SPECTRA: Structured Program for Early Childhood Therapists working with Autism is a comprehensive intervention reference guide for psychologists, special needs teachers, therapists and early childhood educators working with children with autism spectrum disorder. It provides a developmental framework as well as step-by-step instructions on how to implement a behaviour program to teach autistic children a comprehensive range of skills, starting with skills that are typically lacking in these children. SPECTRA is applicable to children with an intellectual age of 18 months to 6 years old.

SPECTRA is a simple, easy-to-use guide to teaching children using behavioural techniques and consists of the following:

• principles and guidelines for designing and implementing an intervention program
• a progress map and simple checklists that allow you to identify the child’s developmental level, skills mastered and areas that need attention and learning.
• Specific exercises and activities covering a wide range of learning areas are included. These are: basic skills like attention, compliance and appropriate play; receptive and expressive communication; mathematics; reading and writing; making choices; and daily living skills.

Photocopy masters for designing a program and tracking progress are also included.