Vera Bernard-Opitz, Anne Häußler
Combining their years of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum around the world, authors Vera Bernard-Opitz and Anne Häußler bring teachers and other professionals practical ideas and teaching methods for offering visual supports to students with autism spectrum disorders and other visual learners.
With hundreds of photographic illustrations and step-by-step directions, this book lays the foundation for how to structure teaching environments, as well as offers countless examples of activities for students, ranging from basic skills, to reading and maths, to social behaviour.
Preface and Acknowledgments 1
Introduction 3
Chapter 1: Levels of Structure 5
Chapter 2: Establishing the Basic Structure of Teaching Settings 11
Chapter 3: Prototypes of Tasks 29
Chapter 4: Designing and Structuring Tasks and Individual Activities 43
Chapter 5: Resources 223
References 225
Practical Resources 227
"Though I have been working with children for over a decade, I found ideas for materials and ways of presenting skills instruction not previously encountered, and am excited to try some of these ideas with my clients! Recently, I have benefited from working together with Vera Bernard-Opitz, one of the co-authors, with children and their families. Her creativity and love for organization and programming materials shines through in the current offering. It is a practical guide to visual supports, with instructions for implementing the concepts and provides multiple examples of each. Visual Support for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders is a wonderful resource for parents of children with autism and for professionals working with those children."
- Christine Soriano, BCBA, Clinical Director at Pacific Child and Family Associates, Orange County, California
"Cornerstones for teaching in the ASD field - Vera Bernard-Opitz and Anne Häussler have pooled their vast experience and practical know-how to present this well-organized, easy-to-use book. Clear instructions and explanations throughout, with examples as well as tips and ideas to design and structure tasks and activities make this resource an indispensable work companion for parents or professionals involved in the support of persons of all ages who have an ASD or other disability."
- Petra Dillmann, Parent of an adult with Autism; Founder of Autism & Asperger's Namibia
"This must-have book is beyond 'comprehensive'; it's a veritable soup-to-nuts approach to intervention! It also combines the best of both worlds - the structured teaching approach of the TEACCH model and an analytical approach to skill development. The illustrations and step-by-step instructions make setting up the environment and replicating intervention techniques an absolute cinch!"
- Diane Twachtman-Cullen, PhD, CCC-SLP; editor-in-chief, Autism Spectrum Quarterly