Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Third Edition, Expanded and Updated [Paperback]

Shirley Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

Targeting Autism reaches out to everyone who lives with or cares about a young child with autism. First published in 1998 and updated in 2002, author Shirley Cohen has recast this best seller throughout to chart the dynamics of the autism world in the first years of the twenty-first century. In this expanded edition she provides specifics about the new developments that have modified the map of the world of autism or that may do so in the near future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book contains a balanced discussion of the many different types of educational programs. It will help parents and professionals make wise choices. It needs to be in every library." - Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism "Every developmental pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, and child psychiatrist in the country should be handing out copies of Targeting Autism along with the diagnosis. It is a marvel. In just 186 warm and engaging pages Cohen asks and answers the questions all of us face when we make potentially life-altering decisions concerning our chil-dren's treatment and education.... This book is a gift." - Catherine Johnson, Narrative: Newsletter of the National Alliance for Autism Research"

From the Inside Flap

"Readable, engaging, comprehensive, and highly informative. This well-balanced presentation represents an exceptional introduction to the field illustrated by very human stories that are bound to educate and inspire."--Edward Carr, Leading Professor, Dept. of Psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook

"An informative and balanced overview of the different treatment options, and an excellent primer for parents just beginning their journey." - Nancy D. Wiseman, author of Could It Be Autism? A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps

"Shirley Cohen's updated edition of Targeting Autism is essential reading, whether you're a parent, an educator, or a professional living with or supporting someone on the autism spectrum. Here you'll find precious insights into yourself, your work, your clients, and your loved ones. Dr. Cohen is masterful at unpacking the complexity of perspectives that constitute what we call the 'autism community.' She is a bridge builder par excellence!"--Valerie Paradiz, author of Elijah's Cup

Praise for the previous editions:

"This book contains a balanced discussion of the many different types of educational programs. It will help parents and professionals make wise choices. It needs to be in every library."--Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism

"Every developmental pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, and child psychiatrist in the country should be handing out copies of Targeting Autism along with the diagnosis. It is a marvel. In just 186 warm and engaging pages Cohen asks and answers the questions all of us face when we make potentially life-altering decisions concerning our chil-dren's treatment and education.... This book is a gift."--Catherine Johnson, Narrative: Newsletter of the National Alliance for Autism Research

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 3 edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520248384
• ISBN-13: 978-0520248380
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Resource, August 31, 2008

By 

Tanya Savko - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Third Edition, Expanded and Updated (Paperback)

Ten years since its initial publication (1998), Targeting Autism is in its third edition, a testament to the book's importance and author Shirley Cohen's excellent writing. I about cried with relief when I saw this book on the store's shelf back in 1998. I needed something to help my extended family understand autism and what we were dealing with. I also needed something for myself that would give me a better picture of what to expect for my son's future. Targeting Autism addressed both of those needs and more.

The book starts off with a general description of autism and how the manifestations of it are so varied. It mentions hyperlexia and other unusual abilities, and also compares autism to other disorders. The next chapter features insightful quotes from autistic individuals who describe what it is like to be autistic and how they felt growing up, fearful and unable to communicate, and later learning about emotions and social expectations. Following that is a chapter about how development progresses at various stages of life, infancy through young adulthood. It discusses behavior patterns, sensory issues, echolalia, and language development, among other subjects. Here, Cohen inserts many quotes from parents about their autistic children at various ages and levels of severity, which is quite helpful. The next chapter specifically addresses family issues: the stress on parents and siblings and the importance of a support network.

Part Two discusses treatment. It gets a bit technical while discussing the various intervention therapies and educational programs, but it is essential for parents wanting to know what is out there, so that they can continue to do their own research. The following chapter addresses the issue of treatment availability and funding, and the general topic of advocacy, and the last chapter of this section discusses various alternative therapies.

Part three begins with an interesting commentary on recovery and the different ways it can be interpreted and defined. The final chapter of the book, Moving Toward Better Answers, discusses the future of autism research, treatment (including medication), and public resources. Overall, Targeting Autism is an impressive proponent of advocacy. Cohen ends by stressing educational planning on an individual basis, especially to meet the needs of adolescents and adults so that they may lead productive and satisfying lives.

I highly recommend this book. Even ten years after I first read it, I still pick up something new and valuable each time I reread it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, September 29, 2007

By 

starspangledgirl "starspangledgirl" (Arlington, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Third Edition, Expanded and Updated (Paperback)

This is not a book for parents who are brand-new to the subject of autism. While it does discuss treatment options, the information is not organized in a way to be a helpful reference, nor does it have that warm, friendly tone many of the books written by parents of children with autism have. I liked it because it is actually a rarity: a well-written group of essays on autism by someone in academia that never seems targeted only to professionals or researchers. There is an in-depth look at ABA and other treatments, and thoughtful discussion about the term "recovery," among other topics.
Once you have read all the basic books, and want something with a bit more depth, get this one. It is refreshing to read a book that assumes you are an intelligent reader. For parents looking for more of a step-by-step guide after a diagnosis, I would recommend the following: Lynn Koegel's Overcoming Autism, Nancy Wiseman's Could it Be Autism?, Lynn Hamilton's Facing Autism, Christina Adams' A Real Boy, and Karen Siff Exkorn's Autism Sourcebook.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars autism info, January 12, 2007

By 

Lana Frazier (Rocky Mountains) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Third Edition, Expanded and Updated (Paperback)

While this book did give info, I thought it really could have been better well put together and less wordy.