As prevalence rates and awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) increase, educators need to have a basic understanding of the disorders and how to teach affected children. In an accessible manner, Understanding Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Educators Partnering with Families introduces the significant body of research and theory in the field of autism within the larger context of understanding the unique sociocultural dimensions of individuals with ASD and their families. Key features: Interviews and case studies are presented, featuring interviews with parents and teachers of children with ASD, individuals with ASD, and top researchers in the field; the text emphasizes the significance of lifespan transitions for children with ASD and discusses planning and implementation of developmentally-appropriate services and supports; The importance of working with families and understanding cultural context is incorporated throughout; evidence-based practices are discussed throughout, providing processes for evaluating empirical support for interventions, while respecting parental beliefs and preferences for certain types of supports; teaching tips at the end of each chapter provide students with ideas for working with students with ASD in the classroom.