Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #192515 in Books
• Published on: 1998-01-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 90 pages

Synopsis
A guide to effective classroom practice for teachers and support assistants working with children with Asperger Syndrome in mainstream schools and other non-specialist settings. This book outlines the underlying impairments and their educational implications; considers the issues of assessment and diagnosis; offers practical strategies for effective and realistic classroom intervention, including access to the National Curriculum; and considers the behavioural challenges the child with Asperger Syndrome may pose. This work seeks to inform professionals meeting a child with Asperger Syndrome for the first time and to equip them with effective educational and behavioural intervention strategies. Professionals in special schools, INSET providers, educational psychologists, parents and carers should find this book of interest.

Customer Reviews

Probably the best value for money around
Absolutely tremendous tour de force of the main thinking on Asperger and interventions. Completely readable. Objective, neutral and thorough within its page limits. Sections generally finished off with thorough bullet points. Good advice to parents, teachers and the 'community' on adjusting to Asperger children. Straightforward easy to relate to case studies (lots of examples).

As a text it transcends all boundaries and should appeal to both parents and young professionals in teaching and mental health. There are many popular books on AS but most appear to market a particular viewpoint (or want suck you into attending expensive seminars). This book on the other hand is more of a 'can do' manual without the frills. Given its compact nature, the authors do a good job in reviewing current thinking. My only crib is that it isn't available in a pocket sized version. Unless you are a mental health professional, it is unlikely you will need to buy another book on AS. A strong statement, but a sincere reaction to this book (having read it about a dozen times).

A n excellent though at times overambitious guide.
Asperger's syndrome is a disorder on the spectrum of autism, arguably the most complex of all the developmental disorders, and one which requires practitioners to have an understanding of the child's difficulties at the psychological level if any intervention is to be successful. This is a view the authors concur with and understand, but it is not one which - in my view - can be fully realised in 96 pages.

This book has many strengths. It communicates the nature and relevance of diagnosis clearly to teachers; the theory of mind is admirably summarised and its implications for teachers are fleshed out with short, relevant examples; the tips for support assistants are superb; and its chapter on assessment brings much of the book together within a well thought out, practical assessment tool which can be easily implemented by practitioners.

But their attempt to summarise Hobson's ideas on 'theory of persons' in a paragraph will sound like gobbledegook to many teachers, as will the handful of sentences on TEACCH work systems; and the chapter on diagnosis simply brushes over everything outside DSM IV and ICD10, which risks leaving teachers and SENCOs in the dark if faced with anything else in reports. In these instances, it would have been better if the authors had admitted to the limitations of space, and alluded to other works, rather than attempting to tackle topics inadequately. Having said that, all the above topics stand up to scrutiny if the aim of this book is to support a two or three day course.

In short, an excellent book, but teachers will have to face up to the fact that further reading may well be required if they are coming to the subject without any previous knowledge or experience.