Social Skills Success for Students with Autism / Asperger's: Helping Adolescents on the Spectrum to Fit In

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