The Autistic Spectrum Parents' Daily Helper: A Workbook for You and Your Child (Paperback)

~ (Author), Leslie Henriques (Author), Dr. Lorna Wing (Foreword) "Your first and most important challenge as the parent of a child on the autistic spectrum is reaching into your child's world and establishing communication..." (more)
Key Phrases: more information about autism, autistic spectrum, choice cards, Autism Society of America, Elm Street, Row Pictures

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Parents of a child with autism know how difficult it can be to simply get through the day. From getting dressed in the morning to brushing teeth before bed, raising a special needs child can turn ordinary events into extraordinary challenges. The Autistic Spectrum Parents’ Daily Helper gets to the heart of the issue for parents of children with autism: it answers the question of what can be done to make each and every day better for parents and child alike.

This workbook is designed to take the basic issues into account, with simple pictures and texts that illustrate each daily task or experience in small concrete steps. The Autistic Spectrum Parents’ Daily Helper is a truly interactive workbook, with a section for parents and a section for children and parents to work on together.

Many of the techniques in the book show how you can use humor to break through the walls that are inherent in a child with autism.

The workbook is broken into two sections. The Parents' workbook offers methods for breaking through to their child and reaching into his or her world while supporting his or her learning style. It introduces parents to exercises and activities to do directly with their child. Everything is carefully explained, using lay terminology and simple illustrations, including visual strategies, user-friendly schedules and excursion plans. The Child’s workbook offers hands-on activities that teach basic skills, using humor and time-tested educational techniques. On handy tear-out pages, these engaging games and exercises help the child learn how to recognize emotions, get dressed, read the clock, visit doctors, dentists, friends and family comfortably, understand safety signs and much more.

From the Publisher

The authors have taken on board three important facts about children with any type of autistic spectrum disorder. First, such children have a desperate need for life to follow a predictable, set routine. Second, they are distressed by anything new and unexpected. New experiences must be introduced gradually through links with familiar things. Third, they have severe problems in understanding concepts that are at all complicated, especially if presented in spoken words. They find it much easier to cope with concrete pictures or, if they can read, written words.

The workbook is designed to take these basic issues into account, with simple pictures and texts that illustrate each daily task or experience in small concrete steps. One of the book’s strengths is that the authors are not wedded to any single educational method—they go for what works in practice. They recognize that each child with autism is a unique person with her own special needs, as well as special skills and interests.

One particularly useful feature are the sample pictures and labels, which the authors suggest replacing with specific images and content familiar to the child. This is especially appropriate for the second part of the book, which gives suggestions for helping each child build up a workbook of his own, providing a visual record of everyday experiences. I was very happy to see that the authors include fun and games for the children as well as the serious tasks of everyday life. So much of life is distressing for children with autistic spectrum disorders; it is wonderful to be able to make them laugh and enjoy some activities.

The workbook is aimed at more able children. Because the autistic spectrum includes children with such a wide range of abilities and needs, it is appropriate for a practical book of this kind to be aimed at a specific subgroup. It would be most welcome if the publication of this book were to lead to workbooks as good as this one becoming available for other subgroups.
--From the Foreword by Lorna Wing

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Press (March 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569753865
• ISBN-13: 978-1569753866
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #588,526 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, Humor and Infrastructure, May 26, 2004

By	Patricia Taylor (Westport, CT United States) - See all my reviews

The Autistic Spectrum Parents' Daily Helper is a pracitical, wonderful, and loving guide and workbook for parents guiding their children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder through daily tasks and enriched and empowered lives.

This workbook is simple, attractive, and engaging. It is full of love and good humor - The writers reach out to parents facing the, at times, daunting task of helping their children learn the necessary skills, like getting dressed, telling time, and navigating daily schedules, that will help lead them to independent lives and communicative relationships within the range of their own abilities.

There are loads of strategies, games, and visual aids in this workbook. Many of the sheets are designed to be torn out or cut up so you can adapt them to your own or your child's specific needs. There are plenty of games and fun ways to attack simple tasks.

What struck me most of all was the palpable sense of love and fun that permeated this workbook. It is a rare and fine example of how simple and good it is to reach out to those you love and how powerful it is when you empower your children to order their own reality.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I COULD RELATE TO THIS BOOK COVER TO COVER, May 1, 2004

By	Stacy Satlin (Los Angeles, ca United States) - See all my reviews

WOW..... how many self help books can you relate to ,and implement from the first page to the last? This was absolutly the case with The Autistic Spectrum Parents' Daily Helper.
As a parent of an autistic child, not only did I think the ideas in the book were suberb, but it gave me comfort in realizing that I am not alone.
This book gives parents great ideas and help in making everyday tasks that can be so challenging for parents and kids easier. I especially like the cards that you hand out to people who may be looking at you or your child in a funny way.
I highly recommend this book to parents who are just starting out on this journey, or have been involved for a while. You will all walk away with some great practical information.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Parent's Absolutely Necessary Buy, April 27, 2004

By	Susan Marion (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book is very unique in that it is very practical in its approach as well as eclectic with an emphasis on humor and fun. Parent's of autistic children have needed a "self-help" book like this for a long time. It discusses many current theories in an abbreviated form and stresses practical solutions for teaching our kids the "hard to learn" items.
I was able to utilize the method recommended for teaching my son many skills (including dressing and brushing his teeth independently)with total success. There are dozens of helpful , useful ideas that approach learning from a playful place. That assisted my son in learning as well as adding to my enjoyment of teaching.
THIS IS A MUST READ FOR PARENTS. DON'T MISS THE VARIETY OF IMPLIMENTABLE IDEAS. THIS BOOK IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR YOUR AUTISTIC CHILD.