Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

The Authors xi

Authors’ Note xiii

Foreword xv

Introduction 1

Part One: Essential Elements of the Iep

1 Past Perspectives and Present Practices 7

2 The ‘‘Gold Standard’’ for Setting Goals and Measuring Progress 15

3 Setups for Successful Performance 23

4 Methodology: No Longer a Sacred Cow 31

5 Scaffolding Student Success 41

6 The Case for Generalization 53

7 Getting to the Heart of the Matter: How to Write Meaningful Goals and Objectives 59

8 Measuring Student Performance: More than a Simple ‘‘Numbers Game’’ 69

9 In the Shadow of No Child Left Behind 77

Part Two: Moving From Theory to Practice

10 Tools for Assessment and Decision Making 87

11 Comprehension: The Power That Fuels Expression 97

12 The Many Different Faces of Expression 111

13 All Things Social 131

14 Executive Function: The Pinnacle of Cognitive Development 149

15 Critical Thinking: An Essential Life Skill 165

Epilogue 179

Appendix A: Tips for Teaching Skill Development and Generalization 183

Appendix B: Helpful Teaching Resources 187

References 193

Index 197

About the Author

Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a communication disorders specialist and licensed speech-language pathologist specializing in autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Autism Spectrum Quarterly. Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a communication disorders specialist and licensed speech-language pathologist specializing in working with students with autism, emotional/behavioral disturbance, and related communication and language impairments.