The Autism Society of Los Angeles is pleased to announce the newest book from AS LA Vice-President Emily Iland, Drawing A Blank: Improving Comprehension for Readers on the Autism Spectrum.
More information about this event is available at http://readingautism.com/
Emily shared some important information about Drawing A Blank and what inspired her to write it:
"Reading comprehension can be a challenge for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) of all ages. In spite of strong decoding skills (the ability to sound out words or even read fluently), many readers with ASD struggle to understand the meaning of what they read. The breakdown can occur with single words, sentences, or longer stories. The reader with ASD may not know the meaning of words that are key to understanding bigger ideas. They may struggle to read between the lines or “extend” beyond the text to infer meaning. They can have difficulty analyzing and applying the meaning of material they have read. Readers with ASD often fail to relate personally or emotionally to the text. These types of comprehension issues stem from and relate to the social, communication, behavioral and cognitive features of autism. In fact, this pattern of good “reading” and poor understanding is so common in ASD that the term hyperlexia is now being used to describe reading comprehension disorder in people on the autism spectrum."
"My son Tom was a precocious young reader who read just about anything with ease and great intonation. I did not realize for a long time that his level of understanding lagged behind his strong decoding skills. His struggle with comprehension became more evident as he progressed through elementary school. As the academic content become more complex, the disconnect between reading words and understanding the meaning became clear. Examples included answering abstract questions about stories (i.e. Why did the woman cut off her hair?), or writing imaginative essays ("What will your life be like in the year 2050?). Frustrated as we worked on his homework, Tom once said to me “Mom, if it hasn’t happened to me my mind is like a blank page.” This insight helped me understand that while a person with hyperlexia is able to read words, the words do not necessarily convey meaning. Key ideas are not recognized and captured. As a result, when the person is asked about what was read, he or she "Draws A Blank" and is unable to respond."
"It can be hard to identify and measure the comprehension problem, which means that many readers with ASD are not getting the help they need to become good reading comprehenders. Many readers with ASD mask the fact that they do not understand by relying on facts or good memory. Many parents spend countless hours working on homework with their children with ASD to help them understand. In fact this can also mask the fact that the child does not understand without the additional support.
This situation, so familiar to individuals on the spectrum and their families, inspired me to look for answers and direction. This book is the result of three years of research. Not every intervention technique is a good fit for readers on the spectrum. Methods that work for others, like students with learning disabilities, may not be appropriate for readers with ASD. Drawing A Blank focuses on evidence-based practices and promising methods to improve comprehension that are a good match to the learning profile of readers with ASD. Examples include thematic reading (reading three different stories on the same subject) and using the synonym feature on a word processor to quickly find the meaning of an unknown word in context."
"The ultimate goal is to help people with ASD overcome comprehension issues and realize their potential. I hope that Drawing A Blank will be an excellent guide for parents, teachers and professionals who are looking for effective techniques and good ideas to build comprehension skills."
Drawing A Blank is available from AAPC publishers and all major book sellers.
