Future Horizons

Clementine is a sweet little mouse that can't shake the daily "UH OHs" that knot up like pretzels in her belly.

The night before her birthday she makes sure that there will be absolutely no UH OHs with her perfect party plans. Unfortunately, a series of disasters strike. There’s mold in her cheese, she’s run out of icing for her cupcakes, and no one shows up. UH OH! After a monstrous meltdown, Clementine discovers something remarkable about her dreaded UH-OHs and about herself!

In the dynamic world in which we live, anxiety is becoming increasingly more prevalent in our kiddos. The management of anxiety can be challenging for kids and parents alike. The stories of Clementine create a playful environment for kids and parents to explore and face some of the challenges of anxiety with psychological distance. Clementine's journey is a relatable, funny, heartwarming story that invites kids to take a safe step closer to understanding and managing their anxiety with confidence.

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.

A cornucopia of ideas, strategies, and concepts that will apply to virtually any situation! The authors address sensory, communication, physical, and social-emotional issues by increasing desired behaviors and decreasing unwanted behaviors. You will learn how to

Whatever problems you face, you'll find helpful solutions to them in this book. This book should be on every teacher's and parent's bookshelf. Great reference source!

Everyone should reach for the STARS

The goal of The Original S.T.A.R.S. Guidebook is to promote positive sexuality and prevent sexual abuse. This revised second edition of this valuable resource presents new information about sexual orientation, gender identity, cultural diversity, cyber security, and includes even more helpful materials.

It provides assessment tools that can be used to identify strengths and needs of each individual. Each activity can be catered to address specific needs.

The STARS model is specially designed for teaching adolescents and adults with a broad range of disabilities, emphasizing four important areas:

• Understanding Relationships 
• Social Interaction 
• Sexual Awareness
• Assertiveness

It’s Hard To Be A Teen!

It’s even more challenging when we have sensory differences.

People with sensory processing disorder (SPD), a newly identified neurological condition, as well as those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are frequently misunderstood when they over- or under-react to sounds, sights, smells, tastes, touch, movement, balance, and feelings within their bodies. When we’re wired differently in teenagehood and not always able to understand what we’re sensing, the world—and the future— can feel big and scary.

Rachel S. Schneider, MA, MHC, is an SPD advocate and the award-winning author of Sensory Like You and Making Sense: A Guide to Sensory Issues. In this guide, written especially for teens and those who love them, she breaks the challenges of sensory teenagehood into hilarious, thoughtful, and manageable chunks. Through personal stories about her own experiences as an undiagnosed sensory teen as well as tips and tricks to survive and thrive during these years, Rachel reminds us that we’re not alone.

Winner of the IPBA Gold Medal for Nonfiction Series

Winner of the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Reference/Education

In this exciting companion to the beloved classic Ten Things Every Child 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 since 2006, 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.

• Gold Medal, Independent Publisher Book Awards, Nonfiction Series (with Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew)
• Winner, Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Reference/Education
• American Book Fest Best Book Award finalist, Education
• Chanticleer International Book Awards finalist, Instruction and Insight
• Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist, Education
• Foreword Book of the Year finalist, Education

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:

Support autistic children in shared play with peers using this evidence-based curriculum!

Countless children on the autism spectrum spend too much time alone. Without the necessary guidance, they are especially vulnerable to being excluded from their peer group and leading impoverished play lives. First published 20 years ago, this practical guide offers an introduction to the basic principles, tools, and techniques that make up the Integrated Play Groups.^® (IPG) model.

Pamela Wolfberg has translated theory into effective and meaningful practice, giving practitioners, parents, and other caregivers the knowledge and skill to start inclusive peer play groups for children at school, home, and in community settings. The second edition has new research and is heavily influenced by the neurodiversity movement. And while aspects of the IPG model have been updated from earlier versions of this work, the original principles and practices are still the same.

It is inspired from deep engagement with people who identify as autistic or neurodivergent, including professionals, scholars, students, advocates, friends, and family members.

Learn how to start a garden, encourage growth and get great results—for both individuals and their plants!

Vulnerable populations, such as the neurodiverse or physically challenged, are at an elevated risk of suffering from isolation and stress-related illnesses. Gardening is a good answer, as it has been proven to be especially beneficial to physical, cognitive and emotional health.

This book shows how the uninitiated can begin gardening: from the smallest pot of flowers to a large, flourishing plot of land. The guide outlines why gardening is critical to everyone’s health and provides step-by-step instructions on how to go about creating a garden. Specific activities, ways to adapt tasks to accommodate special needs, and benefits gained from the activities are reviewed. Finally, recent findings on the health benefits of gardening are reviewed.

This book gives you all the information and resources you need to get started!

Stemming from a wealth of both professional and personal experience, this guidebook combines real-life stories of challenges and successes with practical ideas for handling autism, every day. Autism consultant Alyson Beytien outlines over 150 tried-and-true techniques for home, school, and community.

