This ground-breaking training programme has been developed in response to a real need for evidence-based early interventions for very young autistic children. Authoritative and extensively tried and tested, it will help both parents and carers to understand the disorder and how it affects child development. Ultimately, the programme is designed to reduce the severity of emotional/behavioural difficulties by managing a child's particular problems and encouraging effective collaboration between professionals and parents.The programme is delivered through two accessible manuals one for parents and one for clinicians which provide all the information and materials you need. The Manual for Clinicians explains the purpose and content of each session and includes notes for discussion and teaching, a checklist of things to do', and photocopiable task sheets for distribution and discussion. The Manual for Parents features tasks, exercises and discussion points for group sessions, and complements these training materials with engaging personal accounts, an introduction to the history of autism, information about approaches to treatment, and a list of useful websites and further reading. Structured as a series of individual and small group sessions, the programme is designed to run for 20 weeks and covers key areas such as understanding and managing difficult behaviour; changing/encouraging new behaviours; communication problems in verbal and non-verbal children; social problems; and how to work and play together. Together, these manuals will provide you with all the information, support and resources you need to run this programme successfully.
Preface; Acknowledgements; Clinician Notes; Sessions Notes; Group Session 1; Outline and goals of the programme; Individual Session 1; Autism: An individual educational session with a focus on your child's development and behavioural symptoms; Group Session 2; Issues for Parents; After the Diagnosis: Reactions, stress, coping; Individual Session 2; Issues for Parents; After the Diagnosis: Reactions, stress, coping; Group Session 3; Understanding and managing difficult behaviour; Principles of behaviour management: how to start; Choosing and setting goals; Individual Session 3; Understanding and managing difficult behaviour; Principles of behaviour management: how to start; Choosing and setting goals; Practical session where parents choose a relevant behavioural goal to work towards; Group Session 4; How to change existing behaviour: Reinforcement and manipulating consequences; Individual Session 4; How to change existing behaviour: Reinforcement and manipulating consequences; Practical session of teaching and practice with your child; Group Session 5; How to encourage new behaviour; Prompting, shaping and chaining; Individual Session 5; How to encourage new behaviour; Prompting, shaping and chaining; Practical session of teaching and practice with your child; Group Session 6; Communication problems in autism - verbal children; Increasing communication skills; Individual Session 6; Communication problems in autism; Implications for you and your child; Group Session 7; Communication - non-verbal children; Improving non-verbal communication; Individual Session 7; Communication; Choosing and using augmentative communication systems e.g; MAKATON, COMPIC, PECS; Group Session 8; Social problems in Autism; Increasing social skills, e.g; through rules, picture scripts and social stories; Individual Session 8; Social problems in Autism; Implications for you and your child; Understanding and increasing your child's social skills; Group Session 9; How to work and play together; Intruding, eye contact, attending and staying on task; Individual Session 9; How to work and play together; Intruding, eye contact, attending and staying on task; Practical session of teaching and practice with your child; Group Session 10; Review and critique of programme; Individual session 10; Review and critique of programme; References; Appendix 1. Useful websites and further reading; Appendix 2. Reference article; Autism and Asperger's Disorder; Appendix 3. Sample; Parent certificate.
