UBC Press Reaching and Teaching the Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder book Paperback 272 pages

Reaching and Teaching Children with Autism provides a positive approach to understanding and educating children on the autism spectrum. The book gives greater insight into the perspective and behavior of a child with autism and explores how the child's learning preferences, strengths and interests can be used to facilitate learning and enhance motivation.Based on well-researched theory and extensive clinical experience, the author provides a comprehensive model for developing lifelong independent learning skills in children with autism between the ages of 3 and 12 years old. The book describes the underlying principles, learning preferences and strengths typical of children with autism and offers a detailed but flexible program structure based on these concepts. Easy to follow activities and approaches are described in each chapter, along with clear examples and illustrations.This accessible and practical book is an essential resource for parents, teachers, support workers, therapists and others concerned with learning and development in children with autism.

Dr. Heather MacKenzie, a speech-language pathologist and educator by profession, has spent the past fifteen years of her 30-year career understanding the enigma of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She has developed a Learning Preferences and Strengths model designed to determine each child's learning preferences and strengths and then `harness' them to improve the child's learning and development. Heather established a preschool program for children with ASD based on this model.