Page 55 - SEN107 SEN Magazine July-August 2020

senmagazine.co.uk SEN 107 55 by Mary Mountstephen This updated edition is a practical handbook for those supporting children with sensory and motor learning issues. It provides the reader with an overview of the challenges of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and links this to practical ‘hands on’ strategies for daily management of the condition. Jill Christmas has many years’ experience as a highly respected occupational therapist and her co-author has both a professional and personal interest in supporting people with DCD, as well as managing Dyspraxia UK, an occupational therapy assessment service. The first edition of this book was published in 2009, and in the intervening years, there has been much research. This research has informed the new publication, and the original format has also been updated to reflect this. This handbook recognises that DCD/Dyspraxia often coexists with other conditions such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Language Disorders and Autistic Spectrum Disorders and makes links to sensory integration and self-care skills. It includes information on the impact of primitive reflexes and provides activities linked to these, as well as additional resources and information about professional organisations and recommended reading. Each chapter links theory to practice and provides the reader with a clear understanding of how to manage aspects as diverse as visual memory, concentration and dressing skills. In the introduction, Dr Shah, a consultant clinical psychologist with extensive experience of working with complex issues in autism defines catatonia as a ‘complex, multifaceted disorder \\\\\\\[...\\\\\\\] there are a whole range of abnormalities of posture, movement, speech and behaviour’. She outlines some of the subtypes of catatonia manifestations in autistic spectrum disorder and states that there are a significant number of people who are not yet diagnosed. Chapters include; ‘Consequences of Misdiagnosis and Misconception,’ ‘Possible Causal Factors,’ and ‘The Psycho-Ecological Approach’. The book also includes The Autism Catatonia Evaluation (ACE-S), developed by the author as a framework for a systematic assessment and evaluation of catatonia manifestations in children and adults. This can be used by anyone involved with an autistic individual and it reflects Shah’s psycho-ecological approach, which takes into account all aspects of the environment that the individual has to cope with. These include the physical and sensory environment, educational and occupational settings and social interactions. Drawing on over four decades of experience, it represents a multi-dimensional, holistic approach that takes into account the anxiety and distress that many of her clients experience on a daily basis. Shah provides several short case studies to illustrate the application of this approach. This book is an excellent and supportive guide that will be of value to clinicians, other professionals and families supporting autistic individuals. It is particularly well-written and accessible to a wide audience. Speechmark ( Taylor Francis Group) ISBN: 978-1-138-0097-3 £16.99 Jessica Kingsley Publishers ISBN: 978-1-78592-249-7 £19.99 Catatonia, Shutdown and Breakdown in Autism: A Psycho-Ecological Approach Dr A. Shah Hands on Dyspraxia: Supporting Young People With Motor and Sensory Challenges (2nd Edition) J. Christmas & R. Van de Weyer Book reviews