Teaching Children with Autism and Related Spectrum Disorders

Based on twenty-five years of teaching and working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), Christy L. Magnusen contends that it is those teachers who can blend the 'science' of education methodology with the 'art' of teaching who are best able to reach these children. Examining both these aspects of teaching, she takes a fresh look at established and more recent teaching methods such as structuring spaces, emphasising language and planning strategies for transition and generalization, and then explores the art of implementation: why, when and how these techniques should be applied. By highlighting workable solutions to everyday problems, and emphasizing that teachers need to understand techniques and have the ability to adapt them to the situation that faces them, this book will be invaluable to all those involved in teaching children with ASDs. Dr Christy L. Magnusen was touched and inspired by a child with autism early in her baccalaureate studies almost 30 years ago and has since devoted her professional career to reaching and teaching children with ASDs. She has Master of Science degrees in Speech/Language Pathology and Education Administration, a Ph.D in Educational Leadership and is the co-editor of Autism: Clinical and Research Issues (York Publishers, 2000). Dr Magnusen is currently a state-approved Director of Special Education and works in Belleville, Illinois as a Special Education Administrator. She also teaches graduate level course work at Southern Illinois University and is a mother of four.