This work surveys the many areas in which behavioral principles have been applied, for academic behavior analysts and graduate students in a graduate-level survey course. Clinical areas discussed include stimulus preference and reinforcer assessment applications, behavioral acquisition by persons with developmental disabilities, behavior analysis and school psychology, and behavioral interventions for children with autism. Organizational and instructional areas are also covered, including behavioral management in human service settings, behavioral sport psychology, and behavioral approaches to college teaching. Each chapter includes discussion questions. The editors are affiliated with Western Michigan University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,

Leave behind confusing textbooks and unreliable websites. This book will guide you through your child's early years by providing sound advice based on over twenty years of experience. In an easy-to-read, question-answer format, Dr. Jim explains what makes your child tick, how to get the most out of early intervention services, and how to choose the most effective treatment options. Helpful features include: 10 Common Myths about Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), 7 Effective Teaching Strategies, 10 Behavior Rules to Live By, and Must-have EI Goals and Objectives for Children with ASD. In a special how-to section in the book, Dr. Jim walks you through a typical day in the life of a young child with autism, from the time the child wakes up to the time he goes to bed. You will learn what to do (and not do), what to say (and not say), and how to use the strategies outlined in the book to teach your child new skills, manage behavior, and have fun while learning! No matter what your level of autism expertise, this is your game plan to start working with your child RIGHT AWAY!

This ground-breaking training programme has been developed in response to a real need for evidence-based early interventions for very young autistic children. Authoritative and extensively tried and tested, it will help both parents and carers to understand the disorder and how it affects child development. Ultimately, the programme is designed to reduce the severity of emotional/behavioural difficulties by managing a child's particular problems and encouraging effective collaboration between professionals and parents. The programme is delivered through two accessible manuals -- one for parents and one for clinicians -- which provide all the information and materials you need. The Manual for Clinicians explains the purpose and content of each session and includes notes for discussion and teaching, a checklist of 'things to do', and photocopiable task sheets for distribution and discussion. The Manual for Parents features tasks, exercises and discussion points for group sessions, and complements these training materials with engaging personal accounts, an introduction to the history of autism, information about approaches to treatment, and a list of useful websites and further reading. Structured as a series of individual and small group sessions, the programme is designed to run for 20 weeks and covers key areas such as understanding and managing difficult behaviour; changing/encouraging new behaviours; communication problems in verbal and non-verbal children; social problems; and how to work and play together. Together, these manuals will provide you with all the information, support and resources you need to run this programme successfully.

Mental health professionals and educators are increasingly being asked to evaluate and assess children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) as the number of children with these disorders increases. This timely and important book provides practical guidance on how to organize and conduct assessment activities with a purpose, based on the goals of the evaluation. It features case study material to illustrate test use and clinical assessment for all aspects of psychological assessment. In addition, it covers ASDs with younger/older and high/low functioning individuals. Applied developmental psychologists, child psychologists, school psychologists, as well as special education teachers and other school personnel will benefit from this book.

Research suggests an early start is the key to a successful intervention for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. What many don't know is that research also shows that for most early intervention programs to be effective, they must involve a child's primary caregivers, especially when it comes to such an all-pervasive area as communication. This book does not advocate that parents steer clear of therapists and specialists. Instead, it attempts to put more control in the parents' hands. Without adding to parents' already busy schedules, Teresa Cardon, a speech language pathologist and author of best-selling Let's Talk Emotions (see page 33), discusses the importance of creating a communication environment in the home. Simple everyday tools include deliberate use of books, toys, visual schedules, and labeling, among others. If your child is currently receiving several therapies, or if you are trying on your own to help encourage and foster communication interactions with your child, take the tools you find helpful in this book and make sure that a "family-centered" approach is part of your weekly regime. If your child is one of the thousands who have been "wait-listed" for services, wait no more - the tools are at your fingertips!

Based on a pirate theme, this social understanding program is for preschool-to third-grade children who have social cognitive challenges, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The program is designed to help these children learn constructive social interaction skills in the area of friendship making, social problem solving, and emotional expression. This eight-adventure pirate voyage includes the following focus areas: social understanding, friendship making, emotional literacy and emotional expression, relaxing, social problem solving, and responding to bullying incidents. Some of the adventures include: "Pirates and Buccaneers" where the pirates are introduced to helpful versus unhelpful ways of being a friend, and "Shiver Me Timbers" where the pirates explore appropriate ways to express their emotions.

