[eBook Code] Social Skills Success for Students with Autism / Asperger's (eBook Code, 1st)

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Our Approach to Social Skills Training

The Knowledge Base Behind This Book

Children's Friendship Training/PEERS

Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies for Emotional Self-Regulation

The Purpose of This Book

How to Use This Book

Part One: Basic Information About Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Chapter 1: What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Challenges Facing Neurotypical Teens

Becoming Independent from Parents

Preparing for a Vocation or Career

Adjusting to the Physical and Psychosexual Changes of Puberty

Developing Values and Identity

Establishing Effective Relationships with Peers

Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Misleading Aspects of Communication

Deficits in Expression and Communication

Easily Corrected Deficits in Understanding Others

Coping with Anxiety-Producing Situations

Chapter 2: Making Inclusion More Successful for Students with Autism

History of the Inclusion Movement

Parent Views About Inclusion

Types of Educational Placement

Traditional Teacher Roles in Partially and Fully Included Classrooms

Research Findings on Inclusion

Social Integration into School Life

Mainstream Success of Students on the Autism Spectrum

Approaches for Social Inclusion with Neurotypical Teens

Teen Altruism

Chapter 3: Classroom Management and Social Skills Groups

Classroom Management for Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Segregated Students

Partially Included Students

Fully Included Students

Consequences for Misbehavior

Organizing Social Skills Groups for Teens

How to Organize Groups at School

How to Have Teens Take the Class

How to Engage Teens in Class Discussions

Have Some Fun Activities

Have “Real-Life” Homework

Involving Parents in Social Skills Training

Part Two: Interventions for Basic Social Skills

Chapter 4: Helping Students Expand Their Interests

Problems in Conversation Versus Problems in Interests

Socially Functional Interests

Interference Due to Anxiety

Building on Current Interests

Assessing Teen Interests

Lessons to Expand Interests

Chapter 5: Improving Comprehension of Figurative Language

Idioms

Irony and Sarcasm

Types of Sarcasm

Recognizing Sarcasm

Teaching Sarcasm and Irony

Chapter 6: Improving Conversational Comprehension

Goals of Conversations

Ensuring Mutual Understanding

Conversational Repair Strategies

Teaching Better Task-Oriented Conversations, Accuracy Checks, and Repair Statements

Chapter 7: Improving Social Conversations

Potential Understanding of Conversational Goals

Small Talk

Parts of Conversations

Chapter 8: Helping Students Choose Friends

Neurotypical Teen Relationships

Friends of Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Internet and Friendships

Appropriate Friends for Teens on the Spectrum

Common Errors Adults Make in Offering Friendship Help

Requiring Inclusion

Attempting to Pair Students

Assigning Peer Buddies

How Educators Can Help Foster Friendships of Teens on the Spectrum

Part Three: More Intensive Interventions to Help Kids Fit In

Chapter 9: Understanding and Assessing Anxiety

How Anxiety Works

Clinical Levels of Anxiety

How Anxiety Exacerbates Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Outbursts and Meltdowns

Types of Anxiety in Students with Autism

Social Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety

Separation Anxiety

Assessing Anxiety

Chapter 10: Interventions to Reduce Anxiety and Outbursts

Phase I: Skill Building

Knowing I’m Nervous

Irritating Thoughts

Calm Thoughts

Keep Practicing

Phase II: Practicing the Skills

Lesson Plans

Chapter 11: Preventing and Dealing with Victimization

Types of Victimization

Teasing

Physical Aggression

Bullying

Cyberbullying

Effective Ways of Handling Bullying

Teaching Safety

Improving Reputation Among Peers

Informal Approaches to Head Off Continuing Bullying

Effective Ways of Handling Cyberbullying

Chapter 12: Working with Peer Mentors

Commonly Used Alternatives to Mentoring

Job Description of the Cross-Age Mentor

Step 1: Selecting Mentors

Step 2: Selecting Mentees

Step 3: Mentor Orientation

Step 4: Matching Mentor and Mentee

Step 5: The Mentorship Term

Step 6: Assessment

Conclusion: Helping Kids with Autism Find Their Own Place in the World

References

Index