Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders [Spiral-bound]

Jeanette McAfee M.D. (Author), Tony Attwood (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001

Pediatrician Jeanie McAfee originally created this user-friendly social curriculum for her daughter Rachel, who was diagnosed with Asperger's at age ten. Since then, it has become a staple for parents and educators. It addresses the most urgent problems facing those with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism, and related disorders.

 

Dr. McAfee covers how to:

• increase communication skills
• recognize and cope with emotions
• recognize and prevent stress
• develop abstract thinking skills
• address behavioral problems

 

Tasks are broken down into small steps, repeated until they are mastered, then generalized. Helpful handouts, templates, and forms will help keep teachers and learners on track.

 

Helpful sections include:

• Recognizing and Coping with One’s Own Emotions
• Communication and Social Skills
• Abstract Thinking Skills
• Behavioral Issues

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A superb resource for parents and professionals. . . . it provides clear and thorough cognitive behavioral programs for working with children to develop life skills. . . .”
Marjorie Solomon-Friedman, Ph.D., Post Graduate Researcher/M.I.N.D. Scholar

 

“What a wonderful book! What makes it unique is that the mother and physician are one and the same person!! Dr. McAfee turned her love and concern for her own child into this masterfully practical and accessible book that will provide valuable assistance to children, parents, teachers, and professionals around the world.”
Edward Hallowell, M.D., Senior Lecturer, Harvard Medical School, and author of Connect and Driven to Distraction

 

“After reading this book you can immediately start a program at home or school.”
Dr. Tony Attwood
 

About the Author

Dr. Jeanie McAfee was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, and received her B.S. and medical degrees from the University of California at Davis. After completing an internship in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital, Oakland, she spent several years providing general pediatric care to underserved children, and three years working with children of U.S. servicemen in Germany. While attending medical school, she met and married the man of her dreams, Keith, and they now have four wonderful daughters. When Jeanie’s daughter Rachel was diagnosed with high-functioning autism (HFA) at the age of ten, Jeanie believed she would finally be able to find an appropriate treatment program for her. However, after doing extensive research on autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, she soon discovered that it was difficult to find an existing program that would address Rachel’s special needs while maximizing her unique combination of strengths. This is what motivated Jeanie to write Navigating the Social World. Combining her medical background as a pediatrician with her understanding of her daughter’s specific needs, Jeanie developed one of the most effective social curricula ever created. She strongly believes that the more parents and educators work together to share ideas and experiences, the better we will be able to help our students, clients, and loved ones with Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism and related disorders to live happier and more productive lives.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 354 pages
• Publisher: Future Horizons (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885477821
• ISBN-13: 978-1885477828
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good if your child is able and not MR, November 23, 2002

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders (Spiral-bound)

I do some work experimenting with pragmatics teaching for autistic adolescents. This book is definitely a 'good' book in this regard. Importantly it is written by a parent for other parents. I have no doubt but that it has something for everyone, but I am less sure whether it has as much for parents with genuinely autistic as opposed to high functioning autistic children. I would still recommend the book but with that caveat.

The book seesm to be largely derived from observations and techniques related to Tony Attwood's practice in Australia. Fans of Attwood should be pleased with that. It doesn't hurt its marketing either.

The author is a medical doctor and while that may lend some authority to the text, it is her position as a parent of a high functioning autistic child that drives the text along. Many lesson plans and exercises are described in detail. A lot of form filling is recommended for recording behaviour (and hopefuly progress). Some aspects of these procedures may not be applicable to all parental situations (awkward, time consuming, presuming too much of parents, etc.) but one has to look first at what can be done, rather than ruling out options in advance.

It seems like a useful programme. I suspect it is would be very practical in the hands of extremely well organised parents.

While being as fairminded as possible, it is important to point out that the book doesn't dwell much on evaluation studies. Hence what is recommended is often the result of rewarding personal persistence and experience, rather than scientific validation.

Don't get me wrong. This is not a snake oil book by any means (and there are so many about), but evaluation studies are important to some parents in helping to choose between approaches.

Of course I would recommend this book. It is focused on the (very) able autistic child in my opinion however. However, for group work that includes teenagers and parents especially in the vital area of pragmatics I would recommnend also Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents.

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More technical than parents might want, May 13, 2005

By 

Parent (Calif., USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders (Spiral-bound)

I am a parent of a child with social skills difficulties akin to Aspergers. I ordered three books at the same time including this one. I found this the least approachable and chose to return it-- something I rarely do. You'd have to really sit down and dig into this book to get anything practical out of it for your child. The information is here, but it's not layed out well visually or in casual vocabulary.

Instead I was most impressed with and plan to start using Social Skills Training by Jed Baker. I also found useful Good Friends are Hard to Find by Frankel.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Navigating the Social World, April 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders (Spiral-bound)

This book is excellent! Written in simple terminology for parents, school staffs or caregivers of High Functioning Autistic children. Contains detailed "how to" information on emotional development, communication/social skills, abstract thinking skills, and behaviorial issues. Finally a plan I can follow as a parent to help my child meet some of his developmental milestones.