Synopses & Reviews
Targeting Autism reaches out to everyone who lives with, cares about, or is trying to understand and help a young child who has or may have autism. This is an easy-to-follow road map to the world of autism for families, educators, students, therapeutic personnel, and all those interested in this disorder that affects as many as 400,000 Americans. Calling attention to recent advances in early identification and educational therapy, Shirley Cohen, a teacher of teachers, provides expert guidance through this often confusing arena. Informed and humane, her work offers up-to-date research findings within a scientific framework enriched by her own observations and narratives from parents and adults with autism.
Many of the issues surrounding this disorder -- and different disorders that may mimic its appearance, such as Asperger's syndrome and obssessive-compulsive disorder -- are unresolved, beginning with the question of exactly what autism is. The treatment of children with autism is an emotion-laden, contentious area, with advocates and opponents of different treatments making conflicting claims. Cohen, who has no personal or professional stake in any of the various forms of treatment, leads us through the approaches currently available, especially the educational interventions designed for young autistic children -- from intensive, one-on-one methods to group programs used in many preschool and school settings.
Families, as well as the professionals who work with them and their children, will find this analysis particularly useful. In addition to clarifying the knowledge produced in recent years about this pervasive developmental disorder, Targeting Autism lists available resourcesand highlights those leads that are creating hope that we can identify the underlying causes of autism and eliminate its devastating effects on the development of children.
Synopsis
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Targeting Autism reaches out to everyone who lives with, cares about, or is trying to understand and help a young child who has or may have autism. With special attention to recent advances in early identification and educational treatment, Shirley Cohen, a teacher of teachers, provides expert guidance for families, educators, students, therapeutic personnel, and all those interested in autistic spectrum disorders that may affect as many as one out of every 200 to 250 children. Cohen, who has no personal or professional stake in any of the various forms of treatment, leads us through an analysis of the approaches currently available, especially the educational interventions designed for young children. Readers will welcome this informed and humane combination of up-to-date research findings, personal observations, and narratives from parents and adults with autism.
Targeting Autism also highlights advances in research that promise an answer to the puzzles of autism and the elimination of its devastating effects on the development of children.
In a new preface and updated appendix of resources Cohen includes information about new developments and new ways of thinking that have recently modified the map of the world of autism or may do so in the near future.'
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 195-206) and index.
About the Author
Shirley Cohen is Professor of Special Education at Hunter College of the City University of New York. Her previous books include Special People: A Brighter Future for Everyone with Physical, Mental, and Emotional Disabilities (1977) and Respite Care: Principles, Programs, and Policies (1985).