Promoting Desired Lifestyles Among Adults With Severe Autism and Intellectual Disabilities

“Rarely does a book come along that is both relevant to current issues few others are addressing and written in such a clear and straightforward manner to make it accessible to everyone. “Promoting Desired Lifestyles…” is such a book. Reid and Rosswurm have succeeded in showing that there are no real obstacles to blending and integrating person-centered approaches and behavior analysis.” -- Copper R. Woodard, The Groden Center, Published Book Review in Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (2023) 7:488-489

"Whether one reads the whole book cover to cover, chapter by chapter, or starts out with browsing for a specific topic of interest, and then dive deeper, this guidebook is formatted beautifully to serve as a reference that incorporates detailed descriptions of recommended guidelines for implementation. It will serve as a teaching tool with careful consideration taken of, and described from all perspectives, first and foremost, the individuals who have severe disabilities. Paid direct support staff who provide the day-to-day care, as well as natural supports and family members, supervisors and other clinicians, are all considered and addressed as to how they might take important steps that can change lives while increasing their own joy and job satisfaction. The chapter summary with key points at the end of each chapter clearly summarizes content that is complex and detailed, as needed. Case illustrations incorporated depict examples of people receiving support; which improves readers’ understanding, demonstrates actual applications of guidelines, and shares meaningful outcomes for each person. I am beyond grateful to these authors, Dr. Reid and Ms. Rosswurm, for taking the time and making the effort to write this book. I am also appreciative for how thoughtfully and thoroughly each topic is covered and the extent to which content is compiled." --Diane Berth, Mom, LPA, BCBA

"Rarely does a book come along that is both relevant to current issues few others are addressing and written in such a clear and straightforward manner to make it accessible to everyone. “Promoting Desired Lifestyles. . .” is such a book. Reid and Rosswurm have succeeded in showing that there are no real obstacles to blending and integrating person-centered approaches and behavior analysis.

The book is structured in a way that makes the main ideas very easy to identify, implement, and retain. Throughout each chapter are bolded and boxed short summaries that convey the main ideas of the preceding section in a clear and understandable way. The concepts in each section are easily recognizable to the behavior analyst as evidence-based practices, yet the presentation is not complicated by excessively technical terms, descriptions, or detail.

This book is designed to guard against such behaviors by stressing the need for conditions, practices, and procedures that foster self-direction and self-advocacy. In time, this perspective will hopefully become commonplace, and fostering the many other determinants of happiness that the person brings to the life experience, self-efficacy, optimism, hope, humor, or courage can become the focus of our work." --Springer, Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Journal