2018 Teachers' Choice Award! Many researchers, parents, and individuals with Asperger Syndrome and Autism themselves have long understood the role of special interests in teaching and motivating individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet these intense areas of knowledge have not been widely integrated into the learning activities of children on the spectrum. It was author Elisa Gagnon’s insightful and innovative first edition of Power Cards that helped move the use of special interests forward, promoting educators to use them classrooms, families to use them at home and in the community, and research on special interests. The authors are hopeful that the second edition of The Power Card Strategy 2.0: Power Cards: Using Special Interests to Motivate Children and Youth with Asperger Syndrome and Autism will further inspire professionals and parents to incorporate special interests into the lives of learners on the spectrum. About the Authors: Elisa Gagnon, MSEd, has worked with children and youth with autism and high-functioning autism spectrum disorder since 1989 as a special education teacher in a self-contained class for young students who were significantly affected by autism, which inspired her to enter the graduate program specializing in autism at the University of Kansas. In 1998, Elisa took a position at the University of Kansas as coordinator of a federal teacher training grant in order to develop a network of educators trained in autism and high-functioning autism across the state of Kansas. She wrote This is Asperger Syndrome with Brenda Smith Myles. Elisa has also written numerous articles, consulted with school districts nationally, and spoken to groups across the country on characteristics of autism and effective teaching strategies. Today she works as an autism spectrum disorder consultant for a suburban school district in the Kansas City area. Elisa's proudest accomplishment has been the establishment of specialized programs in inclusive schools for students with high functioning autism as well as programs for students severely impacted by autism and behavior associated with their disability. Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, is the recipient of the Autism Society of America's Outstanding Professional Award, the Princeton Fellowship Award, and the Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Developmental Disabilities Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award. Brenda has made over 1500 presentations all over the world and written more than 250 articles and books on ASD. In addition, she served as the co-chair of the National ASD Teacher Standards Committee; and collaborated with the National Professional Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, National Autism Center, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who identified evidenced-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Myles is also on the executive boards of several organizations, including the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research (SCORE) and ASTEP Asperger Syndrome Training and Education Program. Further, in the latest survey conducted by the University of Texas, she was acknowledged as the second most productive applied researcher in ASD in the world. |