Abstract

Encouraging people on the autism spectrum to foster positive emotions and character traits can dramatically improve their lives in every way, and help to strengthen their ability to cope with everyday challenges and setbacks.

Drawing on the key concepts of positive psychology, this book looks in detail at five positive character traits - resilience, optimism, humor, kindness, and self-efficacy - and offer tried and tested strategies for bolstering each strength in individuals with ASD. The authors provide rich and varied lesson plans which contain a multitude of activities designed to build on the five areas identified, and which can be easily implemented at home, at school, or in the community.

This complete "toolkit" provides parents, educators and other professionals with everything they need to know to use positive psychology strategies to support people of all ages and abilities on the autism spectrum.

June Groden holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts degree in psychology from Boston College, in addition to a Master of Education degree from Rhode Island College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from New York University. Since 1976, Dr. Groden has been Director of the Groden Center in Providence, Rhode Island, an educational and treatment facility which serves children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. She also serves on the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America. Ayelet Kantor Ph.D. is an Associate Director at the Groden Center, and has been working in the field of autism as a parent support group consultant, an educator in the early intervention program, as a research associate and as a supervisor and coordinator of professional teams. Cooper R. Woodard is Clinical Director at The Groden Center and a visiting professor at the University of Rhode Island. He received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Fielding Institute, has a Masters degree in general and experimental psychology from Wake Forest University, and is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Lewis P. Lipsitt is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Medical Science, and Human Development at Brown University. He is the founding director of Brown's Child Study Center, and an internationally-known scholar in the field of child development.
This is a very thorough and uplifting aid for professionals working with persons with autistic and developmental disabilities.
ForeWord Magazine
This book is suitable for anybody caring for, supporting or working with someone on the autistic spectrum. It focuses on building positive traits, which provides a pleasant alternative to the many books that concentrate on problems and negative behavior... the building blocks that are provided here are great foundations for helping someone with Autistic spectrum Disorder go from strength to strength.
Youth in Mind
How Everyone on the Autism Spectrum... presents a positive psychological approach to nurturing positive emotions and character traits in individuals with autism. This book provides parents, teachers, and other professionals with ways to do this utilizing home, school, and community activities... By fostering positive character traits, you can improve the quality of life of individuals with autism. The five traits selected for this book have been fully described and related research presented. The latter section of the book contains many interesting activities that will allow the individual to work on the positive character traits. The book presents unique information with activities that are easy to implement.
S-O-S Research blog
This book encourages supporting persons with autism and developmental disabilities by building on character strengths and incorporating their whole life experiences, rather that working with a pathology - or deficit-based model.
ForeWord Reviews