Science for Sale in the Autism Wars is the real-world story of a landmark legal battle between children with autism versus government and their academic mercenaries. This book is a 'front row seat' to the difficult struggle to provide children with health care insurance for their medically necessary autism treatment.

The inspiring success of Dr. Stanley Greenspan's unique approach to autism and ASD (autistic spectrum disorders) is known to grateful parents and to professionals throughout the world. Now at last his highly effective and influential program is presented in one clear and accessible volume. A number of innovative, exciting features distinguish Greenspan's approach to autism: First, his program has demonstrated that children with signs of autism or autistic spectrum disorders do not have a fixed, limited potential, but in many cases can join their peers and lead full, healthy lives, emotionally and intellectually. Secondly, his approach can be applied at a very early stage, when signs of autism first appear. Thus, the hope of preventing the full onset of autism becomes a real possibility. Third, the approach empowers the entire family to promote their child's development throughout each day. Also, the DIR Floortime approach guides the efforts of speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and educators to work with the family and builds on the latest research on the development of the mind and brain. As cases of autism continue to rise worldwide, Dr. Greenspan's extremely successful Floortime approach is producing very promising results that could one day stem the tide against this dread disorder. No one involved in the care of children with autism, parent or professional, can afford to be without this landmark work.

Learn from ten distinguished service providers about creating a classroom to serve preschool-age children with autism. The book's contributors address the structure, financing, staffing, assessment procedures, curriculum, and support services of their programs. Contents include: Preschool Programs for Children with Autism # The Rutgers Autism Program # The UCLA Young Autism Project # The Children's Unit for Treatment and Evaluation # The Denver Model: A Comprehensive, Integrated Educational Approach to Young Children with Autism and Their Families # Alpine Learning Group # The Walden Early Childhood Programs # Behavior Analysis and Intervention for Preschoolers at the Princeton Child Development Institute # TEACCH Services for Preschool Children # The Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center: Two Models of Service Delivery.

Parents of young children (ages 18 months to 5 years) with a diagnosis of autism, face the critical decision of which educational treatment program to choose for their child. To help guide them through this complex decision-making process, parents can turn to the revised and updated edition of RIGHT FROM THE START, which covers programs that use Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, a highly effective treatment based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). New information includes the latest research on the benefits of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, the types of instruction used (naturalistic instruction and other teaching methods that complement ABA), home-based professionals and their credentials, school-based programs, and more. An Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention program consists of concentrated instruction (at least 40 hours a week) and can be based in the child's home, at a center (private or university), or more recently, in public schools. Besides the setting, there are many other variables to consider when evaluating a program, and RIGHT FROM THE START thoroughly explores those, including: age of the child; access to typically developing peers; curriculum; teaching strategies; team member credentials; time demands; family finances; home support services; supervision and accountability; behavior management; control over the child's education; visual and auditory distractions; availability of multidisciplinary team. Many preschoolers who receive Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention make good progress and may go on to be included with their typically developing peers in elementary school. Comprehensive in its coverage and full of personal insight, RIGHT FROM THE START is an essential primer to help families explore the options and select the educational treatment program that best suits them and their child's needs.

Reaching Out, Joining In is based on the authors' decades of clinical experience using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a proven educational method, to teach social skills at home and school. This book focuses on four broad topics: Play skills; The language of social skills; Understanding another person's perspective; Functioning in an inclusive classroom. Reaching Out, Joining In helps parents work with their child's strengths to improve social skills. Following the suggestions and exercises in this book, parents can teach children to: pretend-play, use toys appropriately, know when to use conventional responses like 'excuse me,' tell jokes, recognize that others' feelings and thoughts are different from their own, and initiate social interaction with peers. Included are tips for using games, modeling, rewards, role play, videos, activity schedules, and social stories to teach social skills and make the learning experience fun for parents and children. A case study of one family's efforts and successes provides a real-life example that's informative and reassuring. Appendices listing resources such as books, games, and activities give parents additional material to explore.

