Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Coping with Crisis and Handicap pp 229–248Cite as

Reaching Autistic Children

Strategies for Parents and Helping Professionals

  • Chapter

  • 59 Accesses

Abstract

Reaching autistic children is a problem that has challenged countless parents and helping professionals since Kanner’s description of “early infantile autism” in 1944.1 This challenge has been made more difficult with the proliferation of theories concerning the etiology, prognosis, and preferred treatment of the condition. With no known “cure” for autism and a preponderance of questions still awaiting research, the ground is fertile for misconception.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

References and Notes

  1. Kanner, L.: Early infantile autism. J. Pediatr. 25(3): 211, 1944.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kanner, L.: “Autistic disturbances of affective contact.” Nerv. Child. 2(3): 217, 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ritvo, E. R., and Freeman, B. J.: National Society for Autistic Children definition of the syndrome of autism. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2(4):146, 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. For additional information concerning autism and the characteristic behaviors and handicaps of autistic children, the reader should consult the following:

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rimland, B.: Infantile Autism. The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ritvo, E. R., Freeman, B. J., Ornitz, E. M., and Tanguay, P. E.: Autism: Diagnosis, Current Research, and Management. New York: Spectrum Publications, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rutter, M., and Schopler, E. (Eds.): Autism: A Reappraisal of Concepts and Treatment. New York: Plenum, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wing, L. (Ed.): Early Childhood Autism (second edition). Oxford, England: Pergamon Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wing, L.: Diagnosis, clinical description, and prognosis, in L. Wing (Ed.): Early Childhood Autism (second edition). Oxford, England: Pergamon Press, p. 15, 1976, pp. 49–52.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rimland, B.: Infantile Autism. The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1964, pp. 221–236.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Bettleheim, B.: The Empty Fortress. New York: The Free Press, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Oppenheim, R. C: Effective Teaching Methods for Autistic Children. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wing, L.: Counseling and principles of management, in J. K. Wing (Ed.): Early Childhood Autism: Clinical Educational and Social Aspects. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press, p. 257, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kozloff, M. A.: Reaching the Autistic Child: A Parent Training Program. Champaign, Illinois: Research Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ritvo, E. R.: Autism: From adjective to noun, in E. R. Ritvo, B. J. Freeman, E. M. Ornitz, and P. M. Tanguay (Eds.): Autism: Diagnosis, Current Research, and Management. New York: Spectrum Publications, p. 3, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  16. National Society for Autistic Children, 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D. C. 20005.

    Google Scholar 

  17. For additional information concerning behavior modification, parents are encouraged to consult the following:

    Google Scholar 

  18. Patterson, G. R.; Families: Applications of Social Learning to Everyday Life. Champaign, Illinois: Research Press, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Patterson, G. R., and Guillion, M. E.: Living With Children: New Methods for Parents and Teachers. Champaign, Illinois: Research Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Helping professionals are encouraged to consult the following:

    Google Scholar 

  21. Leitenberg, H.: Handbook of Behavior Modification and Behavior Therapy. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sulzer-Azaroff, B., and Mayer, G. R.: Applying Behavior Analysis Procedures with Children and Youth. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Rimland, B.: Inside the mind of the autistic savant. Psychology Today August: 69, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Nihira, K., Foster, R., Shellhaas, M., and Leland, H.: Adaptive Behavior Scale Manual. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Mental Deficiency, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Gardner, J. M., and Giampa, F. I.: Utility of three behavioral indices for studying severely and profoundly retarded children. Am. J. Ment. Defic. 76:352, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Rincover, A., Koegel, R. L., and Russo, D. C.: Some recent behavioral research on the education of autistic children. Educ. Treat. Child. 1(4):31, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wilhelm, H., and Lovaas, O. I.: Stimulus overselectivity: A common feature in autism and mental retardation. Am. J. Ment. Defic. 1976, 81(1):26031.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lovaas, O. I.: The Autistic Child: Language Development through Behavior Modification. New York: Irvington Publishers, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  29. For additional information concerning the use of behavioral treatment methods with autistic children, the reader is referred to the following:

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kozloff, M. A.: Reaching the Autistic Child: A Parent Training Program. Champaign, Illinois: Research Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lovaas, O. I.: The Autistic Child: Language Development through Behavior Modification. New York: Irvington Publishers, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lovaas, O. I., Schriebman, L., and Koegel, R. L.: A behavior modification approach to the treatment of autistic children. J. Autism Child. Schizophr. 4(2):111, 1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Oppenheim, R. C: Effective Teaching Methods for Autistic Children. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Creer, T. L., and Christian, W. P.: Chronically III and Handicapped Children: Their Management and Rehabilitation. Champaign, Illinois: Research Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Sullivan, R. C: Autism: Current trends in services, in E. R. Ritvo, B. J. Freeman, E. M. Ornitz, and P. M. Tanguay (Eds.): Autism: Diagnosis, Current Research, and Management. New York: Spectrum Publications, p. 291, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hannah, J. T., Christian, W P., and Clark, H. B. (Eds.): Preservation of Clients’ Rights: A Handbook for Practitioners Providing Therapeutic, Educational, and Rehabilitative Services. New York: Macmillan/Free Press, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  37. McClannahan, L. E., and Krantz, P. J.: Program accountability systems as a protection of the rights of autistic children and youth, in J. T. Hannah, W. P. Christian, and H. B. Clark (Eds.): Preservation of Clients’ Rights: A Handbook for Practitioners Providing Therapeutic, Educational and Rehabilitative Services. New York: Macmillan/Free Press, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  38. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94–142) was signed into law in 1975 and is designed to assure that all handicapped children have available to them a free, appropriate education, emphasizing special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs. In addition, it assures that the rights of children and parents are safeguarded. These safeguards include (1) due process; (2) nondiscriminatory testing; (3) least restrictive environment (the requirement that handicapped children be educated with nonhandicapped children to the maximum extent possible); (4) education using the child’s native language; (5) confidentiality (the assurance that any information contained in school records will not be released without the permission of the parent); and (6) the right to representation (the assurance that the child is to be represented by his/her parents, guardian, or surrogate parent). The law further requires that Individual Education Plans (IEPs) be prepared for each handicapped child, with parents participating on the team that draws up the plan. IEPs are to be developed or revised at least once every six months.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. May Institute for Autistic Children, Inc., 02633, Chatham, Massachusetts, USA

    Walter P. Christian

Authors
  1. Walter P. Christian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Aubrey Milunsky MB.B.Ch., M.R.C.P., D.C.H.

  2. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Aubrey Milunsky MB.B.Ch., M.R.C.P., D.C.H.

  3. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Aubrey Milunsky MB.B.Ch., M.R.C.P., D.C.H.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 Aubrey Milunsky

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Christian, W.P. (1981). Reaching Autistic Children. In: Milunsky, A. (eds) Coping with Crisis and Handicap. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3231-2_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3231-2_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3233-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3231-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation