“Just Give Him the Whale!”

Authors: Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz

Reviewed by: Maureen Bennie Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

Motivation is a key tool for wanting to acquire new information and attending to a task. Most of us will devote more time and energy to something that interests us rather than a task that we are told to do. We are more apt to pursue or stay with something that interests us.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have fascinations or special interests that are motivators. These may be unusual and not shared by many people. Incorporating special interests when working with students can motivate, engage, sustain interest, and become a meaningful way to relate to them. Too often educators are bound by a set curriculum, a teaching method, professional and personal goals, and a personal experience of what is meaningful in learning and the special interest is ignored or discouraged. The special interests of the person with ASD are not incorporated, dismissed or used as a reward. There can be a fear or concern that the special interest may take over in a teaching situation or impede the learning process.

Authors Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz have written an excellent book that lists 20 ways in which to use fascinations and areas of expertise to support students with autism. “Just Give Him the Whale!” was written for educators but this book has a wider application to anyone who works with an individual on the spectrum. The 20 mini- chapters highlight how to use a special interest within the context of social skills, academics, and building self-esteem.

Each mini-chapter opens with one or two examples of using a students’ strength to achieve a goal, then gives three additional ideas to incorporate the student’s special interest within the goal. Icons make for an easy-to-follow format – the whale indicates student examples, the starfish highlights real life experience quotes, and the captain’s wheel points to additional ideas. The student examples cover a wide range of ages.

This book gives great ideas on how to use student strengths without an overwhelming text to wade through. It acts as a guide on how to effectively use the special interest. Concrete, real-life student examples provide inspiration to motivate students and make learning meaningful for them

Visit Autism Awareness Centre’s Bookstore to purchase “Just Give Him the Whale!”