This is a list of the books which our members have found to be very helpful. We generally advise “new” parents not to read books about autism which were written more than a few years’ ago, because both the incidence of autism and research into its etiologies and treatments have grown exponentially in recent years, changing the tone and focus of autism literature dramatically. Older books may have some information that is of interest, but may also offer a very bleak outlook for treatment options and the future of the child. Save the older books for later, after you’ve read the newer books which offer hope and direction!
Click on a topic to view that section, or scroll down to view all entries:
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Manuals
Personal Accounts by Parents
Personal Accounts by Individuals with Autism
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)
and VB (Verbal Behavior) Books
The Inventory of Good Learner Repertoires
by Steven Ward
A “good learner” is someone who readily responds to instruction in a wide variety of situations. These learners can not only spend time in a variety of non-restrictive settings, such as regular education classrooms and community locations, but can also learn new skills in those settings. “The Inventory of Good Learner Repertoires” covers 139 items that assess the ease with which a learner can be taught. These items are separated into 9 categories: Behavioral Excesses, Behavioral Supports, Resilience and Regulation, Readiness, Perseverance and Focus, Flexibility, Preferences for Learning Channels, Spontaneity, and Potential to Benefit from Inclusion. “The Inventory of Good Learner Repertoires” will help teachers and parents identify ways in which they can improve the efficiency of their instruction. Every learner’s programming can benefit from consideration of the items contained in “The Inventory of Good Learner Repertoires”. Please feel free to click “preview” and read samples of this Inventory.
What You Need to Know about Motivation and Teaching Games: An in-depth analysis
by Steven Ward
“What You Need to Know about Motivation and Teaching Games: An in-depth analysis” is essential for anyone working with learners with social delays, including learners with Autism. This book dedicates significant attention to learner motivation, the ability of teachers to establish learner motivation, and, most importantly, the ability of teachers to identify whether their learners are interested. This book describes the philosophical underpinnings of various methods for teaching learners to enjoy playing games, and does so in a way that creates thoughtful, creative teachers. Further, this book provides scripts for teaching 12 specific games. For each game, the author describes: why the game is valuable, prereq uisites, a basic instructional protocol, finer points, variations, and data. An emphasis is placed, throughout this book, on teacher responsiveness to student performance. Teachers will learn how to help their students actually enjoy playing games.
Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities
by Drs. Sundberg and Partington
Presents a language assessment and intervention program based on B.F. Skinner’s behavioral analysis of language, and the extensive body of empirical research that support Skinner’s analysis. Section One provides information regarding preparation for language intervention and includes an assessment and a system to interpret the assessment in order to determine the best place to start intervention for an individual child. Section Two focuses on the development of initial communication skills for nonverbal children and Section Three focuses on teaching more advanced language and social skills. Section Four present issues relevant to the implementation of a language program in a child’s natural and school environments. In addition, a variety of data sheets and tracking forms are included.
The Assessment of Basic Language andLearning Skills (The ABLLS)
by Sundberg and Partington (with it’s accompanying assessment guide)
Two-volume set which contains an Assessment, Curriculum Guide and Skills Tracking System. One component is the ABLLS Scoring Instructions and an IEP Development Guide. The second component is the ABLLS Protocol. This is often used to outline an IEP and to develop a baseline working with children at their skills level.
Let Me Hear Your Voice
by Catherine Maurice
Behavior Interventions for Young Children with Autism
by Maurice, Green, and Luce
An important manual on the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis. Provides a wealth of practical information for parents and professionals concerned with helping autistic children gain skills. The manual gives concrete information on how to evaluate and differentiate treatment options and how to assess a child’s skills, needs and progress objectively.
Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism
by Catherine Maurice, Gina Greene, and Stephen C. Luce
The Power of Positive Parenting
by Dr. Glenn Latham
Teaching Individuals with Developmental Delays. Basic Intervention Techniques
by O. Ivar Lovaas
Controversial Therapies for Deveopmental Disabilities
by Jacobson, Foxx, and Mulick
Don’t Shoot the Dog
by Karen Pryor
Behaviorspeak
by Bobby Newman
Behaviorask: Straight Answers to your ABA Programming Questions
by Bobby Newman
Graduated Applied Behavior Analysis
by Bobby Newman
When Everybody Cares: Case Studies of ABA with people with Autism
by Bobby Newman
A Work in Progress: Behavior Management Strategies and a Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism
by Ron Leaf and Ronald Burton
Part One, Behavioral Management and Teaching Strategies with Autistic Children,gives parents insights and methods for dealing with difficult behaviors and self-stimulation. Helps parents manage and reduce disruptive behaviors and offers guidelines on sleep problems, toileting and eating issues and social and play skills. Part Two, Autism Partnership Curriculum for Discrete Trial Teaching with Autistic Children, is a complete curriculum for teaching skills to children with step-by-step instructions as well as creative ideas on how to make learning a natural progression. Emphasis is placed on learning in different settings, the importance of learning age-appropriate skills, and creating a home program that involves the enjoyment of learning.
ABA Program Companion: Organizing Quality Programs for Children with Autism & PDD
Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism
Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis: A Sprecial Issue of Exceptionality
Autism: Behavior Analytic Perspectives
Autism: Now What do I Do? (DVD)
Increasing Behaviors of Persons with Severe Retardation and Autism
by Foxx
Developing Leisure Time Skills for Persons with Autism
Functional Behavior Assessment for People with Autism: Making Sense of Seemingly Senseless Behavior
How to do Incidental Teaching with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Parent’s Education as Autism Therapists: Applied Behaviour Analysis Context
Raising a Child with Autism: Guide to Applied Behavior Analysis
The Science and Fiction of Autism
Understanding Why Problem behaviors Occur: A Guide for Assisting Parents in Assessing Causes of Behavior and Designing Treatment Plans
Asperger’s Syndrome: A guide for Parents and Professionals
Decreasing Behaviors of Persons with Severe Retardation and Autism
by Foxx
Toilet Training the Retarded: A Rapid program for Day and Nightime Independent Toileting
by Richard Foxx
Toilet Training in Less than a Day
by Foxx and Azrin
Clinical Practice Guideline
The Guideline Technical Report
Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorders
sponsored by New York State Department of Health Early Intervention Program found at www.health.state.ny.us/nydoh/eip/index.htm
You can purchase many of the aforementioned books at:
Also, some books may be borrowed from the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community/Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IIDC.) You can contact them at (812)855-6508. The books are loaned out from CeDIR (Center for Disability Information and Referral), a division of IIDC. CeDIR’s direct line is (800) 437-7924. You can look online for books at www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir.
Personal Accounts by Parents
Let Me Hear Your Voice
Catherine Maurice
An eloquent and moving personal account written by a mother whose daughter and son were diagnosed with autism.
Facing Autism: Giving Parents a Reason for Hope, Guidance for Help
Lynn M. Hamilton
According to Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., Director of the Autism Research Institute, “Lynn Hamilton has done a superb job of examining, evaluating and explaining the major treatment options available to parents, including behavior modification, now re-labeled ABA, and megavitamin therapy, along with many newer therapies. She also has filled the book with practical help on everything from whom to call for help, how to get funding, what foods to avoid, and how to work with the schools and doctors. If you can buy only one guide-book on autism, Facing Autism is the one to get!”
Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother’s Story of Research and Recovery
Karyn Seroussi
When their 19 month-old son Miles was diagnosed with autism, Seroussi and her husband empowered themselves to challenge the medical establishment and find a cure–for their own son and potentially thousands more. After three intense years, the couple reached startling conclusions about the biological nature of autism. As a testament to their findings, by the age of four Miles was pronounced “fully recovered.” Seroussi explains how autism spectrum disorders may be caused by a combination of genetics, food allergies and the viral load from an intensive schedule of childhood vaccinations. For some of these children, the collective assault to the immune system results in the malprocessing of certain proteins, namely gluten and casein. This book provides hands-on information, clear answers to the most commonly asked questions, step-by-step instructions for the removal of dairy and gluten from the diet, recipes, manufacturers and mail order sources, information about behavior modification, and web sites.
Personal Accounts by Individuals with Autism
Emergence: Labeled Autistic
Temple Grandin and Margaret M. Scariano
Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life With Autism
Temple Grandin
Nobody, Nowhere
Donna Wiliams
Somebody Somewhere
Donna Williams
Autism: An Inside-Out Approach
Donna Williams