Spectacular Bond: Reaching the Child with Autism

Developed by specialists in the behavioral sciences, Spectacular Bond is a unique home-based behavioral intervention designed for children with autism. Within a few weeks, significant improvements in behavior can be achieved, including more meaningful social interaction, diminished temper tantrums, reductions in “stimming,” and greater capacity for self-control and sustained attention. The core of the program is reflected in its title – Spectacular Bond. Through a detailed step-by-step plan, the program sets out to reframe the parent-child bond—a relationship that typically “runs on auto pilot” but is seriously affected by autism. By bringing the intricacies into consciousness, the parent can remold the interaction to create a spectacular bond that transforms the life of the child and all members of the family. Susan Deland, one of the book’s authors, has used the program successfully with her daughter Diane: "When Diane was first diagnosed nearly ten years ago, I received many pessimistic warnings from professionals. But I believed that with the right environment, Diane had the potential for a bright and independent future. Dr. Blank both shared that belief, and offered us a clear plan of action for getting Diane there. Equally important, the program recognizes the realities of family life and works within it so that all members of the family can flourish." Through its three authors – Marion Blank (developmental psychologist), Suzanne Goh (pediatric neurologist), and Susan Deland (mother of a child with autism)—the book presents • the neurological and psychological foundations of autism • a scientific rationale for why and how the behaviors can be changed • a family’s successful experience in implementing the Spectacular Bond program, and • a step-by-step guide for how you can do this with your own child. Reviews: “After years of using other therapies and getting minimal results, we couldn’t believe how quickly things changed when we started the Spectacular Bond program. Within a few short months our son improved dramatically in his speech, attention, social skills, feeding, self-help, reading comprehension, and handwriting. After nine months, he was mainstreamed and is doing incredibly well! Our family and friends can’t believe the changes.” Kathy Broad, mother of 6 year-old Rory “We were amazed at how fast progress was! We were not trying to teach our son language, yet he picked it up once we set in place the Spectacular Bond program. Changing the way that we interacted with him made all the difference.” Clara Jackson, mother of 3 year-old Joaquin “I wish this book had been available when my son was first diagnosed. It is a remarkable resource that offers not only hope, but clear courses of action for parents who want the best for their children.” Penni Urquhart, mother of 12 year-old Ryan “Despite trying many different methods, my son’s behavior was getting progressively worse. Then we started the Spectacular Bond program. Now his behavior is under control and he is really beginning to learn. We are also able to enjoy more activities as a family. Now I have hope for my son's future.” Teresa Scott, mother of 11 year-old Kyle "This is an incredible gift, a life-altering, life-saving book, to those families dealing with ASD. When I consider the oceans of relief and gratitude this will engender among readers who face the daunting prospect of raising a child with autism, I am awed by the contribution this book will make." Cathy Wilson, relative of a child with ASD “For parents, this book is like having a personal counselor to guide them every step in their journey to connect with their child on the spectrum. The chapter on handling meltdowns is perfect!” Cathy Schaeffer, Special education teacher for children with autism

Marion Blank, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist and an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of language education for children with learning disabilities. She was a member of the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and is former Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Rutgers Medical School. She is the author of The Reading Remedy: Six Essential Skills That Will Turn Your Child into a Reader and has published over 60 articles and book chapters on language disabilities. She is the designer of the widely used language software programs The Sentence Master and Reading Kingdom and one of the creators of the Preschool Learning Assessment Instrument, a leading neuropsychological test for the diagnosis of learning disabilities in young children. She has been associated as editor and author with numerous journals and publications, including Child Development, Journal of Applied Psycholinguistics, and Topics in Learning and Language Disabilities. Suzanne Goh, M.D., is a pediatric neurologist and neuroscience researcher. She has served as Associate Research Scientist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology in the Division of Child Psychiatry at Columbia University. She is former Co-Director of the Columbia University Developmental Neuropsychiatry Program for Autism and Related Disorders. Her research focuses on metabolic disturbances in autism and on the use of brain imaging to identify differences in brain circuits in autism. A Rhodes Scholar, she graduated from Harvard University, University of Oxford, and Harvard Medical School. She has published research articles in numerous journals, including Neurology, Annals of Neurology, Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, and Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. Susan Deland is the mother of 13-year-old Diane and 14-year-old Alex. She is a Certified Public Accountant and has had a career in finance in New York City. Diane was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the age of three. After that diagnosis, Susan’s primary focus was on finding and implementing the interventions that would give Diane the best chance at a rewarding future. This led her to Dr. Blank and the Spectacular Bond program. That decision, in turn, has led her on a journey that she describes as “exceeding all of the dreams” she had for Diane and the whole family.