Resources

* Notes that those resources also have a Spanish version available.

Books to Read to Young Children

Reading books to young children is a wonderful way to teach and reinforce early concepts. as well as a terrific way to share and enjoy time together.

  • Leslie Patricelli has a series of books that focus on a single concept and are great for teaching concepts to young children
    • Yummy Yucky*
    • Big Little*
    • Happy Sad*
    • No No Yes Yes*
    • Quiet Loud*
    • Higher Higher
    • Faster Faster*
    • Huggy Kissy*
    • Tickle
    • Potty*
    • Tubby*
  • Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle (some written by Eric Carle alone) have a series of books with simple, recursive language
    • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?*
    • Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you Hear?*
    • Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do you See?*
    • Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?*
    • The Very Hungry Caterpillar*
  • Fiona Watts has a lovely series of touch and feel books that emphasize adjectives
    • That’s not my Dinosaur
    • That’s not my Puppy*
    • That’s not my Train*
    • That’s not my Snowman
    • That’s not my Teddy*
    • That’s not my Monkey
    • That’s not my Pig
    • That’s not my Lamb
    • That’s not my Truck*
    • That’s not my Dragon*
  • Karen Katz has a series of books that are great for teaching body parts, prepositions, and simple words
    • Where is baby’s belly button?*
    • Toes, ears, and nose
    • Excuse Me
    • What does baby say?
    • What does baby love?
    • How does Baby Feel?
    • Where is baby’s mommy?
    • Baby’s colors
    • I can share!
    • A Potty for me
    • The babies on the bus
    • Baby loves winter
    • Baby loves spring
    • Baby loves summer
    • Baby loves fall
  • DK Publishing has a series of lift the flap peekaboo books, which are great for teaching single words and the concept “where is?”
    • Baby Faces Peekaboo
    • Eyes, Noes, and Toes Peekaboo
    • Bedtime Peekaboo
    • Farm Peekaboo
    • Rainbow Colors Peekaboo
    • Bathtime Peekaboo
    • Playtime Peekaboo
    • Dress up Peekaboo
  • Sandra Boynton has a series of cheerfully written books that focus on early concepts such as emotions, clothing, counting, opposites, and letters
    • Happy Hippo Angry Duck*
    • Blue Hat Green Hat*
    • A to Z
    • Opposites*
    • One, Two, Three
    • Are you a Cow?
    • Horns to Toes and In Between
    • Bath Time
    • Pajama Time
    • Tickle Time
  • Additional Classic Early Children’s Books
    • Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown*
    • Jesse Bear, What will You Wear? By Nancy White Carlstrom

Books to Inspire Parents with Ideas for Teaching and Play

The following books offer wonderful ideas for how to keep your child’s attention during play and daily activities as well as offering many suggestions for early learning targets.

  • The Encyclopedia of Infant and Toddler Activities for Children Birth to 3 by Kathy Charner, Maureen Murphy, and Charlie Clark
  • The Toddler’s Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to keep your 1 ½ to 3 year old Busy by Trish Kuffner
  • Davis, A., Harwell, M. & Isaacson, L. (2014). Floortime Strategies to Promote Development in Children and Teens: A User’s Guide to the DIR. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing. (Although we do not support the use of DIR:Floortime as the main approach for educating and intervening with children at risk for autism, this book offers suggestions that can be excellent for playtime).
  • The Eensy Weensy Spider: Fingerplays and Action Rhymes by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
  • Funny Food: 365 Fun, Silly, Healthy Creative Breakfasts by Bill Wurtzel and Claire Wurtzel
  • Snacktivities: 50 Edible Activities for Parents and Young Children by MaryAnn F. Kohl

Autism-Specific Titles

  • Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals edited by Catherine Maurice co-edited by Gina Green & Stephen C. Luce
  • Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism, edited by Catherine Maurice, Gina Green & Richard Foxx.  See Chapter 8, Teaching Programs to Increase Peer Interaction, by Bridget Taylor and Suzanne Jasper
  • A Work in Progress: Behavior Management Strategies and A Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism by Ron Leaf and John McEachin
  • An Early Start for Your Child with Autism: Using Everyday Activities to help Kids Connect, Communicate, and Learn by Sally J. Rogers, Geraldine Dawson, and Laurie A. Vismara
  • 101 Games and Activities for Children with Autism, Asperger’s, and Sensory Processing Disorders by T. Delaney
  • Does My Child Have Autism: A Parents Guide to Early Detection and Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders by Wendy L. Stone and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo
  • Motivation and Reinforcement: Turning the Tables on Autism by Robert Schramm

Websites with Play Idea Lists for Young Children

These websites list ideas for indoor and outdoor games and crafts to play with toddlers and preschoolers. Some list additional information on topics such as health and nutrition and/or offer general parenting tips.

Picture Exchange Communication System

The Picture Exchange Communication System is a unique alternative/augmentative communication system for individuals with disabilities. There is a great deal of research supporting its efficacy in helping children with disabilities begin to initiate communication, and in supporting the development of more complex forms of communication.

www.pecs.com * – This website will familiarize you with the way PECS work, offer a variety of resources using PECs, from iPad apps, to CD-ROMs with printable symbols, as well as information workshops and training near you.

