Learners on the Autism Spectrum

Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D., is professor emerita at San Francisco State University where she coordinated autism spectrum studies and served on faculty in special education with the joint doctoral program at the University of California, Berkeley. Having originated the Integrated Play Groups model and founded the Autism Collective for Peer Socialization, Play and Imagination, she has an active international agenda leading research, training, and global outreach to advance social inclusion, play, and creative expression as fundamental human rights. Kari Dunn Buron, MS, worked with autistic students in K-12 special education for over 30 years. She created an autism certificate program for educators at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Kari received her MS degree in behavior disorders and learning disorders from Illinois State University, where she was recently inducted into the Education Department Hall of Fame. Kari was one of the founding members of the MN Autism Network, a statewide group of educators, and is a past president of the Autism Society of Minnesota.

List of Contributors Acknowledgements Introduction I. Foundations of Understanding and Support 1. Re-presenting Autism and Evidence-Based Practice: Tenets of Competent, Humanistic and Meaningful Support 2. Autism Spectrum: An Overview 3. Brain–Behavior Connections in Autism 4. Sensory Processing: Identifying Patterns and Designing Support Strategies 5. Getting a Good Start: Effective Practices in Early Intervention 6. Creating Inclusive Environments for Autistic Learners: Universal Design for Learning 7. Structured Teaching and Environmental Supports 8. Teaching a Different Way of Behaving: Positive Behavior Supports 9. Personal Perspectives and Autistic Authority 10. Finding Our Way: Experiences of an African American Parent and her Autistic Son II. Guiding Learning, Development and Socialization 11. Social Communication and Language Development in Autistic Leaners 12. An In-Depth Discussion of Emotion Regulation and Autism 13. Using Interactive Multi-Media Technology to Teach about Emotions 14. Harnessing the Power of Special Interest Areas at Home and School 15. Play, Friendships and Autism: Co-creating a Culture of Inclusion with Peers 16. Social Cognition as a Lens for Understanding, Supporting and Teaching Autistic Learners 17. Transitioning to Adulthood for Secondary Students on the Autism Spectrum 18. Growing up with Autism: Perspectives of a Parent and Son 19. Educational Experiences Across the Lifespan: A Personal Perspective