A Mindfulness Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders ― New Directions in Research and Practice

This book presents emerging research on the effectiveness of mindfulness methods in reducing behavior problems associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. The volume synthesizes current research and theories on the therapeutic uses of mindfulness, specifically for people living with developmental disabilities. In addition, it examines a promising new study in which mothers of children with ASD learn mindfulness techniques for their own use and are then trained to teach the methods to their children. The book concludes with a report of poststudy findings and a discussion of practical and methodological issues regarding mindfulness interventions for ASD.

Featured topics include:

• A genealogy of mindfulness, from original Buddhist texts to modern health applications.
• Implications for further research and advancement.
• Appendices of basic mindfulness exercises and activities.

A Mindfulness Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders is a concise resource for researchers, clinicians and other scientist-practitioners, and graduate students in developmental psychology, social work, education, and related disciplines.

Yoon-Suk Hwang, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Learning Sciences Institute Australia (LSIA), Australian Catholic University. Prior to this role she was a lecturer in inclusive and special education at Griffith University. As an experienced mindfulness practitioner with a research expertise in listening to the voices of people living with developmental disabilities, she has applied mindfulness to address the behavioral problems of learners with autism spectrum disorders and to enhance the quality of their family life. Dr. Hwang began her teacher training in special education in 1996 and worked as a special education teacher of a support class in an inclusive primary school. She received a Ph.D. in 2009 from the University of Sydney based on a thesis,Mind and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Theory-of-Mind Continuum Model and Typology Developed from Theory-of-Mind as Subjectively Experienced and Objectively Understood. She has recently extended this project to Singaporean and Australian students with ASD and their family members.

Patrick Kearney is an independent dharma teacher in the lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw of Myanmar, a key figure in the modern revival of insight meditation and mindfulness training. Mr. Kearney began meditation practice in 1976 and since 1984 has trained extensively in the Mahasi approach to insight meditation. This included several years as an ordained Buddhist monk. He has also trained in the Diamond Sangha lineage of Zen Buddhism and has studied early Buddhism at postgraduate levels. He continues to study Pali, the language of the earliest surviving Indian recension of the Buddha's teachings. Mr. Kearney has a particular interest in the original teachings of the Buddha, before “Buddhism” began, and seeks to bring his understanding of the early texts to the practice of dharma and meditation in the contemporary world.