This usable, interesting and imaginative book is for anyone trying to promote meaningful and appropriate communication (that's all of us, isn't it?). One principle running throughout is that it's up to you to figure out what motivates each individual student. The book offers 300 ideas to kick-start the process, inviting you to see the world as rich with possibilities for tempting communication. The chapters focus on key motivational areas and simple assessment tools.
This book persuasively places the onus on the reader to make use of anything in the environment that increases the likelihood of communicative behaviour occurring. I would challenge you to read this and not come away with three ideas that you could try straight away.
The authors provide a structure that inspires flexibility of thought, while they fill the pages with things to do, they also spark the flame of what to be: engaging, creative, positive and fun. These are things we tend to forget but that make all the difference to our success in capturing the attention of and motivating young people with autism. I would have liked some guidance on how to best shape a student's efforts, for example, how persistent should you be when a student isn't always correct? But perhaps these are broader questions for another book.
This book motivates readers to remember that the child must be at the centre of learning, and to retain a touch of the playful spirit when working with children or young people.
Daniel Horan, senior applied behavioural analysis consultant, autism education charity TreeHouse
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