Includes bibliographical references (p. 185-190) and indexes.

Definitions of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) -- Historical background for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) -- Additional and alternative definitions for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) -- Social development and children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) -- Treating children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) -- Stress and anxiety -- Attention -- Flexibility, change, and transition -- Managing and regulating affective and emotional response -- Combining social competence and social skill building -- Group interventions with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) -- A model for group interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) -- Forming an understanding of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) individual -- Introduction to a stage model of group development for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) individuals -- Stages of group development -- Roles that individual children may take within the group -- Roles that the group leader may take within the group.