Solving Behavior Problems in Autism: Improving Communication with Visual Strategies

Excellent book for teachers looking to solve problems for students with issues or to help isolate and curb behavior issues. The guide is easy to read and would be beneficial for educators and parents.

easy to understand, practical strategies, insightful, reminds us that behavior is the way children communicate when they are frustrated or lack other communicative abilities...

There are several books about behavior problems on the market, but this one deals specifically with the types of problems associated with autism. Besides explaining how to lessen these behavioral problems, this book teaches you to understand the root of the behavior which means you can apply your new found knowledge in endless ways. This book is based a lot on using visual strategies to improve communication skills, understanding and self management. Their are clear and useful guidelines for everything like how to communicate "NO" and proper ways to express emotions.My favorite chapters in this book are "Ten Keys to Becoming a Better Communication Partner" (I think we ALL can benefit from that!), "Seven Critical Communication Skills to Teach", and "Strategies to Help Students Control their Environments". The book is literally overflowing with great information and ideas.Teachers, parents and caregivers will benefit greatly from the information contained in this book. I am grateful for the new approaches it has given me for improving my son's everyday life. (...)

Linda Hodgdon's book, SOLVING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN AUTISM, works for anybody dealing with another human being. You don't have to be a parent, teacher, or someone working with a special-needs person to see the value in Ms. Hodgdon's approach. People act out for a reason. Linda suggests you look at the circumstances before, during, and after a behavior before trying to deal with it. If you understand the person's motivation, concern, and expectations, you can better change, temper, or redirect the behavior. Added to this insight, Linda points out most special needs people's strengths and weaknesses. Then she clearly and concretely describes techniques using visual tools to help them communicate more effectively. Since most special needs people are visual-spacial learners rather than auditory students, Linda shows how to make, use, and facilitate visual tools, so these people can better understand, and thus, behave in society. Ms. Hodgdon's technique takes the use of visual tools beyond labeling, and she explains how to direct people's communication with visuals, so that they can function as normally as possible in the everyday world. When they understand the concept, they can communicate it, but in order to comprehend the idea, they must see it. Thus, if they can see, they can understand, then they can act accordingly. Linda shows this concept with the logo, WHEN I SEE IT...THEN I UNDERSTAND. Bad behavior may not be intentional, but if people don't understand what they hear or what others expect of them, their inappropriate actions may simply be a reaction rather than a controlled response. So logically, if you understand why people behave inappropriately, you can fix the problem not just react to it. SOLVING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN AUTISM helps readers realize reason works better than reaction when dealing with human behavior especially with special needs people.

This is a great book. I work with students with autism and I use this book in my classroom. There are some great ideas and they are presented in a clear and visual way.