The DRM Guide to Disability Resources on the Internet: Sponsors

	DISABILITY RESOURCES ONLINE
	Monitoring, Reviewing and Reporting on Resources For Independent Living
	Updated 8/2010
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While life on the autism spectrum is difficult for the individual with the diagnosis, living with an autistic family member also presents many challenges for parents, siblings, and the extended family. With that thought in mind, we at Disability Resources recommend the following three books to help improve the quality of family life for all concerned:
Seeing Is Believing: Video Self-Modeling For People With Autism And Other Developmental Disabilities
by Tom Buggey
Woodbine House, 2009. Softcover, 129 pages, $19.95
Parents interested in finding ways to help their autistic children acquire new skills or improve existing behaviors might find the concept of video self-modeling (VSM) beneficial. In this concise introduction to VSM, the author explains how watching a video of oneself performing a skill or behavior at one's best helps foster the acquisition and continued practice. This book explores how VSM can improve social skills, math and reading, and other targeted behaviors and offers clear explanations of how to film and edit footage. In addition to step-by-step technical strategies and case study results, Seeing Is Believing shows how VSM can be used alone or in combination with applied behavior analysis.
Autism 24/7: A Family Guide To Learning At Home And In The Community
by Andy Bondy & Lori Frost.
Woodbine House, 2008. Softcover, 177 pages, $19.95.
Families with a newly-diagnosed child or those with an autistic child having difficulty integrating into family life will find Autism 24/7 to be an invaluable resource. Based upon the authors' pyramid approach to educating children with autism and applied behavior analysis, this work offers down-to-earth suggestions to help home-life run smoothly as appropriate behaviors are acquired and shaped. Packed with practical tips, charts, forms for tracking progress, and anecdotal evidence, this book is a "must-read" for all families dealing with autism.
The Autism Transition Guide: Planning The Journey From School To Adult Life
by Carolyn Thorwarth Bruey & Mary Beth Urban.
Woodbine House, 2009. Softcover, 161 pages, $19.95.
Leaving the relative security of childhood and school can be stressful for any student, but for individuals on the autism spectrum, the transition to adulthood and participation in the larger world can be especially daunting. In this manual for parents and educators, two nationally-recognized experts in the field offer a game plan for successful transition. Topics addressed include residential options, post-secondary education, employment, and leisure activities. In addition, methods for including all relevant people from the student, family members, counselors, and teachers are also discussed for optimal success.
-Reviewed by Sally Rosenthal

About the reviewer: A former college librarian and occupational therapist, Sally Rosenthal is a contributing editor and frequent contributor to print publications and websites on the subjects of disability, companion animals, and working dogs.