Educating Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Everything you need to know to educate students with autism Every 20 minutes, another child is diagnosed with autism. Are you ready to meet this growing educational challenge? This authoritative guide is for practitioners—early interventionists, teachers, school counselors, psychologists—who are committed to the education and dignity of students with autism in preschool and elementary grades. Each chapter focuses on a critical issue and offers solutions, including: Improving communication, social, generalization and self-management skills Designing instruction, intervention, and assessment Including families in developing goals and interventions Using students’ special interests to deliver instruction Understanding and preventing challenging behavior Evaluating practices to promote successful outcomes for students, families and practitioners

Erin E. Barton, PhD, BCBA-D, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado Denver. She teaches courses in Early Childhood Special Education on evidence-based assessment and intervention practices for young children with special needs and their families. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has worked with children and families in school, home, and clinic settings. Prior to her current position, she was a special education teacher for the Chicago Public Schools where she taught young children with autism. Dr. Barton specializes in the education of young children with developmental disabilities in inclusive and naturalistic settings. Her research interests include early intervention and identification of young children with autism, behavioral interventions for including young children with developmental disabilities in general education classrooms, and professional development of early childhood special education teachers. She has published several papers on evidence-based practices for young children with autism. Also, she regularly provides professional development to programs, school, districts, and states on evidence-based, early intervention practices for young children with special needs and their families.

Acknowledgments
About the Authors
1. Classification of Autism in Young Children
2. Early Detection and Medical Classification
3. Educational Eligibility
4. Writing Effective Educational Goals
5. Essential Components of Educational Programs
6. Designing and Evaluating Instruction Based on Student Skills and Responses
7. Evidence-Based Strategies for Teaching Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Skill Acquisition and Fluency
8. Evidence-based Strategies for Maintenance, Generalization, and Self-management
9. Evidence-based Practices for Communication Skill Acquisition
10. Evidence-based Practices for Social Skill Acquisition
11. Designing Instruction and Supports to Prevent and Decrease Problem Behavior
12. Maximizing Implementation of Evidence-Based Strategies in the Classroom
Master List of Acronyms
NASP References
Index