Assessing and Developing Communication and Thinking Skills in People with Autism and Communication Difficulties

For professionals wishing to assess communication in people with autism, this is an excellent buy. We all know how important communication is and the book does give a very clear picture of what to look for in communication development. The communication assessment and curriculum is divided into four parts: functional use of communication, expressive communication, understanding communication and social interaction - targeting the areas which most often need attention. – Good Autism PracticeAssessing and Developing Communication and Thinking Skills in People with Autism and Communication Difficulties’. These are assessment sheets, which are coded and cross-referenced with the curriculum in the next part of the book. The sheets are easily photocopy-able and therefore handy to keep as a record and to keep track of your child’s progress. I found the book useful in defining what constitutes communication and in making the link between thinking skills and those required for communication. – Education Otherwise

Kate Silver is a Speech and Language Therapist, who qualified with a degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1985. Since then, she has been working with people with autism of all ages, from preschoolers to adults, making autism her area of speciality in 1988. Kate has worked alongside parents, teachers, health professionals and support workers to develop the communication skills of people with autism. She has also worked with pupils in mainstream schools, MLD and SLD schools, and specialist schools for pupils with ASD. Autism Initiatives has, since 1974, sought to respond to the needs of individuals with ASD, their families and carers. They provide a range of services for adults and children in various parts of the UK. They seek to offer lifelong learning opportunities to each person, addressing the areas of communication, social interaction and flexibility of thought, throughout their daily lives, enabling each person to fulfil their personal goals.