Autism Through the Lifespan : The Eden Model

For more than twenty years, The Eden Family of Services in Princeton, New Jersey, has provided comprehensive behaviourally based services for children with autism.

Now Eden's founding director, David L. Holmes writes about autism and the specialised programmes offered at Eden in Autism Through the Lifespan, explaining how Eden's theories and practices can be replicated in other communities.

One of the most distinct philosophies of the Eden Model and the book's focus is the concept of 'lifespan services', meaning people in the programme will receive continuous services as needed, over their lifetime.

Maintaining a continuum of educational, residential, and employment programmes can create great challenges for Eden's staff who provide the seamless, permanent support network that people with autism and their families often require.

With numerous examples and case histories, Autism Through the Lifespan presents an in-depth model for helping children and adults with autism that will be of interest to professionals and parents alike. It begins with an overview of what's known about autism today, then continues with discussions about Eden's approach to modifying behaviour, placement and treatment, their 'zero reject' policy, curriculum from early childhood to adulthood, staffing issues, integration, decision-making and parental roles.