What People Are Saying

What Parents Are Saying

Dr. Monteiro’s approach with my son gave me huge relief in that I finally found someone (other than me) who understood my child. I am heartened to know that more families may benefit from her approach with the publication of this book. Her simple to understand visual diagrams kept my husband and me focused while our heads were swimming and our hearts were breaking at the undeniable news of our son’s diagnosis. Believe me, her simple drawings were worth a thousand words during those heavily emotional times.

– Kitsy Haiman, mother of child on the autism spectrum

WOW! I really wish there would have been a book like this when my son was younger. Dr. Monteiro speaks in terms that are understandable for parents, educators, and the medical profession and explains in detail significant information relating to autism. When my husband and I received our initial evaluation on behavior strategies for our son 10 years ago, we left the meeting confused and angry. We could not decipher what the report said and how it related to my son. Parents want to know that someone understands them and their child’s diagnosis and is listening to their concerns. They want affirmation that their child’s unique qualities are understood and make them special. This book gives the tools to deliver that.

– Beth Susens, mother of child on the autism spectrum

During my son’s assessment, I could tell she really saw Wyatt as a person – instead of checking off boxes and categorizing his differences.

– Laura Schieber, mother of child on the autism spectrum

I still have my son’s “triangle” diagram from 2002.

– Pam Seeger, mother of child on the autism spectrum

If only I had read this book before the evaluation of my, then 4-year-old, son. Having this preparation would have certainly eased the stress of the evaluation process for both of us. …I feel very strongly that Autism Conversations should and will become the number one guide and handbook for all involved in the evaluation of autism.

– Julie Collier, mother of a young adult on the autism spectrum

What Professionals Are Saying: Reviews of Autism Conversations

Autism Conversations provides a best practice script and procedure, advice on materials to use during the diagnostic assessment, and a structure to explain and quantify the nature of autism as expressed by a particular child. Clinicians who have recently decided to specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders will greatly enhance their expertise using the advice provided within Autism Conversations. Advanced clinicians will also benefit from the ideas and explanations. There were many instances as I read the manuscript that I thought, “What a great idea!”

I know that Autism Conversations will be read for advice, before and during a diagnostic assessment, and used to provide guidance when writing the report and discussing the results and implications with parents, teachers and colleagues. I recommend that each clinician has his or her own copy, because if this book is shared, whoever has Autism Conversations will be reluctant to part with it.

– Tony Attwood, Ph.D. Author of Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

Autism Conversations is a “must have” desk reference for clinicians and teachers working with children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Parents of these unique individuals are often under stress and need the clear and knowledgeable advice Dr. Monteiro provides.

– Gale H. Roid, Ph.D, Professor, Warner Pacific College, Author of Standford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition

In reading this book, I immediately thought “I wish I had something like this available 24 years ago when I started assessing children with developmental differences.” Most of all I am glad that we now have this book available for training our current and future assessment team and professionals.

– Michael DuPont, Ph.D., Psychologist

Autism Conversations provides extremely useful guidance for the evaluation process because it is so clearly rooted in clinical experience, which makes it extremely valuable for the practitioner. The title of the book captures something essential for evaluation teams: It brings evaluators deeper into the worldview of the child and actually has the potential to improve examiner empathy for the neuro-atypical way autistic children journey through daily life. By creating a template for “authentic conversations,” Dr. Monteiro has not only created an assessment tool, but also a teaching tool that has the potential to help evaluators constantly increase their understanding of autistic children through a framework that is both subjective and analytical.

– Leslie Sharp, M.A., School Psychologist

This type of evaluation allows one to “connect” with the child and gain insight on the child’s worldview. Autism Conversations provides a structured guide to the evaluation process, from beginning to end. The children love the evaluation because it is all about them. Parents like the format used to explain the evaluation because it is clear, easy to understand and typically mirrors how they see their child in the home environment. Autism Conversations is a book you need to have in your evaluation toolbox.

– Nancy Mabrey, Licensed Speech and Language Pathologist

This book should be in the library of every professional who works with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to use both as a reference book and an evaluation text.