Childhood Autism provides clinicians with a comprehensive guide for working with autistic children and their families. It offers practical assistance with early diagnosis, cutting edge treatment options and goals, interdisciplinary insights, and available resources. Empirical research findings are presented in a clear, accessible manner. Perhaps most importantly, vivid case examples bring both the therapist's and patient's experience to the fore as they work towards recovery. This clear and informative book should be required reading for professionals and students in the fields of medicine, social work, psychology, education, and any other clinicians who work with children on the autism spectrum.

Attachment-based play can help build the intimacy that creates the healthy parent-child interactions that are so vital to a child's development. This is especially true for children how are troubled by emotional or learning difficulties. The thoroughly revised second edition of the author's classic work Theraplay offers clear, easily understood guidelines for professionals and parents to a dynamic and proven approach for treating children with attachment and relationship problems. Based on the work of the founder of the renowned Theraplay Institute in Chicago, this new book explores how to use play to communicate love and authority and shows how this effective form of treatment increases a child's competence and trust. A comprehensive resource, the book offers effective techniques for working with special populations including children who have been adopted or are in foster care, victims of trauma or abuse, and youngsters with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Written in a clear and instructive style, Theraplay is an excellent guide for both parents and professionals who work with children.

Clear, focused, and practical, this book is a useful introduction to ABA for parents and professionals working with children with autism. Successful child rearing is an essential skill for any parent. For most of us this skill is handed down from our own parents and society in general. In real terms this means that rather than relying on any formal instruction to help us, we bring up our children using skills based largely upon commonsense and a willingness to do our best. These methods are, by-and-large, successful in everyday situations. However, when it comes to more difficult aspects of developing skills in out children, we need something more dependable than good will. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the systematic implementation of scientifically proven behavioral principles offers just that. Aimed at enhancing people's lives in ways that they or their careers feel are important, it includes a variety of methods and techniques which can be used to promote, decrease, or maintain skills for daily living.

Designed to help develop new patterns of funtional behavior for autistic children at home.

Early intervention is now accepted as essential in helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) to cope with the future demands of daily living, education and long-term independence. Choosing the most suitable intervention strategy is difficult because there are a large number of theories, including TEACCH, Floor-time and ABA, and each child with autism presents differently. In this book, the authors argue that theory must be combined with data in order for it to be used effectively in developmental intervention. Aimed at professionals, as well as parents who want to be more involved in their child's development, the authors explain how to write basic developmental goals, how to collect data and analyse it and how to use the results of analysis to inform the next round of intervention decisions. A useful CD ROM provides a shortcut to setting up forms and guidance in their completion.

Replays addresses the challenging behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders through interactive symbolic play. It shows parents and professionals how to help children access their emotions, whether the child is verbal or not, cognitively able or impaired, even-tempered or volatile. The chapters introduce and show readers how to implement Replays, and describe ways of adapting this intervention to address specific issues in different settings and circumstances. Levine and Chedd present more than just behavioral management strategies in the context of social, emotional and communication development: they have developed a technique that helps children to re-experience, play through and master the complex emotional response states that often lead to ongoing behavioral challenges. Replays is an easy and fun tool that provides numerous step-by-step examples and illustrations. It enables parents and professionals to guide children with autism spectrum disorders towards mastering, and changing, their emotional and behavioral responses.

Jayne Lytel was a successful syndicated columnist when her son Leo was diagnosed with autism. Using her reporting skills to better understand her son's health issues, she helped Leo gain essential abilities. After four years of therapy, he no longer meets the diagnostic criteria for autism, attends a mainstream school, and is a thriving, healthy child. Act Early Against Autism is a practical and empowering guide for parents on how early intervention can change their child's future.

