Teaching of students with social or behavioural difficulties Books

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Book SynopsisAutism and Mental Well-being in Higher Education 2nd edition looks into the fact that, too often, autistic students and those with mental health needs struggle with higher education, often dropping out of courses because they do not receive the informed support that would help them to succeed. This much-needed manual addresses the provision of effective support via mentoring in order to build students' confidence and enable them to take control of their lives. Beautifully illustrated, this unique publication is written for those with a neurodivergent perspective, and brings together ideas and activities tried and tested among an array of students. It encourages students to take control of mentoring and study skills sessions by signposting them to topics which they wish to address, while also providing a useful framework and resources for mentors and tutors in higher education. It includes clear information about what constitutes mentoring, as well as coverage of academic study skills, highlighting key points for attention and discussion. In particular, the manual addresses specific issues raised by many autistic individuals and those with mental health needs, and through its activities and resources, it provides a toolkit of coping strategies that can be tailored to individuals. Finally, it covers elements of independent living with which many individuals struggle, and which have been raised in various forms by students with whom the author has worked. Following the success of the first edition of this book it was apparent that new chapters needed to be added to better reflect diversity and to acknowledge the prevalence of sexual violence on campus. With this in mind, Chapter 13 is on gender and explores such issues as identity, disclosure, pronouns, name change and transitioning. The second new chapter, Chapter 14, addresses issues experienced by many individuals from BAME communities, such as acceptance within their own culture, language barriers, obtaining a diagnosis, tokenism and inclusion of BAME voices within higher education. The third additional chapter (15) addresses sexual violence, whether it has happened prior to university or during studies and on or off campus. This chapter discusses processing and communicating what has happened and support options available.Trade ReviewWhat a fantastic resource this is for those interested in how to support autistic students and for autistic students wanting excellent information around how to navigate University. Susy's writing may very well prove, for some, to make the difference between succeeding at university and not. A superb book which should be read by anyone at university involved with autistic students, and stocked by all universities so it's available for their autistic students. Dr Luke Beardon, Senior Lecturer in Autism, Sheffield Hallam University; Getting the most out of university life and study can be a challenge for many students. It is also a challenge for universities in terms of providing accessibility and flexibility that takes account of diversity within the student group. Based on her years of insider experience supporting autistic students, Susy Ridout provides a handbook that is equally useful for students and those providing mentorship or support. It combines the everyday and the practical with a sophisticated theoretical underpinning that recognises the inter-related issues of neurodiversity and intersectionality. This challenges the more traditional disability paradigm in which autism (and by implication) autistic people are seen as a problem, and solutions are seen in terms of autistic people having to accommodate to and fit in with social, sensory and learning environments which are profoundly unsuitable and oppressive. Professor Jerry Tew, Mental Health and Social Work, Director of Family Potential Research Centre and Head of Education, School of Social Policy at the University of BirminghamTable of ContentsContent: Part 1: University life and support for autistic students and students with mental health needs (mentoring and academic support) Part 2: Exploring autism or mental well-being related issues with or without your mentor Part 3: Being Independent

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Book SynopsisPart of the How to Help series of books exploring issues commonly faced by children and young people at home and at school, ADHD and Attention Difficulties offers a complete introduction to this complex and sensitive topic. While there is no one 'best' strategy for managing ADHD, many of the most problematic issues spring from an inability to manage distractions - so young people tend to do best when provided with a consistent, structured environment. Placing at the heart of the work the premise that those who struggle with attention difficulties respond best to people who understand that it is neurological deficits, not unwillingness, that prevent them from behaving and learning like their peers, Fin O'Regan and Sara Cave explore the issues, challenges and experiences commonly faced by a young person with ADHD - and how parents, carers, teachers and schools can help.Table of ContentsSeries Preface; About the Authors; Authors' Preface; How to Use This Book Part 1: Introduction 1. What is ADHD?; 2. Causes and consequences; 3. Assessment and diagnosis; 4. Overlapping issues; Ten key things to know about ADHD Part 2: How teachers can help 5. Why are they bored?; 6. How can I create a class that's ready to learn?; 7. Why can't they remember and how do I support them?; 8. Organising the disorganised; 9. Promoting positive behaviour; 10. Why don't they listen?; 11. Self-regulation; 12. Developing effective rapport, relationships and resilience Part 3: How parents and professionals can work together 13. The importance of parent-school collaboration; 14. Support through referral and assessment; 15. The role of medication; 16. Coaching, counselling and CBT; 17. Diet, sleep and exercise; 18. ICT and Speech and Language Therapy; 19. Transitions; 20. Adults & ADHD Part 4: How parents can help 21. What does ADHD do to a family?; 22. Diagnosis: the facts; 23. Working with schools; 24. Working with teachers; 25. Activities outside school; 26. Discipline and behavioural changes; 27. Social skills and situations; 28. A typical day Part 5: Conclusion and resources 29. Summary; 30. Advice for parents and carers; 31. Advice for teachers; Appendices

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Book SynopsisWhen it comes to 'The Excludables', it is time to shake up the debate.Students who are excluded from school, and society, are at a higher risk of being incarcerated. They are more likely to have mental health difficulties, special educational needs, live in poverty, have social care involvement and they disproportionately come from certain ethnic groups. This book pulls on all those threads using up to date research and establishes a deeper understanding of how and why these things affect school behaviours. The factors that lead to exclusion are complex, and this book meets that challenge head on, including the kinds of “crunchy bits” that are usually avoided at all costs, such as children who are high in callous-unemotional traits, and trauma-informed approaches in prison education.Written by an experienced educator and behaviour consultant, this book steps away from the worn-out discourse that surrounds behaviour in schools, and away from the notion that educators are the only relevant experts. Get ready to explore genetics, bias, epistemic trust, and the human stress-response system; all examined through the lens of the realities of behavioural challenge faced by educators every day.This is a read that will confront everyone in some way.

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Book SynopsisBeals describes the root causes of the language and learning challenges in autism, their various academic consequences, and a variety of tools and strategies for addressing them. Drawing on what the most current evidence shows about the nature of autism and which therapies are most successful, the book discusses the implications for autism-friendly instruction in academic subjects, noting the ways in which today's classrooms come up short, and suggesting various adjustments that teachers can make.Instead of focusing on social and behavioral issues, general accommodations, and general ways to address learning difficulties, Beals zeros in on academics, on accommodations within specific academic subjects, and on techniques that target autism-specific deficits, situating the issue of educational access within the broader context of disability rights, neurodiversity, and debates about what disability rights and neurodiversity should encompass.Complete acceptance of individuals on the autism spectrum must include complete educational access. This means rethinking assumptions about autistic students, about how we teach expressive language, about how we teach reading comprehension, and about what and how we teach in the many K-12 classrooms attended by autistic students.Trade ReviewFinally, a book with a truly comprehensive focus on autism-friendly curriculum and instruction, rather than another re-hash of how to create an autism-friendly classroom! Beals provides the best description of teaching language and cognition to children and adults with autism I have seen to date. I heartily recommend her book to all autism ABA practitioners. -- Kent Johnson, Founder & Executive Director, Morningside Academy

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