Future Horizons

In Autism Is the Future, Marlo Payne Thurman reveals how cognitive differences are the constructing pieces in understanding those with autism. Through her findings, she shows how those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constantly challenge assumptions about intelligence and measuring intelligence.

Thurman proposes that sensory and cognitive development have evolved together into a very different form of intelligence in those with ASD, and it should be viewed not as a disability but instead as a difference to be celebrated and followed.

Thurman began working with children diagnosed with ASD in 1986. With group home management and intensive ABA therapy in her early career, she developed a special interest in meeting the unique needs of those individuals who were asynchronously developed into the realms of the "ASD savant." Most recently, she completed a landmark study proposing an alternative sensory-cognitive difference theory based on her extensive discussions and interactions with diagnosed adults. This research was the foundation for this book.

Diagnosed with autism at age fifty, Anita Lesko always knew something was different—but never let that stop her. In her incredible story, she describes how she went from an uncoordinated “misfit” kid to the successful and thriving adult she is today!

Lesko shares ALL her secrets to success, including:

And most importantly, patience and perseverance.

Some of the highlights of Anita’s life story include:

Through the framework of her impressive life, Lesko proves that you can do anything you set your mind to—and teaches you how to do it yourself.

Los temas útiles incluyen:

Winner of a 2008 Teachers’ Choice Award! Many children, especially those with developmental delays, have trouble understanding or expressing their feelings. This can result in difficulty with anger management. Listing possible responses to situations—and the likely outcome of each one—allows the child to make informed decisions about which responses to choose (e.g., walking away vs. hitting). This book provides a guide for caregivers along with a workbook portion that asks children to identify situations that trigger their anger, and helps them find appropriate ways to respond.

Helpful topics include:

Get your kids moving and giggling with the delightful suggestions in A Year of Mini-Moves for the In-Sync Child created by Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman. Here are fifty-two weekly schedules that will incorporate quick movement activities into your day. These whimsical digital pages can also be printed and posted to brighten your walls at the clinic, at home and at school.

Pediatricians, teachers and other early childhood specialists now recognize that early motor development is one of the most important factors in the physical, emotional, academic and overall success of the child. Each of these mini-moves addresses one or more sensory, perceptual and visual motor skills that are the foundation of all future physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

Use these whimsical mini-moves at the beginning of your day or therapy session, at transition times or as inspiration for a more elaborate movement experience. Adapt each move to suit the abilities of the children.

The objective of the e-book A Year of Mini-Moves for the In-Sync Child is to reinforce the brain-body connection, while giving the child a moving experience that will last a lifetime!

Temple Grandin draws on her own experience to deliver an essential guidebook for guiding and nurturing autistic individuals. She gets to the REAL issues of autistics—the ones parents, teachers, and individuals on the spectrum face every day. Most autistic individuals deal with a variety of sensory differences. Dr. Grandin sheds light on the best ways to adapt and thrive.

In these helpful pages, Dr. Grandin offers do’s and don’ts, practical strategies, and try-it-now tips, all based on her insider perspective and extensive research. Interestingly, she argues that individuals on the autism spectrum must focus on their overlooked strengths to foster their unique contributions to the world. She has packed a wealth of knowledge into this book, which serves as an excellent reference resource for the parents, educators and caregivers on how to manage sensory issues.

Topics include:

• How to deal with sensory overloads, withdrawals and sensitivities
• Learning how to help desensitize individuals to sensory stimulations
• Discovering simple strategies that can have amazing effects
• Best practices for incorporating sensory integration
• And much more!

If you have an out-of-sync grandchild and are looking for enjoyable interactions, this book is for you. It is part of the “Out-of-Sync" Series, intended to help parents, teachers, relatives, and professionals support kids with sensory processing differences.