Chapters on choosing an effective treatment discuss how to evaluate claims about treatments for autism, and what the research says about early behavioral intervention and other treatments. Subsequent sections address what to teach, teaching programs, how to teach, and who should teach. Also addressed are the organization and funding of a behavioral program, working with a speech-language pathologist, and working with the schools. Answers to commonly asked questions are presented along with case histories. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Early Start for Young Children with Autism/PDD provides teachers, parents, therapists, and caregivers with intervention strategies for young children with autism or another pervasive developmental disorder. This product focuses specifically on young children ages 2 through 5 and meets the recommendations of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Specifically, the strategies presented in this book: * are techniques that can be implemented for children as young as 2 years * can be used by teachers and parents as they seek to provide adequate hours of programming * focus on communication * incorporate social instruction into everyday situations * incorporate play designed to increase cognitive development * offer proactive approaches designed to teach good behavior The ideas offered here are easy and practical to implement. Most suggestions can be tried at school and home with little or no equipment or prior training. This is a charmingly illustrated guide for establishing and implementing interventions that is filled with many reproducible forms. Early Start for Young Children with Autism/PDD is a great resource for early interventionists, preschool teachers, and parents.

he method of Skillstreaming has already achieved success with older children. Now the same strategies are applied to children ages three to six, based on the recognition that mastery of prosocial skills plays a critical role in children's well-being and later development. This book provides teachers and others working with young children with a guiding strategy and concrete techniques for individual and group instruction in prosocial skills.

TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped CHildren) has grown over the past three decades from a small clinic for children to an internationally recognized treatment and support modality for individuals of all ages with autism spectrum disorders. In The TEACCH Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders, the program's founders and their colleagues explain its methods and philosophy based on an understanding and respect for "the culture of autism." The TEACCH program focuses on persons with autism and the development of instruction and supports based on each individual's skills, interests, and needs. It draws from the research literature in psychology and neuropsychology to create activities and environments that are organized to emphasize meaningfulness�an approach that has proved crucial to an autistic individual's ability to learn, comprehend, and apply learning across situations. The TEACCH Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders explains how: - TEACCH targets critical areas in executive functioning, engagement, communication, and social skills. - Strategies can be tailored to an individual's unique developmental and functional level. - Parents become involved in all phases of intervention as collaborators, cotherapists, and advocates. - The program can be introduced and adapted for individuals of all ages, from preschool children to adults. - Professionals can be trained in the program and its methods. This progressive program offers individuals with autism, their families, teachers, and therapists both optimism and useful strategies, without minimizing the condition or its effects. All clinicians working with people with autism will find The TEACCH Approach to Autistic Spectrum Disorders a valuable resource.

Working on the premise that children with ASDs learn more effectively when their whole bodies are involved, The Miller Method® covers major issues such as communication skills and social play, as well as day-to-day behavioral issues including tantrums, aggression and toilet training. Part of Miller's method includes guiding the child on to The Elevated Square, a device that gets the child off the floor and markedly diminishes toe-walking, hand flapping and aimless wandering. By creating a highly defined reality that requires the child's rapt attention to traverse it, the Elevated Square helps counter some of the significant challenges these children confront. Another feature of the method entails the carefully gauged disruption of everyday routines. This may include deliberately "messing up" the classroom so that the children experience putting it together and learning that they can cope with disorder and change.

Parents of young children newly diagnosed as on the autism spectrum are often at a loss for ideas about how best to help their child. Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum is not just a collection of play ideas; it shows how to break down activities into manageable stages, and looks at ways to gain a child's attention and motivation and to build on small achievements. Each chapter covers a collection of ideas around a theme, including music, art, physical activities, playing outdoors, puzzles, turn-taking and using existing toys to create play sequences. There are also chapters on introducing reading and making the most of television. This updated second edition contains an extensive chapter on how to use the computer, the internet and the digital camera to find and make resources and activities, and suggests many suitable websites to help parents through the internet maze. The ideas are useful both for toddlers and primary age children who are still struggling with play.

This is a manual for entry-level and advanced occupational, physical, and speech-language therapists, and a source of information for parents, teachers, and other professionals. It provides a holistic view of autistic spectrum disorders, examining the interrelationship between behaviors, mannerisms, sensory processing, motor control, speech and language, and functional skills. It details intervention strategies that make use of sensory integration, neuro-development treatment, augmentive communication, and traditional occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Many treatment ideas, games, and activities are provided, along with explanations for using therapy equipment. Many b&w photos illustrating techniques and equipment in use are included. Murray-Slutsky and Paris are co-owners and directors of a rehabilitation center.Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

When Everybody Cares: Case Studies of ABA with People with Autism is a series of 20 case studies that explain and elaborate principles in Applied Behavior Analysis. This is done in an engaging format, easily understood by layperson and professional alike.

