Dr. Heather MacKenzie, a speech-language pathologist and educator by profession, has spent the past fifteen years of her 30-year career understanding the enigma of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She has developed a Learning Preferences and Strengths model designed to determine each child's learning preferences and strengths and then `harness' them to improve the child's learning and development. Heather established a preschool program for children with ASD based on this model.

• Preface. 1. Reframing the Traditional Definition of Autism. 2.Learning Preferences and Strengths Model. 3.Learning Preferences and Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 4.Program Planning with Learning Preferences and Strengths. 5. Program Structure. 6. Program Content. 7. Program Process. 8.Behavior in Children with Autism. 9. Putting the Pieces Together: An Overview of the Learning Preferences and Strengths Model. Appendix.

The model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding- and dealing more effectively with children with autism to allow them to develop lifelong independent living... Easy to read, practical and informative - a good resource to share with education colleagues when collaboratively planning and implementing reaching and learning programmes.