Preparing for Life

By Jed Baker

Book Overview

Typically, ASD high school graduates are unprepared for the transition to independence. Early, ongoing training in the social skills crucial to establishing successful adult relationships-in college, vocational school, residential living, or on the job-can help. He also guides readers through the legal, financial, educational, vocational, and community resources available after graduation. The essence of the book lies in the 73 "Skill Lessons" targeting nonverbal communication, empathy, anger/anxiety management, conversational skills, and employment-related skills-which can be taught by parents, teachers, or professionals. This easy-to-follow resource offers a complete toolbox of social skills and the means to attain them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932565337
• ISBN13: 9781932565331
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Future Horizons
• Length: 357 Pages
• Weight: 2.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.4" x 10.9"
• Age Range: 16 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 11 to 12

Customer Reviews

Brilliant Navigator

This book is truly a Godsend. It is ideal for people on the autism/Asperger's spectrum who are approaching adulthood. Dr. Baker is plainly a gifted man and this book is proof positive of his logical vision. He is also a brilliant navigator who leads expeditions for people on the a/A spectrum into understanding the neurotypical world and issues in it. I like the way he organizes assets and challenges by putting them into categories, e.g. work, social, etc. Dr. Baker includes some good practical techniques for handling difficult emotions. His advice on dating and employment issues is something no adult on the spectrum should go without reading. If you are an adult on the spectrum, please make this book your best friend.

Great Life Skills Training

This is a great motivational book for someone on the verge of entering into adulthood. Dr. Baker pinpoints specific skills needed for a variety of "life situations" by catagorizing them and dealing with them individually. It starts out with mapping out assets and challenges. There are activity pages to use when anger is an issue and suggestions on calming ones self. The book includes a 16 page section on dating. It offers great advice for job seekers, from writing resumes to handling rejection. These are only a few of the sections found in this book. It truly is indispensable for anyone with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome. I definitely recommend this one.

Great book on social skills

"Preparing for Life" was a terrific book. If someone you know has Autism/Asperger's and is getting ready for any major transitions in life, this book is highly recommended. It comes with worksheets and very helpful activities to help one reach their goals and be more confident with who they are. It is a highly motivational book in that it helps an individual not to be afraid to try new things and gives much needed assistance in dealing with real-life circumstances that might be challenging.

Invaluable Resource

Even though I am not an educator, I have a relative with Autism. I have now, through the reading of this book as well as others, learned more of the struggles that many with Autism face. There were activities and lessons taught in this book that I can vary and even teach one on one with my nephew. I feel like I have gained a world of knowledge of how I can be an encouragement to him. Another great book that was a huge help to me was the "1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders".

Deals with a variety of key issues

Life situations, from simple conversation to employment skills, have been touched on in this indispensable book. So many ideas were gleened from this thorough book. It was easy to read and not filled with alot of technical verbage to work through. It gets straight to the point of each issue and has very workable instructions for teaching purposes. This and "1001 Great Ideas" by Ellen Notbohm are excellent resources.