An Early Start for Your Child with Autism: Using Everyday Activities to Help Kids Connect, Communicate, and Learn

Geraldine Dawson, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development at Duke University. She served as Founding Director of the University of Washington Autism Center. An internationally recognized autism expert with a focus on early detection, intervention, and brain plasticity in autism, Dr. Dawson is a passionate advocate for families. She is coauthor of An Early Start for Your Child with Autism and A Parent's Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism.

 

Laurie A. Vismara, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, has spent her research career working closely with families with autism and contributing to the science and program development of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). She is coauthor of An Early Start for Your Child with Autism (for parents) and Coaching Parents of Young Children with Autism (for professionals). Dr. Vismara uses telehealth platforms and travels throughout the United States and internationally to help families, publicly funded programs, and universities develop ESDM in their communities.

"Skills are taught in the context of everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, and mealtimes, which does not add any extra burden to a family’s daily routine….The book is extremely well-organized, well-written, and easy to read which allows for a broad audience of parents and professionals alike….This book does an excellent job providing tangible strategies to add hopefulness in the reader. Throughout the book, emphasis is provided using italicized, bolded, and bulleted points. The book is organized with clear headings, step-by-step activities, activity checklists, examples/anecdotes about children and their families, and handouts (e.g., Refrigerator Lists, Activity Logs)….The ease of use is remarkable and makes this book a resource that caregivers can easily refer back to throughout a child’s early development….An Early Start for Your Child with Autism is an ideal resource for parents of children first receiving a diagnosis of ASD, but also an excellent resource for parents of children already receiving services. The layout of the book is well thought out and each chapter clearly builds on the next. The book is extremely well-organized and can be used in an ’à la carte’ manner for caregivers who may have already learned certain skills covered in earlier chapters. The book is priced extremely competitively….The authors do an excellent job integrating research and theory with practical skills-based strategies….Overall, this is a well-written and extremely relevant resource, which every caregiver of a young child with autism would benefit from regardless of the child’s level of functioning or current skill set."