Autism as Context Blindness Kindle Edition

Vermeulen does a nice job of explicating the idea of context blindness as a central problem for people on the Autism Spectrum. While he does his best to review the research in support of this idea and how it fits with other frequently cited challenges for people with ASD such as with central coherence, theory of mind, and executive function, it seemed to me that he might have done it in a far more compact format, such as a well referenced essay. In the end, his suggestion that people might benefit more from situational training than training limited to skills out of context (reading emotions, for instance) makes a lot of sense and it the kind of thing that you see in Crooke and Winner's efforts for workability (Social Thinking at Work: Why Should I Care?) and in the Pimsleur method for language learning. Still, I think his pessimism, claiming an inability of people on the Autism Spectrum to learn context awareness and sensitivity is roundly challenged by the gains we see in people who receive developmental-relationship based approaches (DIR/Floortime, PLAY Project, etc.) or those that are informed by those approaches (e.g. Early Start Denver Model) His lack of awareness of or attention to these evidence based and emotionally powered interventions, ones that change the paradigm of treatment, is a severe limitation for a book that otherwise does a commendable job in helping us all recognize some of the difficulties people with ASD can have. He offers a very concept but he is limited when it comes to thinking about what to do about it.

I am a special education teacher who works with students with ASD and I have a son who was diagnosed with AS pre-DSM-V. I have always struggled with explaining autism to the support staff in my classroom as I never felt the current accepted theories adequately described the full scope of autism. I've also felt that my efforts to promote social understanding with my students have fallen short. This book has given me a much better understanding of autism and why it is such a complex disorder. The author provides many relevant examples to help make his points. He also provides ideas for modifying our approach to supporting individuals with ASD and he emphasizes the importance of creating an autism friendly environment which has always been my goal in my classroom. Thank you AAPC Publishing for publishing a translated version of what I know has forever changed my approach and outlook to supporting individuals with ASD, including and most importantly my son.Just FYI: I found information about this book at the Social Thinking website.

I am still reading this book (about 65% of the way done) and I am amazed. I started reading this to help understand how the autistic mind thinks but I have found the information fascinating. I've been reading it on the train in to work and I can't wait each morning to pick it up. The book does a great job explaining how the "typical" mind works and then how the autistic mind would work in a similar situation. The author includes many studies to validate his points. I would recommend this to anyone (whether they know someone with Autism or not).

Anyone working with children on the spectrum, who has children, who wants a deeper understanding of their relationship with context should read this book! This is an important, easy to read, clear statement which defines context and how it impacts our lives daily, minute by minute.

As a mother to a child with autism, this book got me thinking in a whole new way. It gave me a way to think of and explain the difficulties my child has across settings and situations when the words to explain and describe seemed so complex. Autism as Context blindness makes so much sense to me when it is framed This way.

This book is an easy read but also provides comprehensive information for those working with folks on the autism spectrum. It synthesizes current theories on ASD but extends this understanding by introducing the concept of context. Context Blindness provides an explanation for much of what people with ASD struggle with and guidelines for remediation.

This is a new way of looking at the world of an autistic person that allows us to better understand it and therefore take steps to minimise the anxiety and confusion that occurs as the aspects of the person's environment change.

What an amazing book - really puts the brains of both neurotypicals & people with an ASD into perspective . Highly recommended .

An important contribution to the current theories of autism that abound.Vermeulen unpicks the problems high functioning people with ASDs face in everyday life. This book explains how and why so many people cope magnificently in everyday life only to fall apart in situations others would consider no problem. Context blindness, Vermeulen explains relates to Frith's weak central coherence theory but clarifies why contradictions abound. One key message seems to be concepts have no fixed boundaries but we are continuously adapting and expanding them. However those on the spectrum learn concepts (subconsciously) in very fixed ways thus all changes and expansions of these concepts are potentially disturbing. Hence the anger that sometimes explodes when a partner uses a word in a different context for example.Vermeulen argues that we must build in this notion of flexibility as we teach. Nothing is fixed... Nothing is unchanging...

An excellent contribution to the field, building on the weak central coherence theory of autism. Vermeulen's thesis, in a nutshell, is that we can see autism as reduced context sensitivity at the subconscious level. Neurologically typical humans process context automatically at the subconscious level, whilst people with autism have to do this manually at the level of consciousness.This can explain all autistic characteristics, and gives insight into what we can do to compensate (if we need to). A must read for anyone interested in the psychology of autism.

This is an accessible book which looks at the current theories explaining autism and presents a very powerful argument for viewing autism as a form of 'context blindness'. It is easy to read even though the content is quite complex.I would recommend this book to all professionals working with individuals with autism, as well as parents of people who are autistic, since it offers invaluable insight into this often misunderstood condition.I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This book offers fresh insights into ASC's and hones in on the most significant issue for those on the spectrum, transferring skills, knowledge and insight across contexts. The book is written in a style which makes it accessible to carer's as well as professionals. Together with Tony Attwoods Complete Guide to Asperger Syndrome, it is a must read for anyone wishing to understand how those on the spectrum think.

I work in the field of autism and most likely have the condition myself. Peter Vermeulen's book seems readable and going by chapter headings, contains exactly the information I wanted. I have only skimmed it however and am eager to sit down to read it properly.

This is an important book with important things to say about how Autism affects the good people around us. There are some new thoughts and ideas and they are batted against the old with some surprising results.

This is the best book I have ever purchased . For anyone trying to make sense of Autism properly , this is the book for you . Thank you Peter V :)

very good read and was very interesting to find facts i needed to know

Great read, very interesting.

It's widely accepted that there is no meaning without context. The idea that being stuck in a narrow reality means that the meanings are stuck there too, is disabling. The everyday morphing nature of choosing between possible realities is taken for granted by most of us. The importance of context in our decision making begs the question of why the idea of context isn't front and center in that field. Sometimes when something is missing we learn more than when it's there. Brain damage to the emotional part of the mind revealed the importance of emotion to actually make a decision. Likewise, the inability to generate new contexts sheds light on what happens when we make decisions simply based on what might be considered logical facts, without the subtleties and nuances that context offers. This seminal work gives us a window into the reality of life without an innate skill we hardly recognize we have. The implications range far beyond the autistic state and resonate through the entire fields of communication, influence and decision making. Highly recommended.

Helped me communicate with my nephew who is autistic by giving me insight to his point of view.

Very good