Alyson’s three boys cover the whole spectrum of autism—Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism, and classic autism. She understands the wide range of needs these children have and has discovered what helps and what hinders. Covering a full gamut of issues—from picky-eating and echolalia to IEPs and “The Woes of Walmart”—Alyson’s ideas and interventions will inspire and inform all those who are connected to a person with autism. Alyson believes that each day brings more opportunities to learn, problem-solve, and celebrate the joys that children with autism bring to our world—after all, today’s crisis is tomorrow’s humor. Her family’s motto will soon become your everyday mantra: “Improvise and Overcome!”

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’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:

La Dra. Temple Grandin analiza los desafíos cotidianos reales que enfrentan los padres, maestros y niños. En este completo y detallado manual Temple ilustra técnicas que ha descubierto que funcionan en el campo de la educación. Los temas incluyen:

• La importancia de la intervención temprana
• Enseñanza para diferentes estilos de pensamiento
• Desarrollo del talento como herramienta motivacional para los estudiantes
• Mantener expectativas elevadas
•  ¡Y mucho más!

En estas valiosas páginas, Temple ofrece estrategias prácticas y consejos basados en su propia experiencia y en su extensa investigación, destacando lo que debe hacerse y lo que no, proporcionando para ello herramientas probadas que pueden ser implementadas de manera inmediata. Temple sostiene que la educación de los niños en el espectro autista debe centrarse en sus fortalezas, las cuales suelen pasar desapercibidas, para fomentar sus contribuciones únicas al mundo. Como ha señalado Publishers Weekly: “Para los educadores o padres de niños autistas, este será un recurso valioso”.

In the Spanish version of Autism and Education, Dr. Temple Grandin discusses the real issues that parents, teachers, and kids face every day. Here is a concise handbook that illustrates what Temple has found to work in the field of education. Topics include:

• The importance of early intervention
• Teaching for different types of thinking
• Developing talent
• Motivating students
• Keeping high expectations
• And much more!

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 education for kids on the autism spectrum must focus on their overlooked strengths to foster their unique contributions to the world. As Publishers Weekly has noted "For educators or parents of autistic children, this will be a valuable resource."

Successful inclusion in high school is critical for achieving independence as an adult! Even though inclusive education is now the standard for educating students with special needs, inclusion is a still a very new process. Successful inclusion relies on flexibility of parents and educators, and their ability to work together for the sake of the student. Training, collaboration, specialized teaching, long-term planning, and a clear idea of the desired outcome for the student—these are just as important at the high school level as they were in elementary and middle school. This comprehensive guide will help you give your child or student the best possible high school experience. You will learn how to help students navigate the social minefields of friendships and dating, while fostering the executive functioning skills they will need as adults. Expert Sheila Wagner provides the strategies and solutions you’ll need before, during, and after high school.

Topics include:

Plus many more!

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."

Study this book before your children study for college!

Sending a child off to college is a daunting experience for most parents, but if your child is neurodivergent, the challenge is magnified.

Even students with excellent academic preparation face difficulties in higher education, primarily related to communication, social skills, and sensory-based issues. This parent-friendly book, written by parents who also are college professionals, takes fear and mystery out of the college experience.

The new edition takes a detailed look at:

• Changes and challenges for parents in college applications
• New and expanding college programs for autistic students
• The role of parents in the transition from being the advocate to supporting their student in self-advocating

“Targeted for parents supporting autistic and neurodivergent individuals heading toward higher education and professionals within the field, this state-of-the-art resource has a plethora of easy to implement, practical solutions for students applying to, attending, and transitioning out of college.

This is the book I wish my parents had as they were guiding me through my education.” — Stephen Shore, EdD, Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education, Adelphi University

Your child may find it difficult to adapt to new surroundings and learning environments from time to time. School Shadow Guidelines will assist your child to develop appropriate behaviors in school, establish an environment that helps to strengthen academic ability, and help your child to build up on his/her social interaction skills with the goal of independence. Special needs children can benefit from having inclusive education to aid in their development and growth; this is where school shadowing serves vital roles.

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The predictable format, repetition, and routine of these lessons will create a relaxed learning environment, while the variations in the topics will hold students’ attention and help them generalize the reading skills they need to succeed!

Starting with Level 1 (The Cat) and ending with Level 9 (The Lizard), special-educator Joseph Porter has developed an amazing 90 hours of animal-themed, whole-group instruction. There are two student worksheets for each of nine animals, totaling eighteen worksheets. Each worksheet has four variations, and there is a ready-to-go lesson plan for each one!

There are also two sentence-building exercises for each animal theme, which will build students’ observation skills and help them transform those skills into conversation and written language. In addition to the step-by-step lesson plans, Joseph provides a detailed description of what the lessons will look and feel like in the classroom, complete with valuable, first-hand advice. In the back, you’ll find an appendix with numerous suggestions for complementary activities for each animal theme, so you can supplement on the “off” days with art projects, music, books, and videos.

There is even a section containing Data-Collection Sheets, assessment forms that will help you record students’ progress, per IEP standards.

• Emotion management (frustration, anger, anxiety, OCD, social fears and depression)
• Verbal and non verbal communication
• Play and group interaction
• Empathy, friendship and dating
• Conflict management
• Dealing with emergency situations

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: