Carrington Autism Resource Center  

In his bestselling memoir, "Look Me in the Eye," Robison described growing up with Asperger's syndrome at a time when the diagnosis didn't exist. Here, he shares a new batch of endearing stories about his childhood, adolescence, and young adult years, giving the reader a rare window into the Aspergian mind.

What is Pivotal Response Treatment? What is the research behind it, what does it look like in practice, and what are some good examples of how to use it? Now one concise book gives professionals and parents all the basics of the widely used PRT, one of a select group of highly effective, evidence-based treatments for autism.

A great resource for educators, behavior specialists, early interventionists, SLPs, occupational therapists, and families, this reader-friendly pocket guide is the perfect introduction to PRT, the popular approach that uses natural learning opportunities to modify pivotal areas of behavior. Pioneering autism experts Robert and Lynn Koegel speak directly to the reader, demystifying PRT and clearly explaining why it leads to widespread and rapid progress for children.

Filled with helpful tips and many practical examples based on actual children, the book reveals the key principles behind

* motivating children with natural reinforcers
* reducing disruptive behavior with PRT
* encouraging communication and social initiations
* developing a challenging curriculum that helps children make progress
* assessing children meaningfully in natural environments
* closely collaborating with parents on goals and interventions
* helping families weave interventions into everyday routines
* ensuring that children generalize skills to other settings
* decreasing parents' stress and offering positive support

Throughout the book, the Koegels engage readers with down-to-earth guidance based on best practice, true stories from their decades of experience with children and families, and clear explanations of what the research says about PRT. And the end-of-chapter questions for teachers, therapists, and parents reinforce key points and prepare them for effective PRT implementation.

"A Picture's Worth", the PECS primer written by the developers of the Picture Exchange Communication System, is now available in a second edition. This user-friendly guide introduces PECS, a simple and empowering communication tool in which partners exchange cards with photos or line drawings representing objects, attributes, and actions. A child or adult who has delayed or no speech can easily express his basic desires (eg: "ice cream") or needs using a PECS card without prompting from another. And as a person's PECS usage progresses, he or she learns to put pictures together in sentences to express desires (eg: "I want chocolate ice cream"), to comment, and to ask questions. The book examines verbal communication development and how autism affects these skills, and shows how a child's poor communication skills can lead to problem behaviours. Providing communication options -- PECS and the other augmentative and alternative communication strategies (AAC) -- described in the book -- reduces frustration and enhances learning. This new edition cites research that proves PECS (and other AAC strategies) doesn't interfere with the development of speaking skills, and actually can provide a boost to the acquisition of these skills. There's also expanded information on: Deciding whether a child needs AAC and could benefit from PECS; Who is an appropriate candidate for PECS; Error correction strategies during the initial stages of PECS; How to choose challenging behaviours to try to eliminate; What to do when a child does not look at pictures. Thousands of people with autism and other disabilities have benefited from using PECS. The book's complete set of introductory lessons makes it easy for parents and therapists to get started using this low-tech strategy to help young children through adults develop effective communication skills!

Winner of a Teachers’ Choice Award, the first edition of this book has already become a bestseller throughout the autism community. Now, in this expanded edition, authors Ellen Notbohm (best-selling author of the revolutionary book Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew) and Veronica Zysk (award-winning author, and editor of Autism Asperger's Digest magazine) have added over 400 new ideas, which are complimented by a new layout specially designed to enhance the readers’ experience. With this book, parents and professionals can bypass countless hours spent seeking answers to the mystifying day-to-day challenges of autism.