This is a book of warm, readable, personal, informally written case studies, with a point, actually several points. Case studies are always fun to read, these are no exception. Parents of children labeled 'autistic' and paraprofessionals and professionals working with the children should find this book interesting, informative, and encouraging, although realistic. The book is full of examples of behavior analysis used to help the children. The book is full of enough technical details to give parents and workers some ideas about how to solve problems, yet those details are presented in a way parents and paraprofessionals can understand them, even with humor.

When young children are diagnosed with conditions such as Down Syndrome, autism or other forms of developmental delay, there is much that parents can do to help. This new edition of the award-winning Small Steps Forward includes up-to-date research and practice, providing parents and carers with the information they need and a host of ideas to encourage their child's development. The games and activities use toys and materials which most children will already have, and involve no special preparation. They are also fun to play. Sarah Newman divides skills into six areas - cognitive, linguistic, physical, sensory, social and emotional - for convenient reference. She deals with general issues, such as behavior management, toilet-training and sleep management, which may be encountered by parents of children with any form of disability - physical, learning or sensory. She also provides an outline of child development so that parents can place their child's progress in context, and gives practical advice on coping with stress of having a child with special needs. This book is an essential guide for parents of young children with developmental disabilities and will also be invaluable to anyone who works with children with special needs.

For children on the autistic spectrum and those with a specific communication disorder the social and emotional impairment demonstrates itself in, amongst other ways, a difficulty in learning to play and a resulting isolation from peers and their imaginative and physical world. The authors explain the function and development of play for children who develop the skills normally. Their analysis has provided a sound theoretical basis for the practical teaching programme which promotes the development and opportunity to practise the elements: social skills and social understanding; imagination; rehearsal; flexibility and change; exploration. The sections of the book cover: 1. Tabletop Identiplay - instructions on how to set up this positive and practical play intervention based on the work of Beyer and Gammeltoft. 2. Identiplay kits and play scripts - a resource bank of copiable pages clearly listing ideas for Identiplay kits and possible play scripts to use with each set. 3. Beyond Identiplay - ways of adapting Identiplay to further extend play skills, moving away from the original format of a table-top activity, and applying the principles in a wider range of activities, such as role play, the development of leisure activities, water play, and outdoor games. A CD-ROM is included containing the photographs, video clips and scripts to allow printing of all the materials.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the Early Years provides information on the services that are available for children from birth to five years and addresses issues related to identification, assessment, teaching and learning, and family support. Illustrated with case studies provided by parents and practitioners, this resource covers: * The Code of Practice for SEN & the SEN and Disability Discrimination Act * Identification of children's learning and assessment needs * Examples of positive multi-agency practice and collaboration * Effective partnerships with parents * Social skills and behavior * Alternative intervention and home-based programs * Transition from pre-school to kindergarten. This book is ideal for pre-school playgroup and nursery staff, child care providers, and parents.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a method which has been effective in teaching children with autistic spectrum disorders and changing their behaviors. Shira Richman explains how parents can adapt the practical techniques used in ABA for use at home. Richman provides tips and guidelines to increase play skills, improve communication and sibling interactions and increase independence.

Based on the annual TEACCH conference held in May at the U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Presents the latest and most pertinent instruments for autism diagnosis and assessment. Includes chapters on current special issues such as autistic adolescents and adults, subclassification, pre-school children, and low-functioning children. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This is a collection of more than 250 teaching activities. Each activity states the goal, immediate objective, materials, and procedures for teaching. Activities are arranged by function area and developmental area, as described in Volumes I and II of this series.

This volume is the outcome of a cooperative scientific workshop between researchers from Israel and North Carolina, entitled Research Frontiers in Autism: Genetics, Behavior and Intervention, held in Jerusalem, June 28--30, 1999. During this workshop, a group of professionals came together to improve their understanding of the occasional gap that appears between research results in the study of autism and clinical applications in its treatment. Each chapter in this volume includes a discussion of the direct and indirect implications of basic research for intervention. With its focus on cutting-edge research, this volume will be of interest to researchers, clinicians, and parents of children with autism.

