Now in its fourth edition, this step-by-step guide to teaching everyday skills to children with special needs has been a popular resource for more than 20 years. Steps to Independence stems from the authors' belief that that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers. Based on years of work with parents, the book offers an easy-to-read, explicit program for teaching children with special needs the skills that will help them progress toward living as independently and happily as possible in the community.The strengths of the earlier editions-reader-friendly, well-organized, and stepwise presentations of potentially complicated subjects through illustrations, forms, and vignettes, and a touch of humor-are still reflected in the fourth edition. Section I cover the basics of teaching, while Section II address teaching skills in specific areas (get-ready skills, self-help skills, toilet-training, play skills, self-care skills, home-care skills, information skills). Section III breaks down the often difficult topic of dealing with behavior problems. Section IV addresses the "computer revolution" and the critical topic of partnering with teachers. The five appendices serve as reference guides for teaching specific skills.
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
A wonderful book that breaks down skills . . . into manageable steps. Really helps us develop the building blocks towards independent living. (Susan Fitzgerald Parent of a child with special needs, Rockville, Maryland 20080721)
http://beneaththewings.blogspot.com/2008/08/learning-versus-tests-stapler.html (Beneath the Wings blog 20081002)
http://www.supportforfamilies.org/docs/Wishlist_for_librarywebpage2.pdf (Support for Families 20100701)
http://beneaththewings.blogspot.com/2008/08/learning-versus-tests-stapler.html (Beneath the Wings blog 20081002)
http://www.supportforfamilies.org/docs/Wishlist_for_librarywebpage2.pdf (Support for Families 20100701)
About the Author
Bruce L. Baker, Ph.D., has been Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, since 1975, where he formerly chaired the clinical psychology program and presently conducts research on the development of mental disorders in young children with developmental delays. Dr. Baker received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Yale University in 1966, then taught at Harvard University for 9 years. During his career, he has developed many intervention programs for children with mental retardation and their parents. He is presently a consulting editor to five journals concerned with mental retardation and/or families, and he is involved with a number of professional and service organizations that focus on children and families. Dr. Baker lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jan, and their two children.
Alan J. Brightman, Ph.D., Founder, Apple Computer's Worldwide Disability Solutions Group, Saratoga, CA. Dr. Brightman created Apple Computer's Worldwide Disability Solutions Group as well as the Teenage Division of AT&T labs. He received his doctorate in education from Harvard University and received an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Massachusetts. He has produced a wide variety of media to combat the stereotypes associated with children with disabilities and children with chronic illness. Presently a private consultant working with education organizations around the United States, Dr. Brightman has served on the Board of Directors of Steven Spielberg's Starbright Foundation as well as Microsoft's Access Advisory Panel. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Melissa, and their two teenage sons, Alex and Jesse.
Alan J. Brightman, Ph.D., Founder, Apple Computer's Worldwide Disability Solutions Group, Saratoga, CA. Dr. Brightman created Apple Computer's Worldwide Disability Solutions Group as well as the Teenage Division of AT&T labs. He received his doctorate in education from Harvard University and received an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Massachusetts. He has produced a wide variety of media to combat the stereotypes associated with children with disabilities and children with chronic illness. Presently a private consultant working with education organizations around the United States, Dr. Brightman has served on the Board of Directors of Steven Spielberg's Starbright Foundation as well as Microsoft's Access Advisory Panel. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Melissa, and their two teenage sons, Alex and Jesse.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
No parent OR special education teacher should be without this book! Easy to read, and the content is excellent! Step-by-step approaches to teaching everyday skills to children with special needs, but would be just as valuable to ANY parent! After reading this book, I have found it easier to establish goals for my students and everyone is using the same approach to teaching everyday living skills (play, toileting, self-help, PLUS behavior management)! It is working fabulous! The students are learning more with less frustration! A must-have for your resource library!
