A n excellent though at times overambitious guide.. Asperger s syndrome is a disorder on the spectrum of autism, arguably the most complex of all the developmental disorders, and one which requires practitioners to have an understanding of the child s difficulties at the psychological level if any intervention is to be successful. This is a view the authors concur with and understand, but it is not one which - in my view - can be fully realised in 96 pages.This book has many strengths. It communicates the nature and relevance of diagnosis clearly to teachers, the theory of mind is admirably summarised and its implications for teachers are fleshed out with short, relevant examples, the tips for support assistants are superb, and its chapter on assessment brings much of the book together within a well thought out, practical assessment tool which can be easily implemented by practitioners.
But their attempt to summarise Hobson s ideas on theory of persons in a paragraph will sound like gobbledegook to many teachers, as will the handful of sentences on TEACCH work systems, and the chapter on diagnosis simply brushes over everything outside DSM IV and ICD10, which risks leaving teachers and SENCOs in the dark if faced with anything else in reports. In these instances, it would have been better if the authors had admitted to the limitations of space, and alluded to other works, rather than attempting to tackle topics inadequately. Having said that, all the above topics stand up to scrutiny if the aim of this book is to support a two or three day course.
In short, an excellent book, but teachers will have to face up to the fact that further reading may well be required if they are coming to the subject without any previous knowledge or experience.
Asperger Syndrome: A Practical Guide for Teachers (Resource Materials for Teachers) (ID: 1853464996)