Good Times with Out-of-Sync Grandkids is a guide for making memories. It includes more than fifty activities that the fictional Grammy and Pops have enjoyed over the years with their fictional grandchildren, Carrie, Darwin, and Edward. You may have met the kids in The Out-of-Sync Family: A Story about Sensory Differences (Sensory World, 2023).

The characters are imaginary, but their experiences are real, coming from the author’s life as a child, babysitter, mother, preschool teacher, special education consultant, Cub Scout leader, and grandparent. This book may trigger happy memories of what you, as a child, loved to do with your grandparents and may help you reanimate those shared experiences, adapting them to match your grandchild’s age, interest, and sensory differences.

Activities in the book address an out-of-sync child’s:

• Showing overresponsivity—or underresponsivity—to touch and movement
• Craving—or avoiding—sensory stimulation
• Being constantly—or hardly ever—on the go
• Confusion by what he or she hears, sees, feels, tastes, and smells
• Low energy/low muscle tone
• Lacking energy/being limp
• Tendency to trip on air, be clumsy and break things
• Being difficult to understand when speaking 
• Acting socially awkward
• Being loving and kind, but anxious and lacking self-confidence

The Social Skills Picture Book, Winner of an iParenting Media Award - now in Spanish!

Ganador de un Premio de Medios de Comunicación iParenting (iParenting Media Award), este libro utiliza fotos de estudiantes en una variedad de situaciones de la vida real. El formato realista sirve de refuerzo visual para niños con trastornos del espectro autista y otros trastornos del desarrollo a enseñarles comportamientos sociales adecuados. Las fotos ilustran la "forma correcta" y la "forma incorrecta" de actuar en cada situación, y las consecuencias positivas y/o negativas de cada una. Los Modelos—padres, profesores, etc.—pueden explicar cada situación y hacer preguntas tales como “¿Qué está pasando aquí?” Entonces, los niños pueden hacer el papel de las habilidades que tienen uno a uno con un adulto o en un grupo hasta que tienen la suficiente confianza como para practicarlo en interacciones en la vida real.

Este libro enseña habilidades tan importantes como:

Winner of the IPBA Gold Medal for Nonfiction Series (with Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew) and Winner of the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Reference/Education.

In this exciting companion to the beloved classic Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew, the unique perspective of an autistic child’s voice describes for teachers, in the classroom and in the larger community, how to understand thinking and processing patterns common in autism, how to shape an environment conducive to their learning style, and how to communicate with autistic learners of all ages in functional, meaningful ways.

It's the guidebook every educator and family member, worldwide, needs to create effective and inclusive settings where child and adult are both teachers and learners. This vibrantly updated and expanded edition includes an imaginative, all-new guide adaptable for group discussion, self-reflection, or self-expression, an afterword from the author’s autistic son, and added perspective from autistic adults about their experiences in education. Continuously in print for 16 years, and translated into multiple languages, Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew brings fresh perspective to a new generation of educators and autistic learners.

Combining their years of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum, both here and 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 colorful 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 math, to social behavior.

¡Ganador de un premio 2008 Teachers' Choice Award! La ansiedad puede ser debilitante para cualquiera, pero puede ser especialmente confusa para un niño. Aprender sobre las emociones ayuda a los niños a reconocer las conexiones entre pensar y sentir, y los efectos fisiológicos de la ansiedad en el cuerpo (sudoración, aumento del ritmo cardíaco, llanto, etc.). Este libro proporciona una guía para cuidadores junto con una sección de libro de trabajo que permite a los niños identificar situaciones que provocan ansiedad y les enseña cómo percibirlos de manera diferente.

Los temas útiles incluyen:

Do you have a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or related special needs for your child? Are you asking yourself…

This 25th anniversary edition includes new cooking techniques (think Instant Pot), new recipes, and new research. Special Diets for Special Kids provides delicious ways to package the benefits food can provide for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Lisa Lewis' short anecdotes at the beginning of many of the recipes make for entertaining reading. Lewis' son has autism and has been on a GFCF diet for many years. The author has a talent for explaining the scientific basis of digestive and absorptive problems in autistic children in ways that are easy for overwhelmed parents to understand.

