“The Five Umbrellas” introduces a system of practical strategies based on over twenty years of research and practice with these unique populations. The framework enables the caretaker to design thousands of individualized visual, tactile, and auditory strategies based on each person’s strengths and presenting challenges. This unique, comprehensive guidebook can be used by both professionals and lay-persons as a flexible blueprint aimed at almost any challenge associated with AS, HFA and NLD. Rather than a collection of exercises “The Five Umbrellas” provides a multi-faceted method of intervention for achieving short and long-term success with children, teens & adults at home, school, work, and other “everyday-world” settings. “The Five Umbrellas” features:
Umbrella 1: The 10-S’s * strengths
* self-esteem
* stress-management
* structure
* sensory challenges
* special topics
* self-regulation
* support
* social skills
* & sleep Umbrella 2: The “Five-Point-W” Method * what/who/which, where, where & how Umbrella 3: Rules
Umbrella 4: Learning Styles
Umbrella 5: Underlying Theories (practical understanding and everyday application of the primary theories underlying AS, HFA and NLD)
Bonus sections: * Designing Sensory Friendly Ecosystems
* Designing and conducting 6, 12, 24, and 48-week social skills groups
* Using Acronyms and Mnemonics “The Five Umbrellas” book includes a CD-ROM containing over 400 pages of printer-friendly figures, graphics and forms designed to complement the book’s group and individual exercises. John M. Ortiz, PhD, was the director and founder of The Asperger’s Syndrome Institute and The Institute of Applied Psychomusicology® until his passing in 2012. A licensed psychologist, consultant, musician, composer, certified clinical hypnotist and psycho-educational trainer, he is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. Dr. Ortiz’s work with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders and NLD took an integral, strength-based approach emphasizing socio-cultural, neuro-biological, and developmental influences, as well as cognitive, behavioral and affective components. His publications include the books: The Five Umbrellas: A Strength-Based Framework for Persons with Asperger’s, High-Functioning Autism, & Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (2010); Asperger, Autism and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder: Screening, Assessing and Diagnosing (2008); The Gifts of Asperger; My Kitty Catsberger; the best-selling The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology; Nurturing Your Child with Music;and audio CDs The Soothing Pulse®, Turning Daydreams to Dreams, and It’s Sleepy Time! He was an active member of various professional organizations including the American Psychological Association and the American Music Therapy Association. Dr. Ortiz earned his PhD from Penn State University; MS from Nova University; and BS from Virginia Commonwealth University. | 
