Educating Children with Autism [Hardcover]

National Research Council (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2001

Autism is a word most of us are familiar with. But do we really know what it means? Children with autism are challenged by the most essential human behaviors. They have difficulty interacting with other people - often failing to see people as people rather than simply objects in their environment. They cannot easily communicate ideas and feelings, have great trouble imagining what others think or feel, and in some cases spend their lives speechless. They frequently find it hard to make friends or even bond with family members. Their behavior can seem bizarre. Education is the primary form of treatment for this mysterious condition. This means that we place important responsibilities on schools, teachers and children's parents, as well as the other professionals who work with children with autism. With the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, we accepted responsibility for educating children who face special challenges like autism. While we have since amassed a substantial body of research, researchers have not adequately communicated with one another, and their findings have not been integrated into a proven curriculum. "Educating Children with Autism" outlines an interdisciplinary approach to education for children with autism. The committee explores what makes education effective for the child with autism and identifies specific characteristics of programs that work. Recommendations are offered for choosing educational content and strategies, introducing interaction with other children, and other key areas. This book examines some fundamental issues, including: how children's specific diagnoses should affect educational assessment and planning; how we can support the families of children with autism; features of effective instructional and comprehensive programs and strategies; how we can better prepare teachers, school staffs, professionals, and parents to educate children with autism; and what policies at the federal, state, and local levels will best ensure appropriate education, examining strategies and resources needed to address the rights of children with autism to appropriate education. Children with autism present educators with one of their most difficult challenges. Through a comprehensive examination of the scientific knowledge underlying educational practices, programs, and strategies, "Educating Children with Autism" presents valuable information for parents, administrators, advocates, researchers, and policy makers.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Autism is a word most of us are familiar with. But do we really know what it means?

Children with autism are challenged by the most essential human behaviors. They have difficulty interacting with other people-often failing to see people as people rather than simply objects in their environment. They cannot easily communicate ideas and feelings, have great trouble imagining what others think or feel, and in some cases spend their lives speechless. They frequently find it hard to make friends or even bond with family members. Their behavior can seem bizarre.

Education is the primary form of treatment for this mysterious condition. This means that we place important responsibilities on schools, teachers and children's parents, as well as the other professionals who work with children with autism. With the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, we accepted responsibility for educating children who face special challenges like autism. While we have since amassed a substantial body of research, researchers have not adequately communicated with one another, and their findings have not been integrated into a proven curriculum.

Educating Children with Autism outlines an interdisciplinary approach to education for children with autism. The committee explores what makes education effective for the child with autism and identifies specific characteristics of programs that work. Recommendations are offered for choosing educational content and strategies, introducing interaction with other children, and other key areas.

This book examines some fundamental issues, including:

• How children's specific diagnoses should affect educational assessment and planning
• How we can support the families of children with autism
• Features of effective instructional and comprehensive programs and strategies
• How we can better prepare teachers, school staffs, professionals, and parents to educate children with autism
• What policies at the federal, state, and local levels will best ensure appropriate education, examining strategies and resources needed to address the rights of children with autism to appropriate education.

Children with autism present educators with one of their most difficult challenges. Through a comprehensive examination of the scientific knowledge underlying educational practices, programs, and strategies, Educating Children with Autism presents valuable information for parents, administrators, advocates, researchers, and policy makers.

About the Author

Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism, National Research Council

Product Details

• Hardcover: 324 pages
• Publisher: National Academies Press; 1st edition (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0309072697
• ISBN-13: 978-0309072694
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A profound and arresting analysis of interventions, January 30, 2003

By 

John Harpur (Trim, Meath, IRELAND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Educating Children with Autism (Hardcover)

My contact with autistic children and teenagers is primarily through research into social skills teaching. I have a assembled a small library of key texts and until I read this one, I found my library incomplete in one area - a review of intervention programmes. This book is simply superb is its coverage of the various principles that inform current interventions, its analysis of the outcomes of several commonly cited progrmmes, and the scope for future work.

However, this book is not 'selling' any particular intervention and that may dismay some parents particularly. It is geared more towards informing professionals in the field about options, choices and consequences associated with interventions. And boy is it thorough!

There is a huge amount to be gained from this book. I found reading it to be very stimulating but pleasurably slow, since every page has thought provoking observations.

I would certainly recommend that anyone pursuing interventions not pass over this book, be they parent, teacher or health professional. I genuinely cannot see this book disappointing an interested party. Parents of children with Asperger Syndrome may feel a little let down however, given the lack of attention their special requirements. Other books, such as Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents, may be of help to them.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Essential Reading, December 1, 2001

By 

DocRWM "docrwm" (Woodstock, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Educating Children with Autism (Hardcover)

The National Research Council is actually a sub-organization of the National Academy of Sciences. This book is absolutely essential for anyone planning to educate a child with autism. The stellar cast of contributing scholars is top flight and the scope of the book and its specific recommendations are essential reading for anyone, especially administrators trying to meet state-of-the-art education standards, working with autistic children. The various sections on the range of issues confronted in serving autistic children can be read independently or from start to finish, although I recommend that the entire book be read completely. The Conclusions and Recommendations are extensive and surprisingly detailed. The references are solid and cover the range of the available information in the legitimate literature.

UPDATE 11/04/03:
I have now had the opportunity to provide workshops on this report and work with professionals in the southeastern US for the past 2 years in making practical sense out of the recommendations. I continue to be amazed at the comprehensive nature of the areas covered and the recommendations. I have had feedback from parents, educators, and professionals that is uniformly positive about the value of this reference as a guide to improving the services to children with ASD.

UPDATE 8/16/05:
This continues to be the touchstone for what works, what doesn't, and how people should approach treatment and evaluations for children on the autism spectrum. I recently presented its contents at an advocacy workshop and I remain amazed at how few people are aware of this work - let alone have not read it. Its the single best source of information on the science available.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is the book your school district has - you need it too!, April 3, 2003

By 

Lisa Ackerman (Newport Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Educating Children with Autism (Hardcover)

Although I do not necessarily agree with EVERYTHING that is written in this book, I do appreciate the way it was put together and the information shared.
If you are dealing with your school district in providing services for your autistic child - you need to read this book to understand what they understand on services and intervention for autistic children. It was an invaluable resource for me. It will be for you too.