Uniquely Normal Manual

Robert J. Bernstein has been treating children on the autism spectrum for more than 30 years. He shepherded his son, who is on the spectrum, through college and graduate school and on to a successful career in computer electronics. He consults for numerous organizations, including the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies, and was publicly acclaimed for pioneering table tennis as a means to facilitate social interaction among young people with autism. His work with a previously nonverbal child whom he helped learn to speak was documented in the New York Times. He has appeared on Dateline NBC; national radio; hosted the "Educating Your Child" radio show; and conducted dozens of seminars and presentations. Rob received his graduate training at Teachers College Columbia University and lives in Westchester County, New York.

• IntroductionActivities for Focusing Thinking and Organizing ThoughtsCandle and beaker: Thinking about cause and effect.Rings on a post: Self-correction; big and small.Helium balloons: Solving a problem together; planning; sequential thinking; expressing choices.Magic tricks: Organizing thinking; verbal self-direction; verbal expression.Activities for Eliciting and Organizing Language Put words into the child’s mind.Have the child fill in words as you read aloud.Have the child fill in words as you speak.Have the child fill in words as you sing with the child. Use movement to elicit language. Therapeutic car ride.Activities for Developing FlexibilitySeeing things from another person’s point of view.Accepting another person’s feelings and differences.Overcoming perseveration.Waiting to take turns Overcoming inflexibility, in highly verbal children/ young adultsConclusion