This book provides speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, and parents with intervention strategies that promote learning and effective functioning in social contexts for students with autism. Grooming, taking turns, making choices, listening, solving problems, responding appropriately to verbal instructions and other topics are included.

Practical Ideas That Really Work for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders—Second Edition is intended for use with students with autism spectrum disorders in preschool through Grade 12.  It includes two primary components: 1) Evaluation Form with a Rating Scale and Ideas Matrix and 2) Practical Ideas Manual.

The Rating Scale portion of the evaluation form is a criterion-referenced measure for evaluating behaviors that impact student learning and social interactions.  The Manual includes an "Ideas Matrix” of 40 ideas, many with reproducible matters, and all grounded in research and the collective experience of many educators.  Each idea is provided with specific supporting references.

• Idea 1:  Show You Know
• Idea 2:  Nice Looking
• Idea 3:  Show Me
• Idea 4:  Learn to Imitate, Imitate to Learn
• Idea 5:  Your Turn to Imitate
• Idea 6:  Your Turn, My Turn
• Idea 7:  Follow the Music
• Idea 8:  Games, Games, and More Games
• Idea 9:  Look in the Mirror
• Idea 10:  Schedule Sensory Time    
• Idea 11:  Bring Out the Noise
• Idea 12:  When/Do Books
• Idea 13:  Puppet Play
• Idea 14:  Get Predictable
• Idea 15:  Yes or No
• Idea 16:  Cueing Pronouns
• Idea 17:  Touch, Show, Find, or Say
• Idea 18:  Wh- Game
• Idea 19:  Talk Prompters
• Idea 20:  Conversation Cards
• Idea 21:  Problem Solve with I Think, You Think
• Idea 22:  The Daily Scoop
• Idea 23:  Choice Cards
• Idea 24:  Now-Next Picture Map
• Idea 25:  Schedule Changes
• Idea 26:  Learn to Wait
• Idea 27:  Teaching Independence
• Idea 28:  Do More to Learn More
• Idea 29:  On Your Own
• Idea 30:  Five Ways to Finish
• Idea 31:  Reduce Prompts
• Idea 32:  Door Signs
• Idea 33:  Four-Step Behavior Plan
• Idea 34:  Social Skills in Pictures
• Idea 35:  Use Video Modeling
• Idea 36:  Card Counters
• Idea 37:  Positive Reinforcement
• Idea 38:  What to Teach Next
• Idea 39:  Direct-Teach Social Skills
• Idea 40:  Skills Checklist
  

Five easy steps are also included for guidance:

1. Collect Student Information
2. Rate the Behaviors of the Student
3. Choose the Ideas to Implement
4. Read and Review the Practical Ideas that Have Been Selected
5. Evaluation