Flexible and Focused

About the Series

Critical Specialties in Treating Autism and Other Behavioral Challenges

Critical Specialties in Treating Autism and other Behavioral Challenges, edited by Jonathan Tarbox, is a series of short books that address topics of high importance to practitioners working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other behavioral challenges

About the Series Editor

Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA-D is Director of Research and a Regional Clinic Director at FirstSteps for Kids. Dr. Tarbox has published two books on autism treatment, as well as over 60 peer-reviewed articles and chapters in scientific texts. Dr. Tarbox is an editorial board member of multiple scientific journals and a past President of the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis.

About the Volume

Flexible and Focused: Teaching Executive Function Skills to Individuals with Autism and Attention Disorders

By Adel Najdowski

Flexible and Focused: Teaching Executive Function Skills to Individuals with Autism and Attention Disorders is a manual written for individuals who work with learners who struggle with executive function deficits. The manual takes the perspective that executive function skills can be improved through effective intervention, just like any other skills. This how-to manual provides practical strategies for teaching learners to be focused, organized, flexible, and able to effectively manage themselves. Ready-to-use lessons, data sheets, worksheets, and other tools for practitioners, educators, and parents are provided to help them tackle common problems associated with executive function deficits in learners of any diagnosis, ages 5 to adult. The principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which form the foundation of this manual, are translated into simple, easy-to-use procedures. Lessons for improving executive function skills in real-life everyday situations are provided in the following areas:

• Self-awareness

• Inhibition and impulse control

• Self-management

• Attention

• Organization

• Problem solving

• Time management

• Planning

• Working memory

• Emotional self-regulation

• Flexibility

About the Volume Editor

Adel Najdowski, Pepperdine University, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA USA

Adel Najdowski, Ph.D., BCBA-D is an Associate Professor and Program Director of M.S. in Behavioral Psychology at Pepperdine University. Dr. Najdowski has provided ABA-based services to children with autism for 20 years. Between 2005 and 2010, she led the development of Skills®, an online curriculum for children with autism. In 2014, Dr. Najdowski co-authored, Evidence-Based Treatment for Children with Autism: The CARD Model. She has over 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters in scientific texts, and articles in popular media. Dr. Najdowski has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analysis in Practice and as a Guest Editor for a special issue in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her current research interests include teaching higher-order skills to children with autism and assessment and curriculum design for children with autism

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Principles Behind the Lessons

Chapter 3: Self-Awareness, Inhibition, and Self-Management

Chapter 4: Attention

Chapter 5: Organization

Chapter 6: Problem Solving, Time Management, and Planning

Chapter 7: Working Memory

Chapter 8: Emotional Self-Regulation and Flexibility

Chapter 9: Troubleshooting

Tables

Appendix – Additional Resources

Additional Resources – Printable Tools

Viewing of these requires the CDF player. Please visit http://www.wolfram.com/cdf-player/?source=footer to download the free player

• Figure 2.1 Graph Sheet

• Figure 3.1 Self-Awareness Worksheet

• Figure 3.2 Self-Management Data Sheet

• Figure 4.1 Morn and Eve Routine Checklist

• Figure 4.2 School Backpack Checklist

• Figure 4.3 Homework Routine Task Analysis

• Figure 4.4 Homework Planning Sheet

• Figure 4.5 Sustained Attention Data Sheet

• Figure 5.1 Cleaning Bedroom Task Analysis

• Figure 5.2 Organizing Personal Spaces Task Analysis

• Figure 6.1 Problem Solving Task Analysis

• Figure 6.2 Nonsocial Problem Solving Worksheet

• Figure 6.3 Social Problem Solving Worksheet

• Figure 6.4 How Long Do Things Take

• Figure 6.5 Time Lengths of Activities

• Figure 6.6 Schedule

• Figure 6.7 Following a Schedule Task Analysis

• Figure 6.8 Planning Short-Term Tasks Worksheet

• Figure 6.9 Planning Long-Term Tasks Worksheet

• Figure 6.10 Planning Long-Term Goals Task Analysis

• Figure 6.11 Planning Social Life Checklist

• Figure 7.1 Self Evaluation of Graded Assignments

• Figure 7.2 Packing My Bag Checklist

• Figure 8.1 Emotional Levels Chart

• Figure 8.2 Flexibility Worksheet