Engaging Autism

April 3, 2006
Greenspan and Wieder (The Child with Special Needs) start out by redefining autism in realistic yet positive terms which open the door for successful intervention: instead of focusing solely on the autistic spectrum, a more flexible axis measuring progress, on which placement is not fixed, can give parents and children a "a healthy developmental trajectory," taking into account such goals as "showing intimacy and warmth ... communicating with gestures ... and talking meaningfully." The authors give readers a pragmatic approach to thinking about people on the autistic spectrum, including specific ideas for enhancing connectivity and communication in people of any age, most of whom "rarely advance intellectually above the ten-to-twelve-year-old level ... when they could progress far beyond the level of concrete thinking," if only there were a curriculum that would "challenge them to do so." Most of the text is used to help develop an engaging program for someone with autism, including resources and examples, in order to address "relationships, specific behaviors, the creative use of ideas, and the various processing areas." This is essential reading for caregivers, parents and friends of people on the spectrum, as well as compelling reading for anyone who wants to learn more about autism.

Starred review from April 1, 2006
Does the modern media serve the public interest? The answer in this documentary is a resounding -no. - Weaving together quotes from Orwell -s "1984" with commentary from well-credentialed media professionals and academics, filmmaker Pappas presents a chilling view of the current state of the media in America, showing how corporate interests -and individuals who -ve become rich from those interests -serve only themselves. Pappas compares current journalism, forged by the incestuous relationship of big media, huge multinational corporations, and government, to "1984" -s doublespeak. The likes of Michael Moore, Vincent Bugliosi, and Rep. Bernie Sanders, among others, cogently express how the combination of business, politics, ideology, and increased media consolidation seriously threatens our democracy. Chapters cover media deregulation (an indictment of the FCC for creating new rules that benefit the media industry rather than the public); looking ahead, the question of whether or not corporate interests will soon control the Internet; and more. The chapter selection option can be valuable in classrooms, where it would be practical to show sections as part of focused discussion. Though well edited, the documentary is long and somewhat repetitive; talking heads comprise most of the visuals. Still, the ambitious content, with judicious use of the selection option, carries the day. Recommended for all audiences, especially college students studying journalism, communications, and political science." -Susan DeMasi, Suffolk Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Selden, NY"

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