Autism, Asperger Syndrome and related conditions newsletter

Welcome to the JKP Autism, Asperger Syndrome and related conditions newsletter, a monthly update of relevant news and events, entertaining interviews and articles.

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Exclusive Interview with Shana Nichols

Shana Nichols is clinical director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders on Long Island, New York.

She has worked with people with Autism for many years in her role as a clinical psychologist and has recently written the book Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum.

When and why did you first become interested in Autism Spectrum conditions?

When I started college, I knew I was interested in studying psychology and that I wanted to work with children somehow. I had been a swimming instructor, coach and camp counsellor throughout high school and had many children with behavioural or learning difficulties in my groups. Though I had heard of autism, it wasn't until I was in college that I met the young boy who helped shape my career path. I responded to an ad posted in my department by a family who was looking for students to work with their preschooler with autism as part of his home-based ABA program. After my first session I knew that I wanted to focus on autism. Though I no longer work primarily with preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders, those early experiences working intensely with families in their homes before I started graduate school have always stayed with me.

What do you like best about your work?

Most definitely teaching! Whether I am teaching a client about positive self-talk, a parent about how to use visual supports at home, a peer about how to engage a group member in a conversation, or one of my students about how to conduct an assessment, it is incredibly rewarding to see progress and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. I have really enjoyed developing the psychology training program at my Centre over the past few years, working with students who are still in graduate school and those who are completing their post-doctoral training. Our field needs more bright and talented professionals and it is an honour to have the opportunity to be part of their learning experience.

Who or What inspires you?

Passion, creativity, commitment, and the many wonderful children and parents that I have been so fortunate to work with over the years.

What are your hopes for the future?

My hope for the young men and women I work with who have Asperger Syndrome is that the doors to all of life's incredible experiences will open for them. For that to happen, we need to continue to think as a society about support and encouragement, acceptance, and celebration of differences.

What is your favourite book or film?

My mother tells me I was born with a book in my hands, and I have always been an insatiable reader. Like many Canadian girls I grew up madly in love with Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, wanting to be Anne Shirley, the spunky red-haired orphan with the wild imagination: "Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive—it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

I have always loved stories about creative, strong, gutsy heroines such as Anne Shirley and Jo March from Little Women, and I try to bring that energy to my work with girls and young women with ASDs—embracing challenges, overcoming obstacles, and finding a "kindred spirit" along the way.

Copyright © Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2008

Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum is released in December and now available for purchase. See the below link for more details.

More details of the book

JKP News

An article on JKP Book All Dogs Have ADHD has recently been posted on The Times Online School Gate blog.

An article on JKP Book Losing Clive to Younger onset Dementia has recently been posted on The Times Online.

A great review of JKP book Hope for the Spectrum of Autism has been posted by The Mom Salon.

Other News

The Council for Disabled Children and partners will act as the national transition support team for the AHDC transition support programme.

Scientists have suggested a possible link between Autism and the level of rainfall.

The NAS has launched a guide to improve care workers understanding of autism.

Content links

• Interview: Shana Nichols
• Autism Books
• News
• Article: Speech-Language Therapy and Autism
• Useful dates
• Unsubscribe info

JKP Autism books

Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum:
What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-Teen and Teenage Years
Shana Nichols

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A Book About What Autism Can Be Like
Sue Adams

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Hints and Tips for Helping Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders:
Useful Strategies for Home, School, and the Community
Dion E. Betts and Nancy J. Patrick

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Asperger Syndrome and Employment:
What People with Asperger Syndrome Really Really Want
Sarah Hendrickx

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Quick, Easy and Effective Behaviour Management Ideas for the Classroom
Nicola S. Morgan

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Learning without School:
Home Education
Ross Mountney

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Adults on the Autism Spectrum Leave the Nest:
Achieving Supported Independence
Nancy Perry

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The Lovable Liam Books
Jane Whelen Banks

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Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders:
Why They Work When They Do, Why They Don't When They Don't
Kenneth J. Aitken

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The Asperger Couple's Workbook:
Practical Advice and Activities for Couples and Counsellors
Maxine Aston

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Fun with Messy Play:
Ideas and Activities for Children with Special Needs
Tracey Beckerleg

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Hope for the Autism Spectrum:
A Mother and Son Journey of Insight and Biomedical Intervention
Sally Kirk

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Challenging the Gifted Child:
An Open Approach to Working with Advanced Young Readers
Margaret Stevens

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The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures:
Autism Through Art
Eileen Miller

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Speech-Language Therapy and Autism,
an article by JKP author Heather MacKenzie

One of the major areas of concern for children on the autism spectrum is communication skills. Communication involves a huge array of knowledge and skills but, in its simplest form, it involves one person trying to convey information and another person understanding that message. Communication can occur through speaking, using sign language or visual symbols (like picture communication symbols), through tone of voice, writing, body language and a whole array of other verbal and nonverbal means.

Communication is central to our lives. It is the essence of being a human being. Communication helps us form relationships with other people and learn more about the world. It also ensures that we let others know our thoughts and wishes. When a child has developed communication skills that others can understand, it advances his social development and helps reduce behaviour problems.

Speech-language therapists have specialized knowledge in the area of communication skills and development. They understand the different forms of communication people may use and their content and purposes. Speech-language therapists also know how to help children and adults overcome difficulties with communication.

What can a speech-language therapist do for someone with autism?
He or she can help parents and carers:
1. Understand the communication challenges the child with autism faces, his/her strengths and how s/he currently attempts to get his/her message across.

2. Develop different strategies that can form and enhance these attempts into more easily understandable communication. This process may involve:

1. developing a clearer understanding of what different behaviours mean and then assigning the appropriate meaning to them.
   
2. helping the child with autism use talking or sign language, picture symbols and/or printed words and, sometimes, communication devices or a combination of these different means.
   
3. teaching the child to form speech sounds, words and sentences.

3. Develop strategies to help the child understand spoken language more completely and accurately. This process will involve using picture symbols and/or printed words even if the child is able to talk. Being able to talk does not necessarily mean that s/he understands everything – people with autism often say words, phrases and sentences that they do not fully understand. Using picture symbols or printed words is particularly important for the person with autism because s/he typically has strengths in visual attention and memory – literally, seeing is believing to the person with autism. Even if you believe that s/he understands everything you say, always use some back-up with picture and/or written symbols.

Copyright © Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2008

Heather Mackenzie is the author of Reaching and Teaching the Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. See the below link for more details.

More details of the book

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