Newspaper features article about my book

[Guest guest]

7/9/2007

Here is an article about my book!

Lynch Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA

_www.vbapproach.com_ (http://www.vbapproach.com)

_http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=49511_ (http://www.read

ingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=49511)

Teaching tool

Lynch Barbera of Wyomissing, the mother of a child with autism, hopes

her new book will be a practical guide for parents and professionals about how

to teach language and other skills to children with autism as well as other

difficulties.

By

Reading Eagle Correspondent

Wyomissing, PA - Lynch Barbera knows first-hand the challenges and

trials of teaching a child with autism how to navigate the world.

Barbera’s older son, Lucas L., was diagnosed with autism in 1999 — a

diagnosis that rocked her world and changed her life. Once Lucas was diagnosed,

however, Barbera, an experienced registered nurse, claimed ownership of the

situation. From that point on, she was not only Lucas’ mom, but his advocate

and

teacher, as well.

Barbera of Wyomissing, along with Rasmussen, an author and journalist

who is a correspondent for the Reading Eagle, recently wrote a book about

teaching children with autism. Titled “The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to

Teach Children With Autism and Related Disorders,†the book is a practical

guide

for parents and professionals about how to teach language and other skills to

children with developmental disabilities. Although it was written primarily

with children with autism in mind, the information easily can be applied to

those with other difficulties.

“I knew that there was no book out there that comprehensively covered the

material that my book does,†Barbera said. “I’m hopeful that this book

will

serve as a guide and source of help to many families and teachers of children

with autism.â€

Published this spring by Kingsley Publishers of London and

Philadelphia, the book has received excellent reviews in publications such as

the

Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention and the International

Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy.

Reaching milestones

Lucas was born in 1996 and developed typically during his first year. His

mother and father, Dr. F. Barbera, chairman of the department of

emergency medicine at Reading Hospital, watched proudly as Lucas progressed

through

the milestones of the first year of life.

In hindsight, Barbera said, Lucas began regressing at about 15 months.

“He was changing subtly,†she said. “We had Spencer (their second son,

now

9) by then, and Lucas was pretty much oblivious to the baby. There were other

things, too, but it was hard to put your finger on. He just didn’t seem to

get it.â€

When Lucas was 18 months old, Barbera expressed her concerns to a

pediatrician. When he was 21 months old, her husband first mentioned the

possibility

that Lucas had autism.

“I was completely bewildered,†Barbera said. “I told my husband I never

wanted to hear that word out of his mouth again. And, being a good husband, he

didn’t mention it again for a year.â€

At that point, however, it was impossible to ignore that Lucas was falling

far behind developmentally.

He was diagnosed as having regressive autism the day before his third

birthday. Lucas, as is typical of children with regressive autism, had normal

development during the first year, but then began to exhibit difficulties.

Children with this type of autism often have difficulty with language,

cognitive and social skills. Lucas, a lively, loving, dark-haired boy, is

typical

in his struggle with speaking.

“For Lucas, autism manifests itself with a severe language impairment,â€

Barbera said.

Learning everything

Once Barbera accepted the fact that Lucas had autism, she got busy learning

everything she could about how to deal with it.

“For me, the best way to be able to help Lucas and others was to educate

myself,†she said.

She attended conferences and read every book she could find. In 2000, she

became the founding president of the Autism Society of Berks County, and in

2003 she became a board certified behavior analyst and began working with

children with autism and their families.

She is the lead behavior analyst for the Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior

Project, which analyzes the effectiveness of verbal behavior techniques in

schools

throughout the state.

Barbera has become known as an authority on the verbal behavior approach to

learning, which is based on the research of B.F. Skinner, a highly

influential psychologist and behavioral scientist. Her book provides a

step-by-step

guide of how to teach children with limited language skills and also addresses

issues such as behavior problems, using sign language and helping children

learn tasks of daily living.

Finishing the book is a milestone for Barbera, who hopes it will help

prepare more people to work with and teach children with autism.

“Very few people in the past have been trained to work with children with

autism, and yet we’re seeing more and more autism all the time,†Barbera

said.

“I’m hopeful that the book will allow many people to get started quickly in

using the verbal behavior approach. I’m hopeful that it will help.â€

•Contact correspondent at lifestyle@....

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