Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism: Promoting Language, Learning, and Engagement [Paperback]

Sally J. Rogers PhD (Author), Geraldine Dawson PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1606236318 | ISBN-13: 978-1606236314 | Edition: 1

From leading authorities, this state-of-the-art manual presents the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), the first comprehensive, empirically tested intervention specifically designed for toddlers and preschoolers with autism. Supported by the principles of developmental psychology and applied behavior analysis, ESDM’s intensive teaching interventions are delivered within play-based, relationship-focused routines. The manual provides structured, hands-on strategies for working with very young children in individual and group settings to promote development in such key domains as imitation; communication; social, cognitive, and motor skills; adaptive behavior; and play. Implementing individualized treatment plans for each child requires the use of an assessment tool, the Early Start Denver Model Curriculum Checklist for Young Children with Autism. A nonreproducible checklist is included in the manual for reference, along with instructions for use; 8½" x 11" checklists are sold separately in sets of 15 ready-to-use booklets.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book marks a very significant milestone in the development of appropriate interventions for young children with autism spectrum disorders. The integration of goals and teaching strategies from developmental, behavioral, and context-oriented approaches is unique. The chapters on theory will press even experienced interventionists to think about what they are attempting and why, and the detailed descriptions of activities show exactly how theory meets practice. With multisite research underway to test the encouraging results of early studies, this manual will enable interventionists to think more broadly; choose concrete, measurable, and useful goals for each child; and collaborate across disciplines within a comprehensive intervention framework."--Catherine Lord, PhD, ABPP, Director, University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center 

"A huge achievement. This book will be indispensable to clinicians, educators, and others who care for young children with autism. Two distinguished scientist-practitioners have teamed up to present an innovative, evidence-based, comprehensive intervention that integrates developmental principles with applied behavior-analytic teaching approaches. Written in a clear and engaging style with many helpful case examples, the book takes readers step by step through all aspects of the intervention--its conceptual framework, initial evaluation of the child with autism, collaboration with the child's family, curriculum design, teaching methods, and systems for monitoring progress."--Tristram Smith, PhD, Division of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center 

"Rogers and Dawson have met an important need for early intervention service providers with this stunningly comprehensive manual. The great strength of the manual is its blend of scientific and practical knowledge that focuses on producing important developmental outcomes for children. It presents an assessment process and instrument (the Early Start Denver Model Curriculum Checklist) that pinpoint important developmental goals, as well as detailed information about practices and fidelity that will be of great benefit to service providers who want to implement the model. The Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism is one of the best examples of translating science into practice; it will serve as the standard against which future treatment manuals in the field are judged."--Samuel L. Odom, PhD, Director, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Among the crowd of treatments, interventions, and purported cures that proliferate around autism spectrum disorders, the Denver Model has long stood as a beacon of empirical rigor and developmental sensitivity....Sally Rogers and Geri Dawson, two of the most experienced and accomplished psychologists working in autism today, have laid out the details of a modification of their program designed for toddlers and very young children....By conducting a carefully designed study before publishing their program, they have established an empirical basis for it that provides a high level of added value. Parents and educators who use the program have not just its authors' endorsement, but a scientific basis for validity. The book is written in an engaging and accessible way. One of its best features is its excellent first chapter, which explains in lay terms what is known about brain development and ASD....This book adds greatly to the growing literature on evidence-based naturalistic behavioral treatments for children with ASD. Its attention to the needs of children under three, now frequently diagnosed with the syndrome, as well as its comprehensive scope and reader-friendly style should guarantee it a well-deserved place on the bookshelves of all who are engaged in the difficult task of optimizing the developmental trajectory of young children with this syndrome."--Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

(Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 20091211)

"Sets an extremely high standard against which future manuals will be judged. Even for those not intending to replicate the programme in its entirety, the strategies for enhancing play, imitation and communication, and for improving parent/child interaction are potentially extremely helpful for parents and teachers, and for professionals advising them."--Child and Adolescent Mental Health Journal

(Child and Adolescent Mental Health Journal 20091211)

About the Author

Sally J. Rogers, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry at the MIND Institute, University of California, Davis. A developmental psychologist, she is involved at the international level in major clinical and research activities on autism, including one of the 10 Autism Centers of Excellence network projects funded by the National Institutes of Health/ National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, involving a multisite, randomized, controlled trial of an infant–toddler treatment for autism. She is also the director of an interdisciplinary postdoctoral training grant for autism researchers. Dr. Rogers is on the executive board of the International Society for Autism Research, is an editor of the journal Autism Research, and is a member of the DSM-V workgroup on autism, pervasive developmental disorder, and other developmental disorders. She has spent her entire career studying cognitive and social-communicative development and intervention in young children with disabilities and has published widely on clinical and developmental aspects of autism, with a particular interest in imitation problems. As a clinician, she provides evaluation, treatment, and consultation to children and adults with autism and their families.  

