Review of "Educating Children With Autism"
By Catherine Lord and James P. McGee, (editors)National Academy Press, 2001
Review by Lynda Geller, Ph.D. on Jun 17th 2003
As anyone who browses the Internet or reads the popular press knows, autism is a topic being increasingly covered. Unfortunately, the scientific validity of much of what appears before the public is questionable at best. Legislators are torn between wanting to respond to desperate families and not really understanding what the state of the science is on critical issues. School district personnel are frequently uneducated about what is and is not evidence based. Parents are vulnerable to the claims of untested treatments as they search for help for their children. The National Research Council has put together a group of experts in the field to examine the research evidence in a broad array of related fields on the topic of educational interventions for young children. They have set forth what their criteria will be in assessing current research and they have organized this book around issues of key importance in the field of autism. Most importantly, they have included a section entitled "From Research to Practice" at the end of most chapters that summarizes what is known, what further directions need to be taken, and how the research knowledge can inform effective practice.
Educating Children with Autism is meant for a professional audience, however, for thoughtful readers who are concerned about the merits of a wide variety of treatments, this is an excellent compendium of the scientifically based knowledge in the field and is much more approachable than attempting to review this literature oneself. The topics that are covered in this book include diagnosis and its effect on program planning, family support issues, characteristics and effectiveness of treatment interventions and programs, governmental and policy issues, education and training needs in schools, and a summary of some of the problems in designing and conducting research that limits progress in this area. The main limitation of this book is that it covers only educational interventions, although these are quite widely defined, and a small age segment, young children. One hopes that this is only the beginning of such examinations on a wider array of topics about autism spectrum disorders. This book is certainly thoughtful and evenhanded in its approach, even when treatments with no current evidence are reviewed. Helping the public begin to understand what does and does not constitute scientific evidence, and this is an issue in all developing fields, is an important accomplishment of this committee of experts.
This book represents an important step in educating a larger readership than those personally engaged in research about autism. Educational personnel who make decisions about children's lives, families who want what is best for their child, and professionals who provide education and treatment for children with autism should read this book, as it represents the best current summary of what is and is not known about educating young children with autism. It is also a significant resource as a starting point for reviewing particular therapies and practices.
© 2003 Lynda Geller
Lynda Geller, Director of Community Services and Education, Cody Center for Autism, SUNY Stony Brook
Resources
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- What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions & Supportive Services
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment
- Behavioral and Communication Approaches
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Discrete Trial
- Fluency
- Sensory Integration
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- Complementary Approaches
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- Asperger Syndrome, Adolescence, and Identity
- Asperger's and Girls
- Autism - The Eighth Colour of the Rainbow
- Autism's False Prophets
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders
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- Born on a Blue Day
- Boy Alone
- Can't Eat, Won't Eat
- Caring for a Child with Autism
- Children with Emerald Eyes
- Demystifying the Autistic Experience
- Eating an Artichoke
- Educating Children With Autism
- Elijah's Cup
- Exiting Nirvana
- Eye Contact
- Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome
- Incorporating Social Goals in the Classroom
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- Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome
- Look Me in the Eye
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- Targeting Autism
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- The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome
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- What's Happening to Tom?
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- Understanding the Genome and the Future of Autism Therapies
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- What is Autism?
- Understanding Autism
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- How Weighted Blankets May Lift Anxiety
- Caring for Children and Adolescents with Autism During COVID 19
- 1 in 45 autism prevalence explained
- Autism & Asperger's: What's The Difference?
- Screening for Signs of Autism
- Beyond the Data -- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Treating Autism
- What it’s like to have a brother on the autism spectrum
- iPads and Autism: 3 Features That Make the Tablet Easier to Use
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- Great Apps for Autism
- Teaching Social Skills to Teens with ASD
- ABA for Teens with ASD
- Customizing ABA Programs for Teens
- Autism Diagnosis and Access to Care in Minority Populations
- From Diagnosis to Treatment: The Revolution Driving Autism Research
- Reducing Disparities in Autism Diagnosis and Access to Care
- Autism Jargon: DRO
- Autism Jargon: NET
- 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of ABA
- Autism Jargon: DTT
- Autism Jargon: Distractor
- Autism Jargon: Theory of Mind
- Autism Jargon: Pica
- Autism Jargon: Fluency
- Autism Jargon: Systematic Desensitization
- Is Asperger’s Included in the DSM5?
- Autism Jargon: Functional Communication Training
- 8 Questions to Ask Your Autism Service Provider
- Autism Jargon: Verbal Operants
- Autism Jargon: Establishing Operation
- Autism Jargon: Token Economy
- Treating Anxiety in Children and Teens with ASD
- Autism Jargon: Response Cost
- Teaching Soccer Skills to Kids with ASD
- "Focus on Ability, Not Disability"
- Dr. Tim Shriver: Intellectually Different ... Not Disabled
- P2I: Can We Prevent Autism?
- Autism Jargon: Positive Reinforcement
- Autism Jargon: Negative Reinforcement
- How the Diagnosis of Autism Helps Us Learn More About Autism
- Pathways for Treatments in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Autism Jargon: IEP
- My Inner Life with Asperger's
- Autism Jargon: Least Restrictive Environment
- Dealing with Challenging Behaviors
- How law enforcement and families work together to keep loved ones with autism safe
- Back to School: Homework Help!
- Advice on Telling Your Teen they have ASD
- Social Intervention Helps Adults With Autism
- Autism Jargon: Antecedent Modification
- Motor and Social Skill Function: Connecting Learning and Brain Function in Autism
- Minecraft for Autism
- Autism Signs
- CDC’s new update on autism: What you need to know
- Autism & Friendship
- Employment resources for adults with autism and their families
- Housing and residential support options for adults with autism
- Autism Spectrum Disorder: Many Questions Many Answers
- Diagnosing and Treating Autism
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