The Autism Language Launcher: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Child Turn Sounds and Words into Simple Conversations

by Kate Wilde, Samahria Lyte Kaufman (Foreword)

Do you want to help your child on the autism spectrum to verbally communicate with you and others? You've picked up the right book. The Autism Language Launcher gives you something totally a step-by-step guide that ignites language lift-off by using methods such as tapping into your child's innate intelligence, going with your child instead of against your child and providing techniques that work with adults on the spectrum. Written for parents, relatives, professionals, educators, or caregivers of a child or adult who is not yet verbal, making some sounds, using some words, speaking in single words, or using two-word phrases, this book uses the author's decades of experience with children and adults on the spectrum. Kate also demonstrates how to effectively address your child's echolalia, repetitious language, and repetitive questions in a way that your child will find supportive, bonding, and even joyful. Ultimately, this book shows you how to make language happen.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

288 pages, Paperback

Published August 21, 2019

About the author

Kate works in non-profit development.

She lives in New England with her husband and two children.

DANCE LESSONS & ANOTHER DANCE are the first two books in the Dance Lessons series.

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024: On a third re-read, I've decided to buy a copy and give it to my Mum to read. Some of it is no longer quite so relevant, but it's a quick read and an important reminder to work on the under-pinning fundamentals as a priority (rather than directly on speech).

2022: I have recommended this book to our speech therapist. This time around my take-aways were:

Speak in two different ways - in highly detailed and long sentences (your child can understand more than you think), and in short sharp phrases you want your child to learn.

Be careful not to model echolalia by repeating what your child says, ie saying back "drink" if they ask for a drink.

Increasing interactive attention span.

2019: Great title which was suggested by Raun K. Kaufman (who is a big part of the inspiration for this book).

Kate Wilde treads a fine line between accessible and patronising, but in my opinion she succeeds.

This is easily the best book for parents I've read on encouraging speech development, and is based on the "Son-Rise program". Son-Rise reminds me of the DIR Floortime approach developed by Stanley Greenspan, but this book is much more practical than Greenspan's "Engaging Autism".

Things I learnt:
* Identifying a "Green Light" (ready for a challenge) or "Red Light" (needing to regulate)
* "Joining" during Red Lights
* Laying a foundation for increased verbal communication by extending interactive attention span

There is a great FAQ section, and resources such as assessment sheets are downloadable here: https://www.jkp.com/uk/the-autism-lan...

Highly recommended.

[Laura C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would have been a wonderful book to read before starting speech therapy. It’s the complete opposite of ABA. It’s based a lot on the child and using their cues on when to engage with them. It isn’t meant to be read all in one go but moving on through the chapters as the child reaches the goal and progresses.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to put into practice everything in this book. Firstly a room needs to be set up to conduct the therapy. It needs to be uncluttered and set up in a specific way. I don’t have an extra room available at this point and space is very limited at the moment due to ongoing renovations. Also my son sees a speech therapist so his therapy is led by her mostly. But I’ll definitely use some of the techniques mentioned in the book as well.

I felt like finishing the book as I don’t like having unfinished books for long periods of time but once my son progresses I plan to go back and reread the relevant chapters.

If The Son-Rise Program was available here I would definitely have my son to be a part of it. When I ask his therapists about the program they either had never heard of it or believed it to be too lenient.

Just yesterday I practiced part of an exercise for the stage he is currently at and I actually got results. By over pronouncing a word while he is looking at my mouth he has started staying the first syllable of the word after I say it.

I highly recommend this book for any parent of an autistic child who is not only non-verbal but also who may be verbal but have communication difficulties.

[Sam Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not overstate the effect this book has had on my family. For the first time I have read a book which shares my expectations for autistic children the world over.

This is a must read for parents and teachers everywhere.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for parents who are just starting to notice a speech delay in their child. My son has been in speech therapy for 5 years so a lot of this info I already had/knew, but it would be SO helpful for people who are just starting this journey. With that being said, I did learn some new things and some tips/games I will try with my son. It was so refreshing to see a therapy that is the complete opposite of ABA.

[Tahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learnt so many things...

[Agnieszka · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good.
Why there is so few readers here?