Building Communication and Independence for Children Across the Autism Spectrum : Strategies to Address Minimal Language, Echolalia and Behavior

"Expert author Elizabeth Ives Field combines over four decades of working in the autism field to provide functional, in-depth teaching strategies for children on the spectrum who struggle with communication. Incorporating descriptions of composite children at different developmental stages, this book sets out individual goals and therapy approaches for children who may have no speech, moderately functional speech or echolalia, as well as for highly verbal individuals who may not always use appropriate language. Covering a wide range of interventions that address communication and the related areas of independence and social behavior, the purpose of each goal is to make progress toward the child's maximum potential. This book sets out skills that are developmentally appropriate and that will be immediately useful to help children express themselves more effectively and build relationships with others"--Publisher's description "This book shows how to teach functional communication skills to children on the autistic spectrum, in order to help them achieve four important life qualities: safety, happiness, independence, and productivity. Expert author Elizabeth Ives Field combines over four decades of working in the autism field to provide practical, in depth teaching strategies for children on the spectrum who struggle with 'typical' communication. Her strategies can be applied and adapted for children who are non-verbal or with limited vocabulary, children with echolalia, as well as for social and behavioural issues. Importantly the book considers the full severity of autism across the spectrum and emphasises the need to teach skills that are functional, developmentally appropriate, useful in the moment and a step to future learning. The book will include case studies to show how communication difficulties and solutions in action. This fits with the overall direction of the list in terms of being positive about autism while remaining realistic about challenges. We have also been discussing publishing more for speech language therapists and this book has a strong professional market we know we can reach. I think the title needs some work and the author is open to changing it - it might be a good idea to include echolalia as a key word as there aren't many resources looking at this"-- Provided by publisher