Best Books for Autism and ADHD
In this post, I hope to provide a list of the best books to help parents and teachers manage autism and ADHD.
As an experienced mainstream and special education teacher, I am seeing many teachers and parents confused, stressed, and crying out for help as they try to come to grips with the many shades of autism and ADHD.
When I don't understand something, I turn to videos, books, and courses to help me master what I don't understand.
*For the best range of books, games, teaching materials, OT, and sensory needs. National Autism Resources cover it all and are very reasonably priced compared to other providers.
I have worked in an autism setting for eleven years so I am fairly confident with working with children with an autism diagnosis.
I worked very hard to develop my understanding of autism and studied for my Graduate Diploma of Teaching students with ASD while working full-time.
It held me in good stead in 2020 when I was asked to work with a student in a mainstream setting with autism and ADHD. This particular child was extremely anxious and his day consisted of regular meltdowns and aggressive behaviour, which were extremely concerning to his family and school.
It was an extremely successful year and I continue working with him and his classroom teacher this year.
He is a different child now as he willingly works on his tasks and is now understanding consequences to his behaviour, and is more understanding of the perceptions of others in the room. He is more peaceful at home and can now go to camp with the other students.
This year, we are focusing on developing his friendships and we have a SEL program in the classroom, which benefits all the students.
My challenge this year is a new student with an ADHD diagnosis. I listen regularly to Seth Perler who sends my videos weekly through email.
I have also turned to the books listed below for ideas on activities as he is very disengaged.
I will start working with him regularly for one hour a week and hopefully be able to be of assistance to his class teacher. I have had some 'short getting to know you' sessions with him. Absences and lateness to school are just regular occurrences with him.
I came across the Autism Discussion Page on Facebook as I have my own page, Autism Gems, which you are welcome to visit.
I have an Autism blog which is a good read for both parents and teachers.
I found the first three books listed on the Autism Discussion Page and can recommend them as the information is valuable in understanding autism and ADHD, which often co-exist.
If you are a teacher or a parent who is struggling, I recommend these great books listed. Once you start understanding and finding information, your own stress reduces dramatically.
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A Toolbox for Helping Children with Autism Feel Safe, Accepted, and Competent
The Autism Discussion Page green book covers anxiety and stress, challenging behaviors, stretching comfort zones, discipline, and school issues.
It also provides more general teaching and mentoring strategies for coaching children on the autism spectrum in basic daily living strategies to improve their day-to-day lives.
Based on posts on the popular online community page and organised by subject for ease of reference, this book offers an excellent understanding of how children with autism process and experience the world and effective strategies for coping with the challenges.
The Autism Discussion Page on Stress, Anxiety, Shutdowns, and Meltdowns.
Anxiety, meltdowns, and emotional regulation can be hugely challenging for autistic people.
This book is full of proactive strategies for understanding, accepting and respecting the processing
differences in autism.
It contains tools for reducing sensory, social and mental drain, and offers strategies to protect from ongoing stress and anxiety. These help minimize shutdowns and burnout while maximizing self-esteem, autistic identity and mental health.
Learn strategies for matching environmental demands to the person's processing needs, how to support
vulnerabilities, and how to prevent and manage meltdowns while protecting the identity and self-esteem of the individual with autism.
Autism Discussion Page on the Core Challenges of Autism: A toolbox for Helping Children with Autism Feel Safe, Accepted, and Competent
The Autism Discussion Page blue book focuses on the core challenges associated with autism
(cognitive, sensory, social, and emotional) and provides concise, accessible information and simple
tools for supporting children with these vulnerabilities.
Based on posts on the popular online community page and organised by subject for ease of reference,
this book offers an excellent understanding of how children with autism process and experience the
world and effective strategies for coping with the challenges.
The Asperkid's (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens With Asperger Syndrome
SEL From A Distance: Tools and Processes for Anytime, Anywhere
Make social and emotional learning a way of being―all day, every day, and in any setting
The pandemic and subsequent switch to distance learning combined with recent instances of racial
injustice has put a spotlight on the cracks in the practice of social and emotional learning (SEL).
More than ever before, schools are shifting their focus and prioritizing SEL competencies―around the
nation and the world.
The call for compassion has never been greater.
To easily and effortlessly build SEL into virtual, blended, or in-person environments, behavior experts Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan and John Hannigan have drawn together a collection of tools and processes
for SEL that can be applied in any learning environment. In SEL from a Distance, you’ll learn:
- The five SEL competencies and dozens of easy to use processes for building skills in each
- How to identify challenging behaviors and prioritize, define mastery, and teach the SEL skills necessary to address them
- Tips for identifying, teaching, modeling, and reinforcing SEL skills i
n a virtual setting
- Strategies for applying SEL to the needs of your unique learning environment
Let this practical, easy-to-use toolkit guide you through embedding these critical SEL competencies into
your virtual classrooms and make SEL a way of being for you and your students―anytime, anywhere.