This is a comprehensive guide to establishing shared play experiences that assist in the development of communication, social understanding and cognition. Easily accessible, and packed full of practical resources, the book defines the importance of play both developmentally and psychologically as having a major influence on the enrichment of meaningful interactions and children's learning. Diana Seach expertly discusses how play enables children with autism to: * represent their knowledge of the world and their relationships with others * spontaneously explore ways of thinking about themselves and the objects they encounter * develop communication and companionship * discover motivating ways to learn * extend their imagination and creative potential. Those who live and work with children who have autism and Asperger syndrome will find Interactive Play for Children with Autism an invaluable tool when implementing strategies to develop interactive play in educational establishments, care settings and the family home.

An in-depth look at the nationally acclaimed Linwood method -- a groundbreaking therapy and education program for children with autism developed by Jeanne Simons, and practiced at the Linwood Children's Center in Ellicott City, Maryland. The approach described here is based not on a predetermined plan or pace, but in response to the therapists' understanding of the origins and meaning of each child's behaviors. Hundreds of vignettes and anecdotes supplement the text.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) present a perplexing challenge for parents and school professionals. This essential resource was developed to respond directly to the difficulty school professionals and families face in selecting and applying appropriate interventions and treatments for the children in their care. The information is presented in a straightforward format, practical for finding answers to complex questions including: a description of the intervention or treatment; reported benefits and effects associated with its use; a synthesis of how the outcomes relate to individuals with ASD; potential costs and risks.

Stehli relates the details of living and coping with her unresponsive, autistic child. Doctors and psychiatrists led her to believe that she was an inadequate mother and wanted her to institutionalize her daughter, Georgie, but she insisted on keeping the child at home, sending her out only for schooling. When Georgie began auditory training in Switzerland, she became a different person as her hearing changed. High school students interested in working with exceptional children or planning medical careers would be most interested in this book. Written in a lively, readable style, with much emphasis on Stehli's conflicting emotions, it would also be good for those interested in psychology. -- School Library Journal

This book focuses on the clinical treatment of children from birth through age five, when the most devastating psychiatric syndromes can make their first appearance. This hands-on resource provides the knowledge and tools necessary to assess and treat serious problems such as autism, mental retardation, abuse, and neglect. In addition, it provides a variety of specific interventions for common behavioral issues, including attachment disorders, sleep problems, toilet training, and gender issues. Written with the same sensitivity and insight as Treating School-Age Children and Treating Adolescents, this is an indispensable guide for meeting the challenges of treating children during these early, critical years.

Preschool can be overwhelming for a child with autism. Autism affects how a child communicates, behaves, and relates to others. What do you do when a three-year-old with autism falls on the floor kicking and screaming? How do you communicate with a child who looks away and flaps his hands? What do you do with a four-year-old who watches the ceiling fan as it rotates around and around? Who can help if you suspect a child in your class has autism? Childcare providers need to know what they can do to help children with autism reach their full potential. Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder discusses autism in a straightforward way. It describes the major types of autism in ways that are very easy to understand. The first two chapters discuss the major characteristics associated with autism, decipher the jargon related to this disability, and help teachers understand the ways children with autism relate to the world. Other chapters focus on setting up a proactive preschool environment, helping children learn life skills, managing behavior, helping them communicate, encouraging children with autism to play, helping them to get along with others, and working with families. Each chapter contains specific strategies for the teacher to use in the classroom. Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder will help teachers connect with all children in meaningful ways and encourage children with autism to learn and grow.

This practical guide offers an introduction to the basic principles, tools and techniques that comprise the Integrated Play Groups model, designed to support children of diverse ages and abilities on the autism spectrum (novice players) in mutual play experiences with typical peers and siblings (expert players). Small groups of children regularly play together under the guidance of an adult facilitator (play guide) through a carefully tailored system of support. The emphasis is on maximizing children's developmental potential as well as intrinsic desire to play, socialize and form meaningful relationships with peers. At the same time, an equally important focus is on teaching the peer group to be more accepting, responsive and inclusive of children who relate and play in different ways. This innovative book is full of forms, checklists and other tools to facilitate implementation.