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I love this book. I have a son with Down syndrome and I use this book to help him achieve independent skills like toileting (great chapter!) and self-help skills. Also has a great section on behavior. Very comprehensive. I recommend buying a copy for yourself and your child's teacher/aide!
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've been looking for a book like this for quite some time. Here's what it covers:
Chapter 1: Setting Out
Chapter 2: Targeting a Skill
Chapter 3: Establishing Steps
Chapter 4: Picking Rewards
Chapter 5: Setting the Stage
Chapter 6: Teaching
Chapter 7: Observing Progress and Troubleshooting
Chapter 8: Get Ready Skills
Chapter 9: Self-Help Skills
Chapter 10: Toilet Training
Chapter 11: Play Skills
Chapter 12: Independent Living: Self-Care Skills
Chapter 13: Independent Living: Home-Care Skills
Chapter 14: Independent Living: Information Skills
Chapter 15: Plugging into the Personal Computer Revolution
Chapter 16: Behavior Problems
Chapter 17: Initiating a Behavior Management Program
Appendix A: Get Ready Skills
Appendix B: Self-Help Skills Inventory
Appendix C: Self-Help Skills Programs
Appendix D: Play Skills Programs
Appendix E: Information Skills Programs
Index
Chapter 1: Setting Out
Chapter 2: Targeting a Skill
Chapter 3: Establishing Steps
Chapter 4: Picking Rewards
Chapter 5: Setting the Stage
Chapter 6: Teaching
Chapter 7: Observing Progress and Troubleshooting
Chapter 8: Get Ready Skills
Chapter 9: Self-Help Skills
Chapter 10: Toilet Training
Chapter 11: Play Skills
Chapter 12: Independent Living: Self-Care Skills
Chapter 13: Independent Living: Home-Care Skills
Chapter 14: Independent Living: Information Skills
Chapter 15: Plugging into the Personal Computer Revolution
Chapter 16: Behavior Problems
Chapter 17: Initiating a Behavior Management Program
Appendix A: Get Ready Skills
Appendix B: Self-Help Skills Inventory
Appendix C: Self-Help Skills Programs
Appendix D: Play Skills Programs
Appendix E: Information Skills Programs
Index
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I found this at our library and read enough to know how helpful this...
I bought this after checking it out at our library and it will be helpful in raising my special needs child. Read more
Published 2 months ago by curious reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Parent training
My oldest two children are diagnosed with autism and we received many in home services for several years. Part of the autism services we received included parent training. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Tammy
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT book! Wonderful for teaching "self-help"
My husband and I read this together in efforts to help our five year old autistic son become more independent. This was great for us. Read more
Published 20 months ago by JDavis
4.0 out of 5 stars
An important addition to your Autism library
I read so many books to try to give my high functioning autistic son the best chance possible in life. Read more
Published on November 2, 2010 by Hyprgrl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to read, great resource.
Easy to read, easy to follow. This book is a great resource for helping parents/caretakers of children with special needs become more self-supportive. Read more
Published on May 10, 2010 by Angelica Fierro-Marble
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every care giver should have one
This book makes a teacher out of every one who reads it. Whether you are a parent, guardian, relative, teacher of a child with special needs, this book will give you the tools to... Read more
Published on March 27, 2008 by Victoria Lomeli
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book Brief
The book is formatted very well. It has helped me approach my child in a new manner with excellent results. Read more
Published on April 1, 2007 by A. Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have For Parents struggling With Training
This book is a must have for parents struggling with training there children independence skills. It ofter so many easy to do exercise to get your little or big one independence. Read more
Published on June 11, 2002 by Carolyn Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Resource!
This book is great. Not only does each chapter breaks down into specific steps on how to teach everyday skills like toilet training, homecare skills (dressing, feeding) as well as... Read more
Published on April 14, 2002 by "cchen83"
3.0 out of 5 stars
behaviorist model of teaching
I do find this book helpful and it breaks many tasks down into manageable steps. It is comprehensive and easy to read. Read more
Published on May 24, 2000
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