HOW TO HELP WITH ORGANIZATION
SKILLS
 checklists, due dates, planners, and to-do lists. Enforcing regularly
scheduled cleanup times in order to keep work space organized is
useful. Some kids need patient, encouraging instruction in the process of
"clearing the decks" in order to do a project from beginning to end.
TO DO LIST …SIMPLE STRATEGY
Theory of Mind
Theory of mind involves two essential
skills — the ability to reflect about one's
own thoughts and feelings, and the ability
to tune into the feelings and
expectations of others.
Not natural or instinctive for children
with autism
Example: Library protocol
AFTER SCHOOL SERVICE/SOCIAL/SPECIAL
INTEREST CLUB
 With the assistance of a faculty advisor, a service/social/special interest
club is formed and the group meet at regularly scheduled times to
review club activities and create opportunities for social interaction.To
enhance this model for students with ASD, social skills strategies should
be incorporated into the club’s activities.
 In addition, students with ASD are also encouraged to join special
interest clubs or organizations which already exist. This is a good venue
for building friendships
ESSENCE OF SOCIAL SKILLS
 Having conversations
 Entering and exiting conversations
 Using electronic forms of communication
 Choosing appropriate friends
 Handling teasing, bullying and other forms of social rejection
 Handling arguments and disagreements with friends
 Having appropriate get-togethers with friends
 How to be a good host and a good sport
They do want friends! Break
the myth …
Important to find common interests….
ASD PEER SUPPORT GROUP: LUNCH
BUNCH
 The unstructured form of lunch time creates social stress to many ASD
students. Some often isolate themselves and end up eating on their
own. Others are overwhelmed with auditory sensitivity and other
issues that come up
 The lunch bunch alleviates some of these stressors by creating a safe,
social environment
 Students can talk about similar interests and not be alone
 This forum provides a safe and open forum to address their concerns
and share their thoughts
 A school support staff facilitates this type of model
RECESS GROUP
 Children from an ASD kindergarten class and another class of non-ASD
students play in the playground during recess.
 Play varied playground activities such as: Duck, Duck, Goose, Green
light/Red Light, Ball Games, Simon Says, others
 Teach self-regulation, listening skills, following directions
 Teach children understanding and acceptance
 Helps teach children how to play together, take turns, and share
 Teach sensitivity to diversity
Duck, Duck, Goose
Games for young children
SCHOOL BASED COUNSELOR SUPPORT
AND TRAINING
 Miami-Dade County Public Schools offers professional development
opportunities for counselors to learn specific strategies for helping
students with high functioning ASD acquire social and executive
functioning skills
 During this two-day training, each counselor becomes familiar with a
researched-based socials skills curriculum which can be implemented in
their school
Social Challenges for Students with ASD
• Nonverbal Interaction
- Eye contact/gaze
- Gestures/non-verbal cues
- Facial expression
- Posture/orientation
• Peer Relationships
- Developmentally inappropriate relationships
-Quantity and Quality
- lack of or limited number of friendships
- inability or difficulty in maintaining
friendships
Assumptions of Social Skills
Instruction
• Through practice and performance, social
and interpersonal skills can be mastered.
• Social interaction skills are not equivalent
to academic skills. They need to be
directly taught in a variety of settings to
ensure social success.
• Coaching
EFFECTIVE SOCIAL SKILLS
STRATEGIES
Video Modeling and Video Self-Modeling
Social Stories/Social Narratives
Cue Cards
Comic Strip Conversations
Scripts
Power Card
Conversation Starters
Coaching
RESOURCES
 Laugeson, E.A. and Frankel, F.,2010, Social skills for Teenagers with
Developmental and Autism Spectrum disorders, The PEERS Treatment
Manual
 SS.Grin curriculum
Questions???