Overview
Presents current research from across education, psychology, disability studies, and medicine
Enriches and expands directions for future practice
Offers a neurodiversity perspective on autism myths
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Table of contents (11 chapters)
Keywords
- Autism Myths
- Autism Spectrum Myths
- History of Autism
- Perspectives of Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
- Future Directions for Autism Spectrum Practice
- Autism and Neurodiversity Theory
- The Autism Epidemic Myth
- Refrigerator Mother Autism Myth
- Curing Autism
- History of Autism Research
- Communication with People on the Autism Spectrum
- Behaviour of People with Autism
- Social Inclusion of People with Autism
- Autism and Social-emotional Connectivity
- Intimacy and Romance across the Autism Spectrum
- Self-advocacy and Self-determination on the Autism Spectrum
- Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Autism
- childhood studies
About this book
This book presents a unique exploration of common myths about autism by examining these myths through the perspectives of autistic individuals. Examining the history of attitudes and beliefs about autism and autistic people, this book highlights the ways that these beliefs are continuing to impact autistic individuals and their families, and offers insights as to how viewing these myths from an autistic perspective can facilitate the transformation of these myths into a more positive direction. From ‘savant syndrome’ to the conception that people with autism lack empathy, each chapter examines a different social myth – tracing its origins, highlighting the implications it has had for autistic individuals and their families, debunking misconceptions and reconstructing the myth with recommendations for current and future practice. By offering an alternative view of autistic individuals as competent and capable of constructing their own futures, this book offers researchers, practitioners, individuals and families a deeper, more accurate, more comprehensive understanding of prevalent views about the abilities of autistic individuals as well as practical ways to re-shape these into more proactive and supportive practices.
Reviews
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Amanda Webster is passionate about creating inclusive communities where children on the spectrum are supported to become confident and self-efficacious adults. She is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong and is recognised nationally for her work on the creation of effective school communities for students on the autism spectrum and their families in Australia. Amanda has worked closely with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families for nearly 30 years as a school leader, teacher, early intervention advisor, education consultant and behaviour analyst in the USA and Australia. She has served as the director of postgraduate autism programs at two universities and is currently a researcher at the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Autism.
Emma Goodall is passionate about helping families and schools to facilitate success for children on the spectrum. She is an autism author, researcher and consultant in South Australia and sits on the executive committees of the Australian Society for Autism Research and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. Emma develops, reviews and helps implement research-based policies and programs that enable students on the autism spectrum to flourish. She combines her professional and academic skills and knowledge with her lived experience of Asperger’s to help people understand what it means to be on the autism spectrum and how different life is for those on and not on the spectrum.
Susannah Rowland is currently completing her PhD through the University of Wollongong. Through her research she hopes to build better understanding of the risk and protective factors of bullying for adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder, in mainstream secondary schools. Susannah has worked as an early childhood educator and director in Australia and Hong Kong, and as an early years co-ordinator in London. Her teaching experience includes working with children from diverse backgrounds, in a variety of educational settings. On graduation from her PhD, she aspires to work with families and individuals on the autism spectrum, providing support to assist them to strive towards goals and best outcomes.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Life on the Autism Spectrum
Book Subtitle: Translating Myths and Misconceptions into Positive Futures
Authors: Matthew Bennett, Amanda A. Webster, Emma Goodall, Susannah Rowland
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3359-0
Publisher: Springer Singapore
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and Psychology, Behavioral Science and Psychology (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018
Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-13-3358-3Published: 18 January 2019
eBook ISBN: 978-981-13-3359-0Published: 01 January 2019
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIII, 232
Number of Illustrations: 9 b/w illustrations
Topics: Applied Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Childhood, Adolescence and Society, Educational Psychology