Building Independence - by Christine E Reeve & Susan Kabot (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Individuals with ASD and related disorders are supported by a variety of people throughout their day, whether in educational and work settings, transition programs or at home. Structured work systems are one method that can be used to ensure that they develop and maintain their ability to work on their own, without assistance and prompting from others. Briefly, structured work systems are designed to give visual information about what work needs to be done, how much works needs to be done, when the work is completed and what will happen next. Due to the predictability and sense of accomplishment that are built into the system, many individuals with ASD find the structured work time their favorite time of the day. Full of color photos and case examples spanning age and levels of functioning, the book provides an A-Z guide to work systems, including assessment, how to build them into the curriculum, IEPs, lesson planning and more.

Review Quotes

"Structured work systems are critical for many individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders at school, home, and in the community. Reeve and Kabot offer a clear description and practical guidelines for implementing structured work systems from assessment through progress monitoring. The structured work systems and specific activity examples provide a starting point for developing and organizing tasks that the reader can then build upon. The text is especially beneficial for beginning teachers and individuals new to working with students with ASD or to implementing structured work systems."- Christi Carnahan, EdD, assistant professor, University of Cincinnati; co-author of Quality Literacy Instruction for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders - Winner of the Textbook Excellence Award "Texty" (2011)

"Reeve and Kabot have done it again! Increasing independence for the students we serve is vital to their present and future successes. This book's combination of targeted techniques, evidence-based guidelines, and classroom-friendly practices will have students soaring as teachers implement these clearly defined strategies. A fantastic, must-have resource for my staff!" - L. Shannon Mundy, EdS, director of special education, Mountain Brook Schools, Alabama

"Reeve and Kabot share a wealth of knowledge for teachers educating students with autism spectrum disorders. The visuals are practical, engaging, and functionally relevant. This is an invaluable resource for teachers, transition personnel, and families in presenting tasks that will increase and maximize independent functioning." - Lynnette Currie, special education program facilitator, Anderson County Schools, Tennessee

"This book will be very helpful for the teachers of our system-wide classes. I particularly like the way the authors use three specific students to relate the different work systems. All the systems are organized with visual cues to meet the needs of the student utilizing them. Not only will these work systems be effective in helping students with severe cognitive challenges develop skills, they will provide a basis for students as they progress in making incremental steps to eventually becoming as independent as they are capable. The directions, examples, activities, pictures, and teaching strategies will be a life-saver for the teachers in our district!" - Mary Ann Voss, exceptional education supervisor, Hamilton County Department of Education, Tennessee

"The authors did an amazing job of providing readers a comprehensive text on structured work systems that will become a classic in the field. My focus is on educating children, ages three to five; however, teachers at the elementary through high school levels and beyond will equally find this a significant resource. I will use this book for training new staff and as a refresher and resource for returning staff. I was especially pleased to see so many work system photographs for different age levels, charts of commonly used materials, and frequently asked questions." - Nancy Lieberman, EdS, director, Baudhuin Preschool, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

"Probably the most challenging aspect of work systems is illustrating the application of this visual support to the Common Core. Reeve and Kabot take TEACCH's approach over the past 40 years and demonstrate high quality of detail in illustrating some curriculum related directly to the Common Core. Here you will find creatively developed activities that address the characteristics of autism spectrum disorders at multiple levels while ensuring attention to the Common Core across ability and age levels ... Practical data sheets, multiple illustrations to show different systems, settings, and formats, and a useful list of materials to assist work system development all make this a vital resource for teacher trainers and for teachers attempting to provide quality educational services to students with ASD." - John B. Thomas, MEd, educational consultant; co-author of TEACCH Transition Assessment Profile