Make free time fun for kids with ASD! Free time should be part of the day that all kids look forward to. But for many children on the autism spectrum, it can be a painfully unstructured part of the day that causes anxiety and fear. This book provides comprehensive, structured strategies to help adults introduce meaningful activities to ASD children, which they can practice at school or at home. The first half of the book provides forms and charts that will help adults assess the child’s sensory needs, select age-appropriate activities, and then determine level of interest in specific activities. The second half provides numerous “Activity Cards" for going to the park, playing games, listening to music, and many more! This detailed guide also covers: The components of leisure development Assessing leisure patterns, skills, and preferences Activities that require minimal supervision Community activities Ongoing assessment And more! The authors have each worked in the field of autism for over twenty years. This experience, along with backgrounds in therapeutic recreation, special education, general education, and psychology, provide the foundation for the development of the concepts and approaches presented in Developing Leisure Time Skills for Persons with Autism. Phyllis Coyne, MS, has been an autism consultant to school districts for over twenty years. She is the co-author of three books on autism spectrum disorders. During this time, she has trained and consulted with thousands of staff and parents in effective techniques for supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Previous to being an Autism Specialist and special education teacher, Phyllis worked in inclusive outdoor adventure recreation, coordinated a model demonstration project on recreation for adolescents with developmental disabilities, and was a Therapeutic Recreation consultant in North Carolina and Oregon. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society, the editorial board of the Journal of Leisurability, and the Leisure Committee of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH).
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