 

Geraldine Dawson, PhD, is Chief Science Officer at Autism Speaks, Research Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington (UW), and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University. Previously, she was Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at UW and Founding Director of the UW Autism Center, which has been designated a National Institutes of Health Autism Center of Excellence since 1996. While at UW, Dr. Dawson led a multidisciplinary autism research program focusing on genetics, neuroimaging, diagnosis, and treatment. She received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for her research from 1980 until 2008, when she left UW to join Autism Speaks. She was Founding Director of the UW Autism Center’s multidisciplinary clinical services program, which is the largest of its kind in the northwestern United States. Dr. Dawson has testified before the U.S. Senate on behalf of individuals with autism and played a key role on the Washington State Autism Task Force. Her research and publications focus on early detection and treatment of autism, early patterns of brain dysfunction (electrophysiology), and, more recently, the development of endophenotypes for autism genetic studies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 297 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (December 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606236318
• ISBN-13: 978-1606236314
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.9 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Special Education > Behavioral Disorders
  • #22 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Psychiatry > Child
  • #52 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for Professionals! March 7, 2011

By A. Stahmer

Format:Paperback

This is an excellent intervention model that combines the best of developmental and naturalistic behavioral models for children with autism. The books is very well written and provides clear descriptions of the intervention components and methodologies. The flow charts to assist practiioners with understanding how to individualize the program for children who may need more support are especially helpful. The authors provide a theoretical framework and informamtion regarding reserach into the model and then the following chapters offer specific steps involved in conducting an appropriate assessment, developing clear, measurable goals and implementing the intervention to meet those goals. Specific instructions for targettng core features of autism in very young children, like imiation and joint attention, are outlined in detail. Practioners can use this manual to develop a program that meets children's IFSP needs/goals and to measure progress along the way. I highly recommend this resource.

49 of 65 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing New Here, Move Along January 3, 2010

By Wowhead

Format:Paperback

I currently have my child enrolled in RDI, have taken the More Than Words program, and employed Floortime techniques to interact with my ASD child. So I was really hoping that this book would provide me with more ideas on play based or relationship based therapies. I was really disappointed that this book was more of a theoretical view of autism and how they conducted their study. In fact, the book states that the kids in the study had to meet a certain set of skills before their techniques could be employed. You really can't use their techniques on every child in the autism spectrum (their website states it is targeted for ages 14mos - 3 yrs). Their study even includes a child who can already imitate at 18 months. Are their techniques more for higher functioning ASD children? It kind of makes me wonder.

Now about their techniques, it's just about alternating sessions of ABA and play/social based interactions with the parents (sounds like Floortime or Son Rise to me). They advocate 20 hours of clinical therapy and 5 hours of parent therapy a week. They admit that parents have to be trained by their clinicians, so it's difficult to even use their techniques based upon what's written in the book. This a book for professionals and those who are enrolled in the ESDM program and not the everyday parent.

If you want to communicate and interact with your ASD child, then stick to books like More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think (Merloyd Lawrence Book). If fact, Greenspan has FREE Webinars and papers that actually tell and teach you how to interact with your ASD child. The Son Rise program also provides free web videos on various ways of engaging with your ASD child (you can find them on various ASD websites).

So if you do RDI, Miller Method, Floortime, Son Rise, or More Than Words, skip this book. In my opinion, it's not worth keeping in your collection for references.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Too Difficult Without Professional Help November 4, 2012

By Mani

Format:Paperback

After reading this book, I was hoping that I would get some tips into interacting with my grandson. I wanted that a book that showed me how to increase my interaction with him. This book was too academic for me. It talked a lot about the program and their tests. I was disappointed when the book mentioned that I needed a ESDM facilitator to teach me the ABA portions. I really wanted something simple to follow.