Social Skills Training

Whether it's learning how long one can look at somebody; how to shift topics, despite one's desire to stick with that all-consuming special interest; how to say no to peer pressure; or dealing with sensitive topic - it's all here. In this comprehensive and user-friendly book, the author translates years of experience working with students with Asperger Syndrome and social