How to Teach Life Skills to Kids with Autism or Asperger's

by Myers, Jennifer McIlwee

• ISBN13: 9781935274131
• ISBN10: 1935274139
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-29
• Publisher: Future Horizons Inc

Summary

No matter how high-functioning children with autism or Asperger's may be, they are going to have trouble as adults if they lack skills such as personal hygiene or multi-tasking. Enter Jennifer McIlwee Myers, Aspie at Large. Co-author of the groundbreaking bookAsperger's and Girls, Jennifer's personal experience with Asperger's Syndrome and having a brother with autism makes her perspective doubly insightful. From basic skills such as domestic chores, dressing for success, and being polite, to abstract concepts like time management and task-switching, Jennifer's straightforward and humorous delivery will keep parents, teachers, and therapists turning the page for the next creative solution.

Author Biography

Coauthor of the award-winning book Asperger’s and Girls, Jennifer McIlwee Myers is a terrific writer and speaker with Asperger’s Syndrome—she is funny, eloquent, and to the point. Her brother had autism, but she wasn't diagnosed with Asperger’s until 2002. She has taught herself many unique, innovative ways to navigate the world of “normal” people over her lifetime. Jennifer earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and currently lives in California with her husband Gary.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. xv
Introduction	p. xix
Read Me First
Why Me? Why You? Why Life Skills?	p. 3
Frames of Reference	p. 9
Success Comes from Life Skills	p. 17
The Wacky World of Autism Terminology	p. 23
Teaching Life Skills to the Spectrum Child: Ideas and Examples
Learning How We Can Learn	p. 29
Say What You Need to Say	p. 39
Transmit Information in More than One Way	p. 47
Information in Translation: Speak the Language Your Child Understands	p. 57
Repetition and Persistence	p. 67
Opportunities to Teach, Opportunities for Success	p. 77
Tap into Your Child's Interests!	p. 89
Attitudes That Win (and One That Doesn't)	p. 97
Specific Life Skills
Intro to the Specific Skills	p. 109
Chores and More	p. 115
Chores Part Deux - How to Tell Your Child What to Do	p. 121
Chores Part Tres - More on Teaching Chores	p. 129
Punctuality	p. 139
Appropriate Attire	p. 153
Manners, Manners, Manners	p. 169
Kindness Is a Life Skill	p. 181
Teach the Specifics of Kindness	p. 187
Outings Teach Life Skills	p. 197
Teach Special Skills Needed by People with Autism	p. 205
Life Skills for the Spectrum: Task Switching	p. 213
Learning to Spend Time	p. 223
Coping with Sensory Issues	p. 229
Really. Really Big Skills That Everyone Needs
Trie First Really Big Skill: Exercise for Mental and Physical Health	p. 239
The Second Really Big Skill: Good Sleep Habits	p. 253
The Third Really Big Skill: Dealing with Mistakes and Failures	p. 267
The Fourth and Final Really Big Skill: Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Concepts	p. 285
Postscript	p. 299
A Mini - Glossary	p. 301
Recommended Resources	p. 307
Index	p. 313
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