Although many educators associate deficits in executive function (EF) skills with students on the autism spectrum, the reality is that many young people struggle with EF. In fact, it is accurate to say that all young people are learning EF skills as these skills are not fully developed until people are well into their twenties. In addition, several clinical conditions, such as attention deficit disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, intellectual disability, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social communication disorder, specific learning disability, Tourette Syndrome, and traumatic brain injury often have components of EF challenges.

Additionally, individuals with anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia may also exhibit deficits in EF. The good news is that there are evidence-based strategies that can be used at home, in school, in the community, and in work situations that can significantly improve the executive functioning of individuals who struggle in this area. FLIPP the Switch: Strengthen Executive Function Skills is a practical book written for parents and educators by parents and educators. The target audience is anyone who works with young people ages 3-22 who have difficulties with organization, flexibility, impulsiveness, or problem-solving. Readers will learn about executive function (EF) and how EF skills contribute to success in school, at home, and at work. Most importantly, readers receive specific instructions, templates, and how-to scenarios for 25 strategies with five strategies for each of the five FLIPP components flexibility, leveled emotionality, impulse control, planning, and problem solving. This book is indispensable for anyone who wants to minimize behavior challenges, maximize on-task behavior, and support positive social-emotional development in a child or student.

Children will learn linguistic, cognitive, and social/emotional skills at the same time sensory integration and motor skills are being worked on and refined.

This was the FIRST children’s book by these two authors. Now in its tenth year and second edition, Temple Did It and I Can Too! is still helping to guide and inspire kids to reach their full potential.

Winner of a 2015 Academic’s Choice Award, this book explains the obstacles Dr. Temple Grandin faced while growing up, the rules she followed to overcome them, and her path to becoming a leading animal scientist and a world-famous advocate for those with autism.

This colorful book even includes worksheets for kids to identify and reach their goals!

Galardonado con el símbolo de excelencia de la revista “Exceptional Parent magazine” para padres excepcionales

Seleccionado como uno de los 10 mejores libros de la revista sobre crianza de niños con discapacidades “Brain Child”

Seleccionado como uno de los 19 libros que los bibliotecarios dicen que cambió sus vidas

Destacado en la revista “Oprah” como uno de los libros que marcó la diferencia con Rachel Griffiths

La edición revisada del innovador libro de 1998 que introdujo el Trastorno del procesamiento sensorial (SPD) a padres, maestros y otros no especialistas. SPD es un problema común y frecuentemente diagnosticado erróneamente en el cual el sistema nervioso central malinterpreta los mensajes de los sentidos. Esta nueva edición presenta información adicional sobre déficits visuales y auditivos, dificultades de habilidades motoras, TDAH, autismo, síndrome de Asperger y otros trastornos relacionados.

This book provides educators with detailed information about executive function skills and evidence-based practices that can be used with students with autism spectrum disorder who experience executive function (EF) deficits to be more successful in school, at home, in the community, and in the future.

Educators often struggle with how to effectively teach students who grasp concepts but are unable to succeed in school or other learning environments. Although these students frequently experience EF deficits, including flexibility, managing emotions, controlling impulses, planning, and problem-solving, educators are given no training in how to remedy these deficits. Educators need evidence-based strategies to create supportive learning environments that build executive function skills students can incorporate into everyday life.

FLIPP 2.0 provides a blueprint for identifying the executive function skills that students need for future success, along with specific strategies that will support kindergarten through high school students in building strong, long-term gains in executive function skills. FLIPP 2.0 expands upon the information provided in the first book, FLIPP The Switch, by providing more complex strategies that can be implemented in the classroom, with detailed instructions for both educators and students on how to incorporate them into the school day. Many students struggle in school and in post-school life, not because they lack academic skills, but because they lack the EF skills necessary to access instruction and support performance. FLIPP 2.0 illustrates how students of all ages can learn to generalize these skills into new environments.

