Understanding Autism: Teaching the Whole Child

This textbook is written for college students studying education, communication disorders, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, or administration with an advanced overview of understanding autism spectrum disorders. This book contains chapters that go into great depth focusing on strengths, deficits, and treatment strategies. General education teachers receive little specialized training on how to effectively manage students with ASD in the classroom. Special education teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and nurses continue to work in silos only treating parts of the child within their expertise. The purpose of this textbook is to provide a thorough understanding of autism spectrum disorders so that teachers, therapists, and related professionals can work together to understand and educate the whole child. An integrated, flexible approach to education and treatment is necessary and will allow the students with autism to build on their strengths, increase their social-emotional skills, and develop cognitive skills for literacy, math, and science.