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The Miller Method (R)

The Miller Method (R)

Arnold Miller

(2007)

Abstract

This informative and practical guide to the Miller Method® presents an entirely new and dynamic perspective on advancing the body organization, social, and communicative skills of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Working on the premise that children with ASDs learn more effectively when their whole bodies are involved, The Miller Method® covers major issues such as communication skills and social play, as well as day-to-day behavioral issues including tantrums, aggression and toilet training. Part of Miller's method includes guiding the child on to The Elevated Square, a device that gets the child off the floor and markedly diminishes toe-walking, hand flapping and aimless wandering. By creating a highly defined reality that requires the child's rapt attention to traverse it, the Elevated Square helps counter some of the significant challenges these children confront. Another feature of the method entails the carefully gauged disruption of everyday routines. This may include deliberately 'messing up' the classroom so that the children experience putting it together and learning that they can cope with disorder and change.

This practical resource is essential reading for parents and professionals living and working with children with ASDs.


`If you work with children with autism then read this book. It presents an enlightening perspective into their world that will help the reader to better understand and engage more meaningfully with them. The emphasis is very much on the practical, with step-by-step examples of intervention procedures and case studies, providing you with lots of ideas that can be incorporated into your own practice. The writing is simple, largely avoiding unwieldy jargon, and each chapter is broken down into bite-size sub-sections, with a useful summary at the end... Definitely a worthwhile resource.'
Speech & Language Therapy in Practice
This is very useful book for educational psychologists working in the Early Years setting as it gives many valuable interventions, use of special apparatus and ideas. The author mentions research that showed the effectiveness of the Sign and Spoken Language Programme as well as the positive effect of the symbol Accentuated Reading Programme for children with ASD and learning difficulties. The Miller Method is undoubtedly a useful tool in developing the social and communication skills of the difficult-to-reach child with ASD.
Debate 129, December 2008
`Drawing on 40 years of research and work with children on the autistic spectrum, Miller and his late wife developed the Miller Method, which is currently being used in schools and clinics. In this technical volume, Miller teams with Chrétien, a developmental therapist, to make the system accessible to parents and therapists who are interested in trying it in their own homes or practices. Miller begins with a description of his method and his view of children's systems before discussing treatment and how the Miller Method works. Later sections focus on education and research and application of the method. Appendixes are included, e.g., the Miller Diagnostic Survey for Children with Developmental Issues, which would be helpful to parents and therapists alike in evaluating their children and students. Recommended for academic and large public libraries with a developmental disabilities collection.'
Library Journal
Arnold Miller, Ph.D., was a clinical psychologist and Executive Director of the Language and Cognitive Development Center of Newton, Massachusetts. He was also Affiliate Professor of Psychology at Clark University, Massachusetts. Kristina Chrétien, M.S. works as cognitive-developmental therapist at the Language and Cognitive Development Center of Newton.

I believe that the Miller Method; which is built around cognitive-developmental systems theory, is a very cohesive and sound system through which counselors, parents, and teachers can help children on the austism spectrum to develop cognitive, linguistic, and social awareness.

Simply stated, this is a very good book - the kind of book that will make you feel more knowledgeable about autism behaviours, and most importantly, better prepared to help children with autism'.


Autism Spectrum Quartely
If I were Dorothy, I'd say that Dr. Miller is like the symbolic Wizard of Oz-the person to whom those of us with autism go to find our hearts, our brains and our courage to find our way back "home" to a better life experience.
Lianne Holliday Willey, Ed.D. writing for Autism Spectrum Quarterly, Spring 2008

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
INTRODUCTION 1
1 The importance of rural transport 3
Rural transport activities in the household 3
Domestic transport activities of women in a week 7
Reasons for different transport patterns 8
Rural transport needs 8
2 Identifying rural transport needs 12
Identifying needs 12
Transport and marketing 15
3 Addressing rural transport needs 19
Modes of transport 19
People moving on foot 19
People carrying loads on foot 21
People using bicycles and tricycles to move around 24
Using bicycles, trailers, wheelbarrows and handcarts to move loads 27
Using animals for transport 30
Transport infrastructure 37
Transport services 41
Motorized transport services 41
Non-motorized transport services 43
Non-transport interventions to improve access 43
4 Considerations in addressing transport needs 46
Access to, and control of, means of transport 46
Affordability 48
Promotion and attitudes 49
Maintenance 52
Monitoring and evaluation 52
5 Case studies 54
Women saving time on transport for education in Burkina Faso 54
Makete integrated rural transport project in Tanzania 55
Promotion of animal traction technology in Zambia 56
Women health workers on bicycles in Zimbabwe 57
Mraru women's bus service in Kenya 58
Women cycling in southern India 59
Women fuelwood carriers in Ethiopia 61
Women's pottery groups in western Kenya 62
Development and testing of a hand-pushed water carrier in Nigeria 63
viii RURAL TRANSPORT
6 Checklist for identifying and acquiring a means of transport 65
Identifying possible means of transport 65
Acquiring a means of transport 66
REFERENCES, FURTHER READING AND CONTACTS 6