Product Description

Providing a theoretical foundation for understanding communication and language impairments specific to autism, Olga Bogdashina explores the effects of different perceptual and cognitive styles on the communication and language development of autistic children. She stresses the importance of identifying each autistic individual's nonverbal language - which can be visual, tactile, kinaesthetic, auditory, olfactory or gustatory - with a view to establish a shared means of verbal communication. She offers an explanation of why certain approaches, for example PECS, might work with some autistic children but not others. Offering real insights, the 'What They Say' sections enable the reader to see through the eyes of autistic individuals and to understand their language differences first hand.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #94327 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Olga Bogdashina, MSc (Education), MA (Autism), PhD (Linguistics) has worked extensively in the field of autism as teacher, lecturer and researcher, with a particular interest in sensory-perceptual and communication problems in autism. Since 1994, she has been the director of the first Day Centre for autistic children in Ukraine and the President of the Autism Society, Ukraine. Olga teaches and lectures around the world. She is currently a Visiting Lecturer at Birmingham University and Consultant Psychologist for Services for Adults with Autism, Doncaster, UK. She has a teenage autistic son.

Customer Reviews

Highly Recommended
Another great book by Olga Bogdashina. My only warning is that you could find it a bit heavy going, but only because it is fantastically comprehensive. This is not just a book about communication issues in Autism... it is a book about language, learning, intelligence, and culture. It is open minded and thoughtful throughout, repeatedly emphasising the two way nature of communication and not just focusing on how to make autistic people do all the work like so many books do. The book is in three parts, the first looking mainly at theories of language and intelligence, the second at language characteristics, learning styles and development in autism, and the third and final part examines strategies to enhance communication. This is not a handbook that can teach someone how to communicate better, but what it is is a thorough guide to understanding what the communication issues of autistic people are.

Do We Speak the Same Language?
This work largely reverses understanding from a position that sees "learning difficulties" to one that addresses "teaching difficulties". Every professional reading this book will be challenged to examine whether their practice makes people handicapped. Handicap is what we do to people, not something that is inherently part of the person and it is unfortunate that the word has slipped from our politically correct language. Olga Bogdashina presents a very demanding argument for more responsible behaviour on the part of carers.

By the way, never mind Autism and Asperger Syndrome, this work teaches something about communication that would be of benefit in any relationship.