Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community: Strategies for Individuals with Autism and Asperger Syndrome [Paperback]

Jennifer L. Savner (Author), Brenda Smith Myles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2000

The importance of visual supports is undeniable. This book contains step-by-step directions and accompanying pictures to help families and individuals with autism spectrum disorders create visual supports that work across many settings. The companion video demonstrates that effective use of visual supports gives children more control over their environment, resulting in less frustration and demonstration of problem behaviors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community 'walks the talk'." -- Julie A. Donnelly Ph.D.,autism consultant

"Making Visual Supports Work...is exploding with practical ideas for daily living with a child with Asperger Syndrome." --Becky Heinrichs, parent

"This book is absolutely wonderful." --Michele Mullendore, parent of a child with autism

--Julie A. Donnelly Ph.D.,autism consultant

"This book is absolutely wonderful." --Michele Mullendore, parent of a child with autism

"Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community 'walks the talk'." --Julie A. Donnelly Ph.D.,autism consultant

About the Author

Jennifer Savner, M.S. is a behavioral consultant for Shawnee Mission Public Schools, Shawnee Mission Kansas, and has extensive teaching experience with children and youth with autism and Asperger syndrome.

Brenda Smith Myles Ph.D., a consultant with the Ziggurat Group, the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, and the Education and Treatment Services Project for Military Dependent Children with Autism, was the recipient of the Autism Society of America s Outstanding Professional Award; the Princeton Fellowship Award; and the Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Developmental Disabilities Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award. She has written over 150 articles and books on autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns (with Southwick) and Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success (with Adreon). The latter was the winner of the Autism Society of America s Outstanding Literary Work. Brenda has made over 500 presentations all over the world, and served as the co-chair of the National ASD Teacher Standards Committee. Myles is also on the executive boards of several organizations, including the Organization for Autism Research and Maap Services Inc. In addition, she was recently acknowledged as the second most productive applied researcher in ASD in the world from 1997 to 2004.

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Autism Asperger Publishing Company (April 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096725146X
• ISBN-13: 978-0967251462
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #651,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but limited in scope, January 31, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community: Strategies for Individuals with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

This is a small (33 page) ring bound book. It briefly touches on a number of circumstances (common one for children)that might benefit from visual communication offerings. The latter can be diagrams, drawings, or pictures that help the child manage their daily schedule. The idea is that the visual 'artwork' represents the rules for a particular set of circumstances. A wide variety of formats are mentioned and there are abundant pictures which may stir and inspire parents. For most readers that will be enough to justify purchasing the book.

My main reservations about the book are that the outlined methodology is so broad as to make it impossible to separate effective from less effective representational modes. The test-retest reliability question, hanging over all these type of intervention programmes, is never addressed. For instance the authors never explore the results of the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System. On a related point, the authors don't connect their strategies with general speech and language therapy approaches. These are moot points but ones that have to be acknowledged as autism intervention programmes try to formalise their methodologies.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a visual book on visuals!, May 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community: Strategies for Individuals with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

This book is fabulous. It is written for parents and teachers who have little time to read, but who need visual supports for their children. The ideas are practical and easy to implement. In addition, it is priced right!

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this easy to read book!, May 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community: Strategies for Individuals with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

This wonderful book is jam-packed with ideas. It complements the video on visuals by Jennifer Savner. Together (or separately) they are winners!