"Beyond Words: The Successful Inclusion of a Child with Autism" is a frank and fascinating look at what it takes to integrate one virtually non-verbal child with autism into the hustle-bustle world of a classroom of typically developing peers. Co-authored by the parent of a child with autism and the kindergarten teacher who transformed him during his first exciting year in regular school, the book is as helpful as a how-to manual, as absorbing as a mystery and as touching as a love story. Interspersed throughout are quotes from other children in the class, their parents, school staff and professionals. These intensely felt and honest statements serve to enlighten, entertain, and create a sense of "being there" that makes for an unforgettable read. There are helpful suggestions and commentary by Dr. William Allen, a child psychologist and expert on autism, after each chapter. The book also offers a valuable appendix of forms and tools to help facilitate inclusion, plus a handy list of resources. Soft cover. 171 pages with photos and illustrations.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A user-friendly autism guide,
This review is from: Beyond Words: The Successful Inclusion of a Child with Autism (Paperback)
Mary Donnet Johnson is back with another user-friendly guide for schooling our special children: Beyond Words: The Successful Inclusion of a Child with Autism. Her first book, 1,2,3, Get Ready! an eight-week summer program preparing a child for inclusion, proved highly popular among ASMT library users.
Johnson, a former off-Broadway actress and mother of a child with autism, has again performed her magic, co-authoring with teacher Sherry Henshaw Corden and psychologist William Allen. Beyond Words is a simple how-to inclusion guide for parents, teachers, and other school personnel. Deftly, Johnson and Corden walk the readers through Pace Johnson's year in a Knoxville general education kindergarten classroom. Information is dispersed throughout the book, in several readable formats including short paragraphs, sidebars and bullets of comments by typically developing peers and their parents, Q and A sections between parent and teacher, and candid solo recollections by each. Psychologist Allen backs all with insightful scientific-based commentary. Pictures documenting Pace's inclusive school year provide a warm visual to the book. Truly a hands-on guide for parents, the book includes an appendix of how-tos including a homemade book on the child - both the child's personal version and a fill-in-the-blank copy, 20 questions for a prospective teacher, schedules, reward boards, social stories and more. Every parent of a school-age child with autism can relate to Johnson's descriptions of her heart-gripping fears as she navigated this first year. Corden's frank concerns and responding courage in turn offer parents a bird's eye view of a teacher's perspective. The teacher's revelations plus the comments of the typically developing peers and their parents are a true gift. Autism parents come to the experience of school inclusion with a weighty bag of anxiety, hopes and dreams. The honest, tender and redemptive observations from those on "the other side" from the inside provide a medicine cabinet's stock of soothing antidotes for a parent's weary soul. Pace is a good role model for inclusion. Having PDD-NOS at the time of kindergarten, he was blessed with typical and almost gifted cognition. Yet, he was challenged by the fact that he was largely nonverbal. He also had some fierce behaviors described in detail and not uncommon to our children - kicking, hitting and sometimes class-disruptive screaming. It would be easy to romanticize the successful inclusion of this child, but Johnson and Corden bring the reader back to reality. This kid had some big pluses but also some hefty challenges. Luckily, his team had the right attitude plus a saint of an autism mum leading the way. Johnson gives us parents a template of how to work with school systems. Corden, as well, is a role model for general education teachers, the kind we wish we could all be so lucky to have.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for teachers,
This review is from: Beyond Words: The Successful Inclusion of a Child with Autism (Paperback)
What a great story for inspiring classroom teachers who may work with a child with special needs.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!!,
By Cathy DeBoer (Loudon, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Words: The Successful Inclusion of a Child with Autism (Paperback)
This book by Mary Johnson, re: her son, Pace, is a fabulous book; heartwarming, informative, and very inspirational!
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