implementing a new model of service: Strategic Education for Asperger Students. She is a wife to Chris and mother of Ian and Bryn.