The Picture Exchange Communication System Training Manual by Lori Frost and Andrew Bondy

Websites for Ordering Educational Toys, Teaching Materials, Adaptive Materials, and Visual Tools

Web Resources

  • www.helpmegrownational.org – Help Me Grow is a system that connects at-risk children with the services they need
  • http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/ehsnrc Early Head Start provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families, and pregnant women and their families.
  • www.easterseals.com – Easter Seals offers a huge range of information and services for children with disabilities. In particular, http://www.easterseals.com/mtffc/ “Make the First Five Count” is a program that raises awareness for children at risk for a variety of disabilities. Here you can find resources such as The Ages and Stages Questionnaire, a free online screening tool for parents to track their child’s developmental milestones.
  • www.p2pusa.org – This organization matches each parent looking for information and support with an experienced parent of a child with special needs.
  • www.siblingsupport.org – This website offers information about workshops, conferences, publications, and other opportunities for siblings of children with disabilities to become educated and connect with one another.
  • www.zerotothree.org/about-us/areas-of-expertise/free-parent-brochures-and-guides – This website includes many parenting resources including a comprehensive list of early developmental milestones and ideas for supporting and optimizing your child’s early development

Autism-Specific Web Resources

  • autismspeaks.org – this website is one of the most comprehensive resources for families including state by state information on local resources and services, and offers a 100 day kit to help families navigate the first 100 days after diagnosis, as well as providing news on current autism research and advocacy and toolkits for parents of newly diagnosed children.
  • feat.org – this website will link individuals to the Families for Effective Autism Treatment organization in their particular state, which will have information on local resources, treatment providers, and events, and in person and online support groups for parents and other ways for parents to connect and share resources
  • childrensdisabilities.info/autism/index.html – Lists support groups for parents of children with ASD
  • http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org * – ASF funds autism research and also provides useful information for parents on autism and evidence-based treatment options
  • https://www.rethinkfirst.com web-based teaching tutorials on ABA, video images of teaching interactions, and teaching objectives, available for a monthly subscription

Further Reading

  • When Children Don’t Sleep Well: Interventions for Pediatric Sleep Disorders: Parent Workbook by Mark V. Durand
  • Married with Special Needs Children: A couple’s guide to keeping connected by Laura Marshak and Fran P. Prezant
  • Uncommon Father: Reflections on Raising a Child with a Disability by Donald J. Meyer
  • Toilet Training in Less Than a Day, by Nathan Azrin and Richard Foxx
  • Toilet Training for individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Disablities by Maria Wheeler 2nd Edition
  • Let’s Talk Together – Home Activities for Early Speech and Language Development by Cory Poland and Amy Chouinard

Autism-Specific Titles

  • My friend with Autism: A coloring books for peers and siblings
  • Autism Solutions: how to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for your Child by Ricki Robinson
  • Reaching out, Joining In: Teaching Social Skills to young Children with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities by Mary Jane Weiss and Sandra Harris
  • Siblings of Children with Autism: A Guide for Families by Sandra Harris and Beth Glasberg, Second Edition
  • Autism 24/7: A Family Guide to Learning at Home and in the Community by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost

Most states in the US have a variety of services for parents of children at risk. These might include early intervention services for children with delayed development and family support services such as Family Resource Centers or the Nurturing Families Network. Check with your state Early Childhood or Early Intervention Office for information on the resources available in your state.

Behavior Analyst Certification Board: http://www.bacb.com/ has a list of board certified behavior analysts in your area, by zip code.

International Resources

International List of Organizations: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/world-autism-awareness-day/international-autism-organizations

Australia:

https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/08_2014/6006_-_accessible_-_early_intervention_practice_guidelines_0.pdf

Provides information on early intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders by very well-known Australian autism researchers

Canada:

http://www.autismontario.com/

Good source of information and referral on autism and a voice representing the autism community in Ontario. Links to information on ABA providers.

Autism Speaks Canada http://www.autismspeaks.ca/ The Canada branch of Autism Speaks, with links to Canadian resources and events, and general information about autism

UK:

http://www.autism.org.uk/ This is the website of the National Autistic Society, a long-established organization for autism advocacy, and links to local services.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Autistic-spectrum-disorder/ Official website of the National Health Service, with links to information on health, support and the benefits you are entitled to.

http://www.simplestepsautism.com/ An on-line teaching platform for learning more about ABA – for purchase.

http://www.skyboundtherapies.co.uk/ A therapy center in West Wales for children with autism and a variety of other developmental disabilities. They serve local children but also provide consultants for developing home programs.

http://www.treezy.co.uk/. Educational and autism resources sold in the UK

(The UK version of Different Roads to Learning)

Ireland (see also UK links):

www.qub.ac.uk/cba in the School of Education, Queens university, Belfast, provides video links, and short courses in topics within behavior analysis