Picture: http://worldofautism.tumblr.com/
SOCIAL SKILLS:
Learning social skills can be challenging for students with autism (ASD). First, individuals with ASD have trouble with the ability to understand the perspective of others' (Theory of Mind). Secondly, individuals with ASD do not know how to act appropriately in certain social situations. This is because they lack the ability to make a guess of what is happening in various social situations (Banner, 2012, powerpoint, Educational Procedures, Oakland University). Therefore, individuals with ASD lack Central Coherence. When given the correct tools, an individual with autism can learn social skills. According to Banner (2012), "We must teach “understanding” for students to learn the skills. We must be part of the solution in order to teach “understanding” effectively. We must help students add the details to the circumstance," (powerpoint, Educational Procedures, Oakland University). Overall, individuals with ASD will benefit from learning these social skills; it will help them handle/behave appropriately in various situations.
Interventions:
1). Social Stories: A social story is a short story that describes a social situation or skill (Gray, 2010). The goal of a social story is to teach/explain to the individual with ASD how to behave/act appropriately in various situations (Gray, 2010). A social story can only have pictures, words, or both pictures/words in it. Some resources where social stories can be found include books or on websites such as boardmakershare.com. Professionals or anyone working with individuals with ASD can also create their own social stories. One book in which many pre-made social stories can be found is called "The New Social Story Book" by Carol Gray that can be found at amazon.com. This book includes social stories about feelings, friends, gifts and celebrations, school, change, mistakes, etc.
*(Gray, 2012, The New Social Story Book, Publisher: Future Horizons)
2). Peer-to-Peer Support: One example of Positive Behavior Support Inventions (PBIS) that can aid in teaching individuals with ASD social skills is peer-to-peer support. Peer-to-peer support is when a general education student/child is paired with a student/child with ASD/special needs. This child can model the correct behavior or help the student with special needs engage in the appropriate social skills in various situations. In general, the peer/child with ASD is taught behavior, classroom academics, and social skills. According to Donahue, a speech-language pathologist, from the Berkley School District (2011), "It is best practice to teach general education students about disabilities. Give them specific student Information. Develop tolerance and acceptance. Students with special needs will then be able to practice social and communication skills in all settings within the building and receive positive direction and constructive feedback from their peers (Donahue, M, 2011, powerpoint, Communication and Language Issues, Oakland University). Peer-mediated instruction also involves principles of behaviorism and social learning theory (http://autisminternetmodules.org). Finally, peer-to-peer support has helped children with autism develop social skills. As cited in the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education article (2012),"Peer-mediated approaches have long been utilized to improve the learning outcomes and social skills"(Carter & Kennedy, 2006, p. 285).
*(Carter & Kennedy, 2006, Focus on Results, Publisher: Michigan Department of Education: Office of Special Education)
3). Video Modeling: This technological intervention has shown positive results for improving the social skills of individuals with ASD. "... video modeling interventions are effective in teaching a variety of skills to children with autism" (Delano, M. E.). In addition, video modeling helps the individual learn how to act appropriately in various social situations. According to Delano (2007), "Video modeling interventions involve a child watching videotapes of positive examples of adults, peers, or him or herself engaging in a behavior that is being taught (Video Modeling Interventions for Children with Autism, February 2007, Remedial and Special Education, Publisher: Hammill Institute on Disabilities). Overall, video modeling can improve the social skills of students who have autism.
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SOCIAL SKILLS:
Learning social skills can be challenging for students with autism (ASD). First, individuals with ASD have trouble with the ability to understand the perspective of others' (Theory of Mind). Secondly, individuals with ASD do not know how to act appropriately in certain social situations. This is because they lack the ability to make a guess of what is happening in various social situations (Banner, 2012, powerpoint, Educational Procedures, Oakland University). Therefore, individuals with ASD lack Central Coherence. When given the correct tools, an individual with autism can learn social skills. According to Banner (2012), "We must teach “understanding” for students to learn the skills. We must be part of the solution in order to teach “understanding” effectively. We must help students add the details to the circumstance," (powerpoint, Educational Procedures, Oakland University). Overall, individuals with ASD will benefit from learning these social skills; it will help them handle/behave appropriately in various situations.
Interventions:
1). Social Stories: A social story is a short story that describes a social situation or skill (Gray, 2010). The goal of a social story is to teach/explain to the individual with ASD how to behave/act appropriately in various situations (Gray, 2010). A social story can only have pictures, words, or both pictures/words in it. Some resources where social stories can be found include books or on websites such as boardmakershare.com. Professionals or anyone working with individuals with ASD can also create their own social stories. One book in which many pre-made social stories can be found is called "The New Social Story Book" by Carol Gray that can be found at amazon.com. This book includes social stories about feelings, friends, gifts and celebrations, school, change, mistakes, etc.
*(Gray, 2012, The New Social Story Book, Publisher: Future Horizons)
2). Peer-to-Peer Support: One example of Positive Behavior Support Inventions (PBIS) that can aid in teaching individuals with ASD social skills is peer-to-peer support. Peer-to-peer support is when a general education student/child is paired with a student/child with ASD/special needs. This child can model the correct behavior or help the student with special needs engage in the appropriate social skills in various situations. In general, the peer/child with ASD is taught behavior, classroom academics, and social skills. According to Donahue, a speech-language pathologist, from the Berkley School District (2011), "It is best practice to teach general education students about disabilities. Give them specific student Information. Develop tolerance and acceptance. Students with special needs will then be able to practice social and communication skills in all settings within the building and receive positive direction and constructive feedback from their peers (Donahue, M, 2011, powerpoint, Communication and Language Issues, Oakland University). Peer-mediated instruction also involves principles of behaviorism and social learning theory (http://autisminternetmodules.org). Finally, peer-to-peer support has helped children with autism develop social skills. As cited in the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education article (2012),"Peer-mediated approaches have long been utilized to improve the learning outcomes and social skills"(Carter & Kennedy, 2006, p. 285).
*(Carter & Kennedy, 2006, Focus on Results, Publisher: Michigan Department of Education: Office of Special Education)
3). Video Modeling: This technological intervention has shown positive results for improving the social skills of individuals with ASD. "... video modeling interventions are effective in teaching a variety of skills to children with autism" (Delano, M. E.). In addition, video modeling helps the individual learn how to act appropriately in various social situations. According to Delano (2007), "Video modeling interventions involve a child watching videotapes of positive examples of adults, peers, or him or herself engaging in a behavior that is being taught (Video Modeling Interventions for Children with Autism, February 2007, Remedial and Special Education, Publisher: Hammill Institute on Disabilities). Overall, video modeling can improve the social skills of students who have autism.
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