Books

Bondy, Andrew S. and Lori A. Frost PECS - The Picture Exchange Communication System. Pyramid Educational Consultants, 1996.

(From the back cover) The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a unique augmentative/alternative communication training package developed for use with young children with autism and other social-communication deficits. It has been used with hundreds of young children with autism and other disabilities around the United States and in several other countries. It is a system that does not require complex materials or highly technical training.

Hodgdon, Linda A. Visual Strategies for Improving Communication. Troy: QuirkRoberts, 1996.

(From the back cover) This valuable new book describes numerous strategies to enhance communication interactions for students who experience autism and other moderate to severe communication disorders. This is a "how-to" book, designed to assist teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and parents in devising solutions to the communication and self-management challenges that are common to these students. Full of examples and illustrations, this book describes specific strategies that capitalize on the visual strengths and learning style of this population.

McClannahan, Lynn E., Patricia J. Krantz. Activity Schedules for Children with Autism: Teaching Independent Behavior. Bethesda: Woodbine House, 1999.

(From the back cover) Activity schedules -- simple, yet revolutionary teaching tools --- enable children with autism to accomplish activities with greatly reduced adult supervision.

An activity schedule is a set of pictures or words that cues a child to engage in a sequence of activities. When activity schedules are mastered, children are more self-directed and purposeful in their home, school, and leisure activities -- doing puzzles, interacting with classmates, and preparing food with minimal assistance from adults. In this book, parents and professionals will find detailed instructions and examples to help them:

• Assess a child's readiness to use activity schedules
• Prepare a first photographic activity schedule
• Understand how to use graduated guidance as a teaching tool
• Monitor progress
• Introduce new elements such as choice and use of timers
• Expand social skills
• Progress to written schedules

Activity Schedules for Children with Autism can be used successfully with young children, adolescents, and adults, rewarding them with more control over their lives.

Savner, Jennifer L., Brenda Smith Myles. Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community: Strategies for Individuals with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. Shawnee Mission, Kansas: Autism Asperger Publishing, 2000.

This is a very concise collection of visual supports for use in many aspects of a child's life. While not as detailed or theory-laden as other works, this manual is a great starting point for those just beginning with visual supports, or those who, while they may be familiar with the tools, are looking for fresh ideas. This would make a good addition to a lending library, as the ideas are immediately useful and applicable to almost any program or philosophy.

Videos

Visual Supports in the Classroom for Students with Autism and Related Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Dr. Temple Grandin Video - Sensory Challenges & Answers

Dr. Temple Grandin Video - Visual Thinking of a Person with Autism

Perhaps one of the most noted high-functioning individuals with autism in the world, Temple Grandin, Ph.D. is an active speaker around the world on autism and the author of two books, Emergence: Labled Autistic and Thinking in Pictures. In addition to her career designing livestock handling systems, she has helped thousands of parents and professionals understand how to help individuals with autism/PDD/Asperger's.

In this video, Temple describes to us the way she and many others with autism "think in pictures" and how to adjust for this specific learning style.