Help your child understand and manage their ADHD with engaging activities for kids ages 7 to 12
With the right tools, kids can learn to think positively about their ADHD and see it as a special
asset.
Thriving with ADHD is filled with easy exercises to help your child with the many facets of ADHD,
from self-control and organization to getting tasks done and making friends―so they can flourish at home,
school, and beyond.
Kids will learn to reframe the way they think about ADHD as they discover their own unique talents. With
fun activities that engage their busy minds, this workbook offers a strength-based approach to help your
child gain a better understanding of themselves, their ADHD, and the simple things they can do to feel
more confident and in control.
This ADHD workbook for kids includes:
- An overview of ADHD―Teach your child about common symptoms, different ADHD types, and how ADHD can be an advantage.
- Skill-building exercises―Establish key executive functioning skills, like dealing with anger and frustration, staying focused, controlling impulses, and communicating effectively.
- Action-oriented learning―Help kids thrive in their daily lives with fun lessons for creating a morning routine, making a homework chart, expressing themselves when they’re upset, and more.
This workbook will help guide the way.
ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction--from Childhood through Adulthood
A revolutionary new approach to ADD/ADHD featuring cutting-edge research and strategies to help
readers thrive, by the bestselling authors of the seminal books Driven to Distraction and Delivered
from Distraction
“An inspired road map for living with a distractible brain . . . If you or your child suffer from ADHD,
this book should be on your shelf. It will give you courage and hope.”—Michael Thompson,
Ph.D., New York Times bestselling co-author of Raising Cain
World-renowned authors Dr. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey literally “wrote the book” on
ADD/ADHD more than two decades ago.
Their bestseller, Driven to Distraction, largely introduced this diagnosis to the public and sold more than a
million copies along the way.
Now, most people have heard of ADHD and know someone who may have it.
But lost in the discussion of both childhood and adult diagnosis of ADHD is the potential upside: Many hugely successful entrepreneurs and highly creative people attribute their achievements to ADHD.
Also unknown to most are the recent research developments, including innovations that give a clearer understanding of the ADHD brain in action.
In ADHD 2.0, Drs. Hallowell and Ratey, both of whom have this “variable attention trait,” draw on the latest science to provide both parents and adults with ADHD a plan for minimizing the downside and maximizing the benefits of ADHD at any age.
They offer an arsenal of new strategies and lifestyle hacks for thriving with ADHD, including
• Find the right kind of difficult. Use these behavior assessments to discover the work, activity, or creative outlet best suited to an individual’s unique strengths.
• Reimagine environment. What specific elements to look for—at home, at school, or in the workplace—to enhance the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit inherent in the ADHD mind.
• Embrace innate neurological tendencies. Take advantage of new findings about the brain’s default mode network and cerebellum, which confer major benefits for people with ADHD.
• Tap into the healing power of connection. Tips for establishing and maintaining positive connection “the other Vitamind C” and the best antidote to the negativity that plagues so many people with ADHD.
• Consider medication. Gets the facts about the underlying chemistry, side effects, and proven benefits of all the pharmaceutical options.
Taking Charge of ADHD Fourth Edition: The Complete Authoritative Guide For Parents
The leading parent resource about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its treatment has
now been revised and updated with the latest information and resources.
Prominent authority Russell A. Barkley compassionately guides you to:
*Understand why kids with ADHD act the way they do.
*Get an accurate diagnosis.
*Work with school and health care professionals to find needed support.
*Implement a proven eight-step behavior management plan.
*Build your child's academic and social skills.
*Restore harmony at home.
New to the fourth edition are a chapter on health risks associated with ADHD, the latest information on the
causes of the disorder, current facts on medications, a new discussion of sibling issues, advice for parents who might have ADHD themselves, downloadable practical tools, and much more.
Parent Toolbox: 125 Activities Therapists Use To Reduce Meltdowns, Increase Positive Behaviours and Manage Emotions
Get kids to listen, stay focused, and organised.
This book will help you start dealing with problem behaviours at home.
The Parenting Toolbox is filled with easy-to-use strategies, backed by science to overcome challenges and strengthen parent-child interacton.
Each worksheet and exercise will:
-help kids manage stressful moments and anxieties
-improve social skills with siblings, friends and peers at school
-reduce tantrums and meltdowns and have a more peaceful home life
-diminish the fight time over screen time
You will learn how to focus on changing negative thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes through brief, targeted exercises.
For Autism toys, educational needs, and resources, advice, visit National Autism Resources and check out their comprehensive range.
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