Books about Functioning from Amazon.com

Executive functions are the cognitive skills that help us manage our lives and be successful Children with weak executive skills, despite their best intentions, often do their homework but forget to turn it in, wait until the last minute to start a project, lose things, or have a room that looks like a dump! The good news is that parents can do a lot to support and train their children to manage these frustrating and stressful weaknesses.

Late, Lost, and Unprepared is a must-have book for parents of children from primary school through high school who struggle with:

Impulse Control (taking turns, interrupting others, running off)

Cognitive Flexibility (adapting to new situations, transitions, handling frustrations)

Initiation (starting homework, chores, and major projects)

Working Memory (following directions, note-taking, reading and retaining info)

Planning & Organizing (completing and turning in homework, juggling schedules)

Self-monitoring (making careless errors, staying on topic, getting into trouble but not understanding why)

Written by clinical psychologists, Late, Lost, and Unprepared emphasizes the need for a two-pronged approach to intervention: 1) helping the child to manage demands in the short run, and 2) building independent skills for long-term self-management. Full of encouragement and practical strategies, the book s organization--short chapters with overviews, summaries, case studies, tips, and definitions--makes it easy to grasp concepts quickly and get started.

Part I, What You Need to Know, provides information about: what executive functions are and how weaknesses in these skills affect development; the impact of weak executive function on children's emotional lives and their families; how professionals assess executive function problems; and associated conditions (AD/HD--children with an AD/HD diagnosis always have executive skills issues--learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, Tourette syndrome, etc.).

Part II discusses What You Can Do About It including how to change behavior and set reasonable expectations, and offers specific intervention strategies for children of different ages, varying needs, and profiles.

Late, Lost, and Unprepared is chockful of ideas for helping your child or student be productive and independent--today and in the future..
Price: $12.98 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Finally a social skills program that covers all the bases!

Whether it's learning how long one can look at somebody without being accused of staring; how to shift topics, despite one's desire to stick with that all-consuming special interest; how to say no to peer pressure; or dealing with a sensitive topic - it's all here...and more. In this comprehensive and user-friendly book, the author translates years of experience working with students with Asperger Syndrome and social-communication difficulties. After brief introductory chapters on skills to target, instructional strategies, behavior management, promoting generalization, etc., as well as a special chapter by Brenda Smith Myles on relevant characteristics of autism spectrum disorders, the reader is presented with the essence of this must-have resource: 70 of the skills that most commonly cause difficulty for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and social-communication problems. The presentation of each skill consists of a reproducible skill handout, as well as activity sheets listing ways teachers and parents can demonstrate, practice, and reinforce the skill in the classroom and at home. A concluding chapter on promoting peer acceptance offers sensitivity training programs for both students of various age groups and school staff, making this a complete social skills training package for students of all ages..
Price: $26.90 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This career planning guide is written specifically for high-functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum, their families, teachers, and counselors The two authors weave together a unique blend of information and advice based on personal experiences. Temple Grandin draws from her own experience with autism spectrum disorders and her professional career, and Kate Duffy uses her expertise on employment issues and the mother of two teenagers with autistic-like behaviors. The result is an extremely useful and practical book that introduces step-by-step processes for the job search with a major section on the impact ASD has in the workplace, including managing sensory problems, how to nurture and turn talents and special interests into paid work, jobs that are particularly suited to individuals on the spectrum, and much more. First-hand accounts of job experiences and advice from individuals representing a broad range of careers particularly suited for high-functioning individuals on the autism spectrum round off this exciting new resource..
Price: $12.48 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This important new book offers a definitive program with forms, exercises, and guides for the student It also presents significant educational guidance and supportive assistance to caregivers and teachers..
Price: $27.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Discover the unique characteristics and abilities of children with Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism – from A to Z. This book, laid out in an A-to-Z format, celebrates the extraordinary gifts and unique perspectives that ASD children possess. Each page of this playful alphabet book presents one of the children’s many talents and abilities. The kid-friendly illustrations and clever text create a positive portrayal of children with ASD. Designed to help the children with ASD grow in self-awareness of their many capabilities, I Am Utterly Unique also encourages dialogue with siblings, friends, parents and teachers..
Price: $12.16 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism are detected earlier and more accurately today than ever before. Children and teens with these disorders often stand out for their precocious intelligence and language abilities--yet profound social difficulties can limit every aspect of their lives. This hopeful, compassionate guide shows parents how to work with their child's unique impairments and capabilities to help him or her learn to engage more fully with the world and live as self-sufficiently as possible. From leading experts in the field, the book is packed with practical ideas for helping children relate more comfortably to peers,learn the rules of appropriate behavior, and participate more fully in school and family life. It also explains what scientists currently know about autistic spectrum disorders and how they are diagnosed and treated. Real-life success stories, problem-solving ideas, and matter-of-fact advice on everything from educational placements to career planning make this an indispensable reference that families will turn to again and again.
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Price: $10.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Children and youth with Asperger Syndrome, high-functioning autism (HFA), and pervasive developmental disorders-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and related exceptionalities have great potential, but all too often their abilities are not realized. "Simple Strategies that Work!" provides ideas and suggestions that teachers can use to help a student with AS/HFA on the road to success. The book discusses problems that arise in the classroom and how teachers can adjust the classroom to accommodate, while not interfering with normal classroom routines. Not bogged down with jargon, the book includes tables and boxes for quick reference and clear meaning. Also included is information on what can cause anxiety for the AS/HFA student, how this can lead to decreased academic and social performance, decreased attention to task, and potential increases in behavior problems, and what the teacher can do to assist..
Price: $12.13 [Notify me when price goes down.]

When Sally Kirk's son, Will, was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), she did everything she could to understand his condition and to find ways of improving his quality of life. In this book, Sally shares the story of her journey with Will and how her discovery of biomedical interventions significantly improved his behavior and changed their lives for the better. This positive, practical book tells a personal story of hope and provides a wealth of essential information on biodmedical interventions for parents of children on the autism spectrum..
Price: $15.39 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The title says it all! Super Skills: A Social Skills Group Program for Children with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and Related Challenges is SUPER at many levels. Based on a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the unique characteristics of individuals with ASD, Judy Coucouvanis presents 30 lessons grouped under four types of skills necessary for social success: fundamental skills, social initiation skills, getting along with others, and social response skills. Each lesson is highly structured and organized, making it easy for even inexperienced teachers and other group leaders to follow and implement successfully. A series of practical checklists and other instruments provide a solid foundation for assessing students’ social skills levels and subsequent planning..
Price: $25.75 [Notify me when price goes down.]

S.O.S. Social Skills in Our Schools: A Social Skills Program for Verbal Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Their Typical Peers by Michelle Dunn is an innovative approach to social skills learning. Despite the often serious deficits children with pervasive developmental disorders exhibit, most schools do not provide social skills intervention through trained therapists to these students. However, simply exposing children with PDD to typically developing children does little to develop their social skills. They do not learn appropriate social interaction by “osmosis.” The widely tested S.O.S. program addresses this issue head-on. Operating on a schoolwide basis, the S.O.S. program consists of four major components that come together to increase the social skills of children with PDD as well as create tolerance and a sense of fairness among typical children: Pull-out social skills lessons for children with PDD, social skills lessons in the classroom for all children, peer mentoring and parent information.
Price: $25.84 [Notify me when price goes down.]