To follow are further resources that we always like to have at our fingertips....
Some books we love to read with kids...
There are also many excellent book recommendations in I Get It! Building Social Thinking and Reading Comprehension through Book Chats by Audra Jensen, and great titles in general for kids in the Social Thinking Bookstore.
...and some books we appreciate as adults
Some books we love to read with kids...
- Mo Willems' books are filled with humor, opportunities for considering varying perspectives, and reading nonverbal communication.
- We love all of Julia Cook's titles to explore social emotional topics such as trying new things and what it really means to be a friend.
- Kids of all ages have fun expanding their vocabulary, sequencing events, looking for detail, and practicing multisyllabic words like "armadillo" and "pajamas" when we use one of Peggy Rathmann's books!
There are also many excellent book recommendations in I Get It! Building Social Thinking and Reading Comprehension through Book Chats by Audra Jensen, and great titles in general for kids in the Social Thinking Bookstore.
...and some books we appreciate as adults
- The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum by Temple Grandin (2013) "When Temple Grandin was born in 1947, autism had only just been named. Today it is more prevalent than ever, with one in 88 children diagnosed on the spectrum. And our thinking about it has undergone a transformation in her lifetime: Autism studies have moved from the realm of psychology to neurology and genetics, and there is far more hope today than ever before thanks to groundbreaking new research into causes and treatments. Now Temple Grandin reports from the forefront of autism science, bringing her singular perspective to a thrilling journey into the heart of the autism revolution."
- Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare (2009) "The latest research in child development shows that many kids who have the brain and heart to succeed lack or lag behind in crucial “executive skills”--the fundamental habits of mind required for getting organized, staying focused, and controlling impulses and emotions. Learn easy-to-follow steps to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses, use activities and techniques proven to boost specific skills, and problem-solve daily routines. Small changes can add up to big improvements--this empowering book shows how."
- Lost at School: Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them by Ross W. Greene Ph.D. (2009) "Relying on research from the neurosciences, Dr. Greene offers a new conceptual framework for understanding the difficulties of kids with behavioral challenges and explains why traditional discipline isn't effective at addressing these difficulties. Emphasizing the revolutionarily simple and positive notion that kids do well if they can, he persuasively argues that kids with behavioral challenges are not attention-seeking, manipulative, limit-testing, coercive, or unmotivated, but that they lack the skills to behave adaptively."
- The RDI Book: Forging New Pathways for Autism, Asperger's and PDD by Dr. Steven E. Gutstein Ph.D. (2009) "In a highly readable, carefully detailed manner, Dr. Gutstein describes the process in which parents are empowered and carefully trained by skilled professional consultants, to guide the cognitive, social and emotional development of their children. Through the framework of a unique dynamic intelligence curriculum, children become motivated to seek out new challenges and overcome their fear of change. Based on over ten years of research, Dr. Gutstein honors the delicate choreography critical for children of all ages to grow into independent, emotionally connected, responsible adults."
- How to be a Sister: A Love Story with a Twist of Autism by Eileen Garvin (2010) "Eileen Garvin's older sister, Margaret, was
diagnosed with severe autism at age three. Growing up alongside Margaret
wasn't easy: Eileen often found herself in situations that were
simultaneously awkward, hilarious, and heartbreaking. For example,
losing a blue plastic hairbrush could leave Margaret inconsolable for
hours, and a quiet Sunday Mass might provoke an outburst of laughter,
swearing, or dancing. A deeply felt, impeccably written memoir, How to Be a Sister
will speak to siblings, parents, friends, and teachers of people with
autism—and to anyone who sometimes struggles to connect with someone
difficult or different." We especially recommend this book because Margaret Garvin was the first individual with ASD that Linda Murphy worked with. Back in 1993, in Spokane, WA, Linda spent two years working closely with Margaret - first at her supported work program, and then in her group home. If Linda had not crossed paths with Margaret way back then, she may not have found her way to speech language pathology, RDI and beyond!
- My Baby Can Dance by Steven E. Gutstein - "My Baby Can Dance is for anyone who needs a reminder about what makes everyday social encounters so wonderful and why sometimes, the simplest forms of communication can lead to the most wonderful moments. The stories in this book are of families that are all very different, and yet, their struggles are strikingly similar. Along with the remarkable stories of RDI® families is a message of hope - that in their own time and in their own way these children will find their way back home."
- It Takes Two to Talk by Jan Pepper and Elaine Weitzman (2004) "This updated edition of The Hanen Center's classic guidebook is a must-have for parents, speech-language pathologists and others who work with or care for young children with language delays. It Takes Two to Talk is written in simple language and is full of beautiful, color illustrations. It shows parents how to help their child communicate and learn language during everyday activities like mealtime, bath time, playtime and book reading."
- The Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child Isn't Talking Yet by Marilyn C. Agin (2004) "Every parent eagerly awaits the day his or her child will speak for the first time. For millions of mothers and fathers, however, anticipation turns to anxiety when those initial, all-important words are a long time coming. Many worried parents are reassured that their child is "just a late talker," but unfortunately, that is not always the case."