– Susan Girvin, Ed.D., Educational Diagnostician

Having worked with Dr. Monteiro on autism evaluations as part of a multidisciplinary team, I have seen the ways in which this diagnostic method can add to our understanding of individual children who have autism. An authentic picture of the child emerges in the course of the diagnostic team conversations. Parents know that the evaluation team has truly gotten to know their child’s strengths and challenges. Teachers are able to understand why a particular intervention is useful and are more invested in implementing recommendations.

– Melanie Wells, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

Use of Dr. Monteiro’s visual framework helps the evaluators organize collaborative data into meaningful segments that can be easily communicated to parents during feedback conferences. Additionally, the report-writing chapter offers useful and practical recommendations for presenting evaluation data in a narrative report that uses parent-friendly and easy to understand language. Also of great value are the tips and suggestions provided throughout the book that help report writers link the evaluation data to specific and meaningful intervention recommendations for the child.

– Elissa Kay Stover, M.S., Licensed Specialist in School Psychology

What Professionals Are Saying: The MIGDAS

I am extremely impressed with the MIGDAS and will be recommending the MIGDAS to my colleagues. Marilyn has captured the essence of Asperger’s Syndrome and developed an instrument that will be invaluable for clinicians and therapists.

– Tony Attwood, Ph.D., author of The Cognitive Affective Training (CAT) Kit

After attending Dr. Monteiro’s training on how to administer the MIGDAS and reading Autism Conversations, I am excited about the depth the instrument will add to evaluations that all too often keep the child at a distance by relying on observations, behavior checklists, and formal standardized tests to interpret developmental differences, with minimal direct interaction with the child.

– Leslie Sharp, M.A., School Psychologist

Our autism team has been using the MIGDAS throughout the year as our primary evaluation tool for children suspected of Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism. The MIGDAS has been immensely helpful to our team in guiding us through the diagnostic process. It is thorough, clear and adaptable to a multitude of assessment situations. The child typically becomes very involved in the assessment materials, allowing for a full understanding of the child. I highly recommend the MIGDAS.

– Dinah Graham, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

Participant Comments from Dr. Monteiro’s Autism Training Workshops

Professionals in the field and parents of children with autism spectrum disorders share many comments about the unique, compelling, and practical information provided by her training materials.

Sample comments taken directly from the evaluation forms used by conference organizers at the end of a workshop session are provided below. The anonymous comments are included to illustrate how her workshops on autism evaluation methods are perceived by participants.

“Her materials were an excellent blend of research, science, and the art of working with families and children with autism spectrum disorders. Marilyn puts the ‘human element’ into a complicated and sometimes emotional business of dealing with the evaluation, diagnosis, and programming challenges for children with autism.”

“Dr. Monteiro is a fabulous presenter – knowledgeable and enjoyable.”

“Marilyn provided very practical applications for autism spectrum disorder evaluations and parent training.”

“Dr. Monteiro provided an extensive amount of information I can use in my daily evaluation activities.”

“Dr. Monteiro’s knowledge and handouts were wonderful.”

“Marilyn’s vast working, current, best practice knowledge and experience made this an excellent workshop.”

“Marilyn is always sharing so much knowledge! I loved the list of resources as well as her presentation.”

“Marilyn’s description of the clinical behavior features of autism, PDD and Asperger’s Syndrome was extremely helpful.”

“Very well presented training. Dr. Monteiro gives thorough information in a positive manner.”

“Great mix of information and personal experiences.”

“Loved the slides & commentary. Very easy to follow and kept my interest the entire time.”

“Great ideas to integrate into therapy.”

“Thank you for the excellent presentation. Great ideas I can use tomorrow.”

“This was about the best continuing education I’ve ever had. She described very pertinent experiences and had a warm and funny sense of humor.”

“Thank you so much for the humor! The session was very enjoyable for learning.”

“Loved her presentation style, very knowledgeable, great speaking voice, sense of humor.”

“Great job – organized and easy to understand. Open to questions and comments.”

“Excellent presenter. Would be excellent for even broader audience (teachers, administration, and principals).”