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About the Author |
| Deborah Fein, Ph.D., is currently a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Connecticut. She has 35 years of clinical and research experience with children on the autism spectrum, and currently conducts NIH-funded research on early detection and recovery from autism.
Michelle Dunn, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and pediatric neuropsychologist and neurophysiologist who has worked with children on the autism spectrum for the past 25 years and trained staff in many New York area school districts.
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2007 ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award: Finalist in Education Category
Children with autism spectrum disorders are increasingly being educated in inclusive general education classrooms. For optimal results, teachers need to know as much as possible about autism and the teaching methods and modifications that work best for these students. This is a huge undertaking for time-crunched general education teachers, many of whom may never have had a student with autism before. Now teachers can turn to Autism in Your Classroom for the information and guidance they need.
Written by two neuropsychologists with extensive clinical and classroom experience, this new book is a concise, easy-to-read guide developed for primary school teachers (grades K- 6).
Part I provides a complete overview of the types, causes, characteristics, and treatments of autism spectrum disorders. It also explains various secondary characteristics of autism that create challenges for students, such as sensory abnormalities, behavioral issues, and limited social skills and peer interaction.
Part II focuses on the student in the classroom: It covers a variety of strategies to manage learning & behavior, such as:
- Modifying classwork & homework
- Helping with language difficulties
- Using visual strategies
- Keeping students focused & organized
- Teaching reading & math
- Using positive reinforcement & rewards
- Handling challenging behavior
- Explaining autism to other students
- Teaching social skills in the classroom
- Balancing the needs of typical and special students
Part III features two useful case studies. Both stem from the authors' hands-on work and consultation with teachers, students, and parents. The book concludes with an appendix of frequently asked questions about children with autism asked by educators.
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