Table of Contents

Introduction: The search for coherence, John Richer and Sheila Coates. MECHANISMS AND PROCESSES. 1. Editorial: Mechanisms and processes, John Richer and Sheila Coates. 2. An ethological approach to autism: From evolutionary perspectives to treatment, John Richer. 3. The insufficient integration of self and other in autism, John Richer. 4. Attachment in children with autism, Nurit Yirmiya, Israel, and Marian Sigman, Los Angeles. 5. Neuropsychology of `mind', Dermot Rowe and Linda Crawford, Oxford. 6. Why success is more interesting than failure: Understanding assets and deficits in autism, Francesca Happé, London. 7. Evidence for central coherence: Children with autism do experience visual illusions, Iain Garner, Sheffield and David Hamilton, Australia. 8. Autistic children's talk about mental states at school and home: An empirical investigation, Sophia Mavropoulou, Greece. PHYSIOLOGY/MEDICINE. 9. Editorial: Approaches to the physiology of autism, John Richer and Sheila Coates. 10. Early intervention in autistic disorders, Michele Zappella, Siena. 11. Complementary medicine in autistic disorders: Results from the application of a working hypothesis, Edward Danczak, Manchester. MEETING OF MINDS. 12. Editorial: Meeting of minds, John Richer and Sheila Coates. 13. The relationship is the thing, Sheila Coates. 14. The young autistic child: Reclaiming non-autistic potential through interactive games, Sibylle Janert, London. 15. Play, performance, symbols and affect, Dave Sherratt, Yorkshire. 16. Facilitated communication at the Chinnor Resource Unit: A journey… Lydia Otter and Emma Masefield, Oxford. THERAPY. 17. Editorial: Therapy, John Richer and Sheila Coates. 18. The Tavistock autism workshop approach: Assessment, treatment and research, Susan Reid and Anne Alvarez with Anthony Lee, London. 19. Integrative play in children with autism and Asperger Syndrome, Lalli Howell, Oxford. 20. 'I have a song - let me sing': Relating part of a journey through music therapy with an autistic boy, Auriel Warwick, Oxford. 21. The pragmatics of language: Remediating the central deficit for autistic 2-3-year-olds, Elizabeth Newson, Nottingham. 22. Duality of function of language in communication with people with autism, Ryuji Kobayashi, Japan. 23. Behaviour management of children with autism: Educational approaches in Fukuoka University of Education, Keiko Notomi, Japan. 24. Coding of active sociability in pre-schoolers with autism (CASPA), Charlotte Hyde, Dawn Wimpory and Susan Nash, Wales. SERVICES. 25. Editorial: Services, John Richer and Sheila Coates. 26. The Chinnor Unit, Richard Brooks, Oxford. 27. Help me get started: An overview of effective teaching strategies to encourage initiation and independence, Jennifer Cantello-Daw, Toronto. 28. The state of the problem of autism in the Ukraine, Olga Bogdashina, Ukraine. 29. Quality management and staff training throughout health services to meet the health needs of clients within the autistic spectrum, Wendy Tucker, Nottingham. PERSONAL STORIES. 30. Editorial: Personal stories, John Richer and Sheila Coates. 31. Coherence from the fragments: An assessment of home programmes and other influences on a 14-year-old boy with autism and its implications, Julia V. Stuart, London. 32. Parents' perceptions of autism: A qualitative study, Rachel Tams, Wales. 33. A home-based applied behavioural analysis (ABA or Lovaas) programme: A personal view, Alan Watkins, Southampton. 34. In the balance: The Lovaas experience, John Lubbock, Oxford. 35. Autism - an inside view, Marc Fleisher, Oxford. 36. Summary, Sheila Coates. Index.

About the Author

Professor Olga Bogdashina, MA, PhD, DEd, CO-founder of and Programme Leader (Autism courses) at the International Autism Institute, KSPU and co-founder of the International Consortium of Autism Institutes.

She has worked extensively in the field of autism as a teacher, lecturer and researcher, with a particular interest in sensory-perceptual, cognitive and communication problems. She is a Visiting Professor in Autism Studies at universities around the world, develops university (Autism Study) courses and training programmes for professionals and parents, presents at national and international autism conferences and is an autism consultant for services for children and adults.

Olga has an adult son with autism and lives in Yorkshire, UK.

Reviews

I can recommend this book as an honest, sensitive and informative discussion of the many aspects of autism. I found Autism: The search for Coherence to be useful, instructive and valuable. I would recommend it to any other professional or parent who is interested in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
*Louissa Plasto, Senior Teacher*

Bringing together scientific, therapist, teacher, and first person accounts, this book helps to lead the reader to a re-evaluation of beliefs about autism and to consider the range of perspectives in forming their own personal coherence. This process would be of value to a researcher designing a study and to any person directly involved in the care of those with autism. Finally, this book may also be of interest to new students wishing to gain a broad, current view of the area and to parents of children with autism.
*International Journal of Disability, Development and Education*

This is an easy to read book which accumulates the knowledge and expertise of many professionals as well as personal experience. The book gives a good overview of the field of Autism and how extensive it is. It presents opinions and views of experts and professionals as well as some of the most recent research in the area. The book covers the medical, psychological, educational and biological aspects of Autism and helps us to understand the disorder from each of these perspectives. The most enjoyable and touching aspect of the book is the final section, Personal Stories. It brings to light the determination and hopes that families have.
*Speach*