Transition or transformation? - John Clements

Young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) can often find the step into adulthood and independence more difficult than their neurotypical peers, particularly where employment is concerned. The authors show, however, that with the right guidance and a positive attitude in schools, young people with ASDs can be every bit as happy and successful as those who are not on the spectrum.

The book describes a programme developed over a number of years by teachers at a school for young people with ASDs, which successfully enabled autistic pupils to achieve their full potential. The authors explain in detail the challenges faced by the young people at the school, and show how, encouraged by a culture of optimism and hopefulness, the programme developed their confidence and skills, with the result that many of them are now in employment. The book also provides an in-depth exploration of a multitude of styles and techniques for building relationships. Concluding with a reflection on leadership and organisational culture, the authors demonstrate that if the approach is adopted by an entire school and not just a handful of teachers, it really can work.

This inspiring and innovative book will be a must for educators at every level, psychologists, academics, and anybody else interested in a positive educational approach that will enable young people with ASDs to get the most out of life.

John Clements is a clinical psychologist of over forty years' standing, specializing in the field of developmental disabilities. He has previously worked for the NHS and university system in the UK and jointly established the UK's first independent psychology practice specializing in issues for people with developmental disabilities. He has also worked as a behavior consultant in California, taking a particular interest in helping people with autism and their families.

So often books describing an educational method or philosophy can seem divorced from the real world of the schoolroom and the school office, with the day-to-day procedures, staffing difficulties and petty bureaucracy involved. This title comes as an exception to that rule, chronicling the "transformation" experienced by a group of students on the autism spectrum, and the teachers and staff in their special school, as a result of making major changes to their way of working. These changes were based firmly on what the latest research has revealed about learners with autism, but you get a sense of how hard it is to turn around school cultures alongside the engaging descriptions of students and their development. The authors are highly experienced practitioners with a wealth of expertise in understanding and managing behaviour problems and challenges to learning. This shows through in their descriptions of the hard work involved in this process of change... Interestingly, past receipt of speech and language therapy emerged as an important

factor in later progress, something that should be highlighted in an era of cuts that have affected this already hard-to-access specialty. In sum, educators will find the attitudes, enthusiasm and practices described by these authors worth emulating.

Educational Review

"Transition or Transformation?: Helping Young People With Autistic Spectrum Disorder Set Out on a Hopeful Road Towards Their Adult Lives" reveals a program developed by teachers concerned with helping autistic spectrum kids make the transition into adulthood, and is a 'must' for any health or educator's collection dealing with these kids. It explores styles for building relationships at school, explains how the program fosters social skills that continue into successful employment and social interactions outside the classroom, and addresses the need for a whole-school approach to helping autistic children integrate into the classroom
The Midwest Book Review

Through case studies and descriptions of 'ecological' approaches they show us how to do that difficult thing: link autism 'theory' to practice. Tbook shows in detail how to:

* get the 'relationship style' right

* build an autism specific curriculum

* promote well-being in young people with autism spectrum condition.

The book has at its core the belief that people with autism can, and the people who will get most out of this book are those who share that belief.

Learning Disability today

Within a school culture of optimism and hope, the program can develop students's confidence and skills in building day-to-day relationships in adulthood. Student stories and staff perspectives accompany techniques for visual support for communication, developing a reflective self, body basics and massage, and reward and punishment. Appendices provide sample staff training materials, and a 25-page paper on the role of educational placement and parents on the school performance of children with ASD.
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