Early Intervention and Autism: Real-Life Questions, Real-Life Answers »

When your child has just been diagnosed with autism, questions and concerns immediately flood your mind. What do I need to know first? What do I need to do first? What program is right for my child? This book discusses the components of a perfect program for young children with autism, including a variety of proven techniques, and gives parents tools to assess whether or not they fit their child and their family. It also includes a how-to-guide for setting up an effective Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) and transitioning a child with autism into a public school program.

Foreword     xi
Introduction     xv
A Real-life Look at the Autism Spectrum     1
Family Issues: The Personal Side of Autism     31
What is Early Intervention?     59
Building Your Dream Team     85
Assessment: A Picture of Your Child's Strengths and Challenges     99
Blueprint for a Perfect Program     111
Options, Options, Options! Choosing the Right Intervention Model for the ASD Child     143
From Good to Bad to Meltdown: Understanding Your Child's Behavior Challenges     241
Little Kids, Big Issues: Sleeping, Eating, Toilet Training & Independence     285
The Next Step: Transitioning from Early Intervention to Public School Programs     311
More Real-life Advice     337
Glossary     339
References     351
A Day in the Life     355
Sample IFSP for a Child with ASD     371
Toilet Training ... Is Your Child Ready? By Connie Marks     383
Guidelines for Theory & Practice COSAC Position Statement on Treatment Recommendations     399
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) List of Part C Lead Agencies     413