This book provides the practitioner with step-by-step instructions for implementing functional communication training. A variety of assessment strategies are reviewed for assisting in determining appropriate interventions. The Motivation Assessment Scale--designed to assess the function of problem behavior--is outlined in detail and is accompanied with guidelines for its administration and interpretation. Communication training is then detailed and illustrated using speech, sign language, and augmentative systems as examples. Numerous case examples throughout illuminate both the assessment...

Many children experience sleep problems and their parents often seek help for what can be a nightly disruption to the entire family. Difficulty getting a good night's sleep can also impact a child's functioning during the day. In addition, sleep problems often accompany and can contribute to other disorders. Despite common belief, children do not simply 'grow out of' most sleep problems. While medications are often prescribed, they may have serious side-effects and have not been proven effective in children. However, there is more than twenty years of psychological research supporting...

Challenging behavior, while common, can have a significant negative impact on the lives of children and their families. A child's behavior problems can exacerbate developmental setbacks and disrupt overall family functioning. Furthermore, families of children with behavior problems are often at risk for drop out of intervention programs. This facilitator guide, along with the corresponding workbook, aims to assist parents who have difficulty completing parent training and implementing interventions. It uses a fresh and resourceful approach, combining principles of applied behavior analysis,...

When faced with clients who challenge one's boundaries of competence it is important to be able to assist the individual; however, it is equally important to know when one's skills and background may be limited and when outside consultation or expertise is required. "Autism Spectrum Disorder" is aimed at helping clinicians screen for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), treat higher functioning individuals with ASD, and assist family members. It surveys historical views of the disorder, current diagnostic criteria, co-occurring conditions, etiology, epidemiology, assessment, treatment for affected...