Spectrum of Independence How to Teach Your Neurodiverse Child Daily Life Skills

As a parent of a neurodiverse child, milestones that many families take for granted--like seeing your kid graduate from high school or college, get a rewarding job, and, eventually, leave the nest--may be fraught with uncertainty. How can kids who need loads of support to get through the day ever learn to take care of themselves? This motivating, practical book gives you concrete strategies for maximizing the independence of your child or teen with autism, intellectual disabilities, or other forms of neurodiversity. Exercises and downloadable worksheets are rooted in scientifically based behavioral principles and illustrated with vivid, empathic examples. By breaking down tasks like getting dressed, brushing teeth, or making a sandwich into manageable "microsteps," you will learn to phase out assistance gradually and systematically as kids take ownership of their routines. Actively boost your child's autonomy--this book shows how.

Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA, helps children and families prepare for independent living in her private practice in Locust Valley, New York. With a background in special education, psychology, and behavior analysis, she works with preschoolers through young adults with varying support needs.

Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D, is Assistant Professor of Special Education at Auburn University, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses and works with Auburn's inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual disabilities. Prior to becoming a professor, she ran a middle school behavior program.

Foreword, Peter Gerhardt
Introduction
I. Creating a New Future
1. “Why Aim for Independent Living?”: Your Child’s Reality Now and in the Future
2. “How Am I Supposed to Do This?”: Leveraging the Power of Task Analysis
II. Assessment
3. “Is My Child Ready for This?”: Evaluating Your Child’s Readiness
4. “Are You Ready for This?”: Evaluating Your Own Readiness
III. How to Teach Life Skills
5. “What Do I Need to Know before I Start?”: Understanding Behavior
6. How Do I Use Prompts to Teach?”: Empowering versus Enabling
IV. Let’s Do This!
7. “How Do I Make a Task Analysis?”: How to Create a Task Analysis
8. “How Do I Get Myself Out of the Routine?”: Fading Prompts to Build Independence
V. Maximizing Independence
9. “How Do I Make the Environment Work for My Child?”: Modifying the Goal versus Accommodating the Child
Epilogue: “How Do I Keep Moving Forward?”: Expanding Your Child’s Independence
Glossary
References
Index