When children with Autism are socialized when they are in preschool and elementary school, their peers are more direct and sometimes, more accepting of differences. As peers develop more sophisticated social skills that are more nuanced and abstract, it can create a divide making it more challenging to promote inclusion with those who have disabilities.
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There are several areas you, as a parent, want to be aware of when developing IEP and therapeutic goals to develop social skills. Caregivers and therapists will need to teach these skills because many people with Autism can struggle learning social nuances that their peers develop by mimicking others. You'll want to focus on the following skills to build a foundation for social skills.
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Develop the ability to imitate others' actions. This can be taught in ABA therapy and will help develop the skills and awareness for your child to imitate others. This skill is important to develop for more inclusive settings.
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Identify facial expressions, body language and emotions. Don't get stuck on simple emotions like mad, sad, etc. Insist on including more complex emotions like feeling stressed, anxiety, etc. which are harder to identify.
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Once mastered, expand into social situations around school settings, community based situations, family occasions and any other setting that applies to the person's everyday life. Then explore the "cause and effect" that leads to emotions. This development also builds towards the person's ability towards self-advocacy and creating healthy boundaries.
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Developing empathy towards others and expressing graciousness. I have been told by speech therapists that teaching thank you, please and other phrases of showing politeness is a waste of time. For individuals even with minimal verbal skills, teaching these phrases will go a long way in developing a positive relationship with caregivers, therapists and people in the community. It will also help in create more overall positive experiences for them.
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Identifying sarcasm, jokes and bullying tactics and teaching what to do in those situations will also help individuals develop self-advocacy and skills to protect themselves in these situations.
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Learn to initiate and maintain a conversation even if it's a simple, brief conversation.
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They can practice at home among supportive siblings and family members. Depending on your teen's/young adult's desire to socialize, you can look for social opportunities outside therapeutic settings, home and school to expand their social circle.
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Articles
78 Social Skills IEP Goals for all Ages, including Autism and High School
18 IEP Goals for Self-Regulation Skills (examples)
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Where can my Teen and Adult go?
We encourage all families to join us for parent meet ups, play dates, Adventure Zone parties, Santa dinners and all future events. Our group families range in age from expecting mothers to school age children.
Adult Friday Social & Social Connections and Teen Social Connections
Hosted by Autism Society of Lehigh Valley
We have a strong young adult group for the last 9 years and meet monthly for our young adult Friday social group. We have food, crafts, karaoke, music and more. Additionally we have a smaller social connections group that meets bi-weekly.
Where: Allentown
Call: (610) 751-6532
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Evening Recreation at the Arc
Recreational activities for adults in the Lehigh Valley, and in the Slate Belt. The weekly programs take place in Bethlehem and in Pen Argyl, offering adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a night out with their peers, while providing their family with a much needed free evening.
Where: 2289 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA
Call: 610-849-8076
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Camelot School Year Programming
Teens come one Friday night each month for free from 6pm-9pm to Camelot to enjoy fun activities with other Camelot kids and teen volunteers as their buddies. Check out our upcoming events calendar for dates and themes for the events.
Call 610-791-5683.
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Coffee Club Connection
First and last Monday of the month. 25% off of donuts and coffee.
Where: 3 E 4th St, Bethlehem
Call: (484) 655-2885 for time
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Glen Koch & Associates Social Skills Groups
Specific areas of focus in the social skills groups are on the development of conversational skills, cooperative play skills, developing and maintaining friendships, identification of feelings and understanding body cues, showing an understanding of others' feelings and managing problems and conflict.
Call: (610) 266-0610
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Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living
CommUnity Club is a social group for young adults with disabilities ages 18+. Does lots of fun activities throughout the year, including bowling, karaoke, IronPigs games, game nights, movies, and events in the community.
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LVCIL-Community Inclusion for Young Children
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Time 2 Talk Therapy Services, LLC
Toddler. Early Elementary, Middle School, High School - Young Adult
Groups are run by ASHA certified speech language pathologists and certified special education teachers.
Where: 521 Bridge Street Lehighton, PA 18235
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Recommended books:
The Asperkid's (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social
Guidelines for Tweens and Teens With Asperger Syndrome
Social Rules for Kids-The Top 100 Social Rules Kids Need to Succeed
The Social Skills Picture Book Teaching play, emotion, and communication to children with Autism
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