With FLIPP 2.0, readers will gain a deeper understanding of executive function skills and deficits. They will learn how evidence-based practices can be used to increase the EF skills of students of all ages and skill levels. Most importantly, they will learn a specific set of steps for gradually releasing control to students, so that students are eventually able to take responsibility for their own learning and success.

Join the sensory revolution.

This life-changing guide will help bridge the gap between understanding sensory wellness and putting it into practice. Drawing on the foundations of neuroscience, personal reflection, and practical strategies, Sensory Wellness invites readers to explore the profound impact of sensory input on their overall well-being.

The journey begins with an introduction to the concept of sensory wellness, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with our internal sensory experiences to support regulation and self-awareness. The author, an occupational therapist specializing in sensory processing, shares expert guidance with insightful anecdotes showing how sensory health can elevate us from merely surviving to flourishing.

Section Two delves into the intricacies of various sensory systems. Each chapter provides a detailed overview of the development, function, and impact of these systems on our daily lives. Through exercises and practical tips, it encourages readers to identify their sensory preferences and integrate sensory regulation strategies into their routines.

The book concludes by offering tools and techniques to enhance regulation, resilience, and overall health. By embracing sensory wellness, readers can foster deeper connections with themselves and others, improving relationships and as well as work performance.

In Sensory Wellness, you will discover how tuning into your body's signals and adjusting your sensory environment can lead to a more connected, joyful life. Whether you are a parent, educator, therapist, or simply someone interested in improving your sensory health, this book provides valuable insights and techniques to help you grow.

Winner of an iParenting Media Award - now in Spanish!

This picture book appeals to the visual strengths of students on the autism spectrum, with color photos of students demonstrating various social skills in the correct (and sometimes incorrect) way. The skills depicted are meant to be read, role-played, corrected when necessary, role-played some more and, finally, to be practiced by the student in real-life social situations. “Thought bubbles” show what people are thinking during these interactions (not always what you hoped!). Practical, engaging, and down-to-earth, this is a valuable tool to help teens navigate the often-mysterious rules of social conduct in everyday situations. Helpful sections include:

This book’s vivid illustrations and charming storyline will foster tolerance and understanding among peers, while the printable coloring pages will enlighten and engage learners!

My Friend with Autism, Enhanced Edition is the exceptional result of parent Beverly Bishop’s determination to educate her son’s classmates about autism, thus helping her son fit in at school. A peer narrator explains that his friend with autism is good at some things and not so good at others—just like everyone else! In an informative, positive tone, he addresses issues such as:

Love, Always is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the journey of a mom and her child with special needs.

It is a simple, heartfelt story that follows the life of a child with autism through his imaginative journey as he seeks to be accepted, loved and celebrated for his strengths and abilities. In addition to the qualities that make children on the autism spectrum exceptional, they all have hopes, dreams and feelings of belonging that all children desire.

Love Always is a powerful reminder that with a little help from each of us, children with autism can fulfill their dreams. Although raising a child with special needs is hard, learning to let them go out into the world and prove that they will do well is even tougher. Jillian Ma wrote this book as "a heartfelt thank you to all the parents and parent figures out there, may you continue to be the shining light in all our lives."

Basic Skills Checklists is an easy-to-use, informal assessment tool that provides a systematic method for tracking student skills.

This book focuses on pre-academic, readiness, and academic skills expected from learners in the early elementary years. Author and experienced teacher Marlene Breitenbach developed these helpful checklists in special-needs and inclusive classrooms while serving children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The checklists have been used by classroom and resource teachers, special educators and paraprofessionals. Simple, customizable charts make it easy to record children’s progress in skill areas such as basic concepts, early literacy and math, fine motor, and independent school routines. This flexible tool is great for one-on-one or group assessment!

These checklists will help educators: