Title: Out and About: Preparing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Participate in Their Communities
Publisher: Future Horizons
Publication Date: 2007
Language: English
ISBN 10: 193128248X
ISBN 13: 9781931282482
Binding: paperback
Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

Along with coauthor Amy Bixler, Jill Hudson has developed another of her trademark short, to-the-point resources that will be used again and again by parents and educators. This time the focus is on the every day, how to enable and support individuals on the autism spectrum to participate, to the maximum extent possible, in the community around them. In this simple book, the authors provide a framework for identifying the areas where an individual with ASD may need support to participate more fully and successfully in community activities. The framework, created as a Blueprint to be filled in, depending on the child and the outing being planned, lists 10 areas identified in best practice as effective types of support for children with ASD. Areas include waiting plan, communication, social, visual, hidden curriculum, sensory, motivation, behavior, transition, and siblings or other students. For each area on the Blueprint, parents, teachers, coaches, family members anybody who lives or works with the child fills in ahead of time the support that best matches the child's needs for a given event. The hope is that the specially designed Blueprint will become second nature to its users as they become more familiar with the areas of support the child needs in various situations.

About the Authors

Jill Hudson, MS, CCLS is a certified child life specialist. Trained at John Hopkins, she formerly worked at children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She received her master's degree in autism from the University of Kansas. Jill is the author of Prescription for Success: Supporting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Medical Environment and Cabins, Canoes and Campfires: Guidelines for Establishing a Camp for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Jill consults and presents nationally and internationally.

Amy Bixler Coffin, M.S., is Program Director of the Autism Center at OCALI. A special educator for 24 years, Coffin has served as an intervention specialist, low-incidence supervisor, director of special education, and autism program director. She currently coordinates and provides regional and statewide professional development for districts, families, and organizations. She has presented at state, national, and international conferences.