Pediatrician Jeanie McAfee created the user-friendly social curriculum Navigating the Social World for her daughter Rachel, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s at age ten. Since then, it has become a staple for parents and educators. Through humorous skits, audience participation, and excellent presentations, Jeanie and her co-host Amelia Davies address the most urgent problems facing those with Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism, and related disorders: how to increase communication skills, recognize and cope with emotions, recognize and prevent stress, develop abstract thinking skills, address behavioral problems, and much more. Over three hours long, this workshop will guide you through steps that can be employed in the classroom or home. An 80-page booklet is included with helpful handouts and forms to help keep teachers and learners on track.
Running Time: 3 hours
Dr. Jeanie McAfee was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, and received her B.S. and medical degrees from the University of California at Davis. After completing an internship in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital, Oakland, she spent several years providing general pediatric care to underserved children, and three years working with children of U.S. servicemen in Germany. While attending medical school, she met and married the man of her dreams, Keith, and they now have four wonderful daughters. When Jeanie’s daughter Rachel was diagnosed with high-functioning autism (HFA) at the age of ten, Jeanie believed she would finally be able to find an appropriate treatment program for her. However, after doing extensive research on autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, she soon discovered that it was difficult to find an existing program that would address Rachel’s special needs while maximizing her unique combination of strengths. This is what motivated Jeanie to write Navigating the Social World. Combining her medical background as a pediatrician with her understanding of her daughter’s specific needs, Jeanie developed one of the most effective social curricula ever created. She strongly believes that the more parents and educators work together to share ideas and experiences, the better we will be able to help our students, clients, and loved ones with Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism and related disorders to live happier and more productive lives.
"Provides clear and thorough cognitive behavioral programs for working with children to develop life skills.” Marjorie Solomon-Friedman, Ph.D. Post Graduate Researcher/M.I.N.D. Scholar “What makes it unique is that the mother and physician are one and the same person!! Dr. McAfee turned her love and concern for her own child into this masterfully practical and accessible [program] that will provide valuable assistance to children, parents, teachers, and professionals around the world.” Edward Hallowell, M.D. Senior Lecturer, Harvard Medical School And author of Connect and Driven to Distraction “A source for understanding the cognitive origins of inappropriate behaviors seen in this population. Dr. McAfee has done an outstanding job creating a practical guide to emotional and social dilemmas.” Linda Lotspiech, M.D., M.Ed., Director Neuropsychiatry/PDD Clinic, Stanford University "Straight-forward, consistent interventions on a wide range of behaviors and skills.” Robin L. Hansen, M.D., Chief, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics M.I.N.D. Institute/University of California, Davis “As a behaviorist, rarely can I find a program written for real people that provides applicability in a common sense way. Ideal for professionals, paraprofessionals and caregivers.” Rodger Stein, Behaviorist “From an SLP standpoint, I thought [the] information was excellent. . . . A fabulous addition for professionals and parents. . . . provides step-by-step, understandable program in a format that can be easily adapted to any type of educational or therapeutic program.” Jane Germ, Speech and Language Pathologist "An in-depth account of techniques adapted, developed, and fine-tuned by Dr. McAfee to provide her daughter with the skills to comprehend the elusive social world. Many students, teachers and parents have approached me in search of practical advice on how to deal with the manifestations of this stunning syndrome. I had found myself almost empty-handed when asked for specific training strategies, long-term goals and an overall plan of action. Now, this [program] will help bridge that gap between theory and practice." Adriana L. Schuler, Professor of Special Education San Francisco State University
Tracks: Introduction Building a Model Curriculum Stress Management Social Skills Prerequisites Initiating Conversation Using Nonverbal Conversation Skills Offering and Asking for Help Giving Compliments Conflict Resolution Public vs. Private Non-compliance Cognitive Book Info Contact Info
