Product reviews for The Little Book of the Autism Spectrum

I will be recommending this very readable book to the teaching staff at my primary school. Although, as primary teachers, we believe that we have some understanding of the effects of autism on young children and endeavour to make the necessary accommodations, this is the first book I have read about this condition which really enabled me to view things from the autistic child's perspective. Through the process of -˜looking through a child's autism lens' Dr Samantha Todd helps the reader to understand how the world looks, sounds and feels to children who are on the Autism spectrum. The book also gives an insight into the frustrations for these children of experiencing the world differently, but also offers some practical and useful insights and ideas for teachers, parents and others involved in supporting these children and facilitating their ability to manage their challenges.

Children with Autism are still just children and need the same opportunities as everyone else to play, relax, learn and to develop secure relationships. However, as a result of their condition, these children need more help and intervention from their carers to enable them to learn the skills required for communication and social interactions. In this book Dr Todd suggests how educational environments can be developed to enable children on the autism spectrum to fulfil their potential, she makes suggestions for helping develop social skills and communication methods, introduces interventions to address emotional and health difficulties and approaches which help us to understand and teach children appropriate ways to behave.

Reading this book has given me a different -˜lens' through which to view children with autism. It has encouraged me to reflect on autistic children that I have known in the past and those currently at our school and how, with greater understanding and growth of mindset, we can begin to understand the wide range of needs of children with autism and help them to learn to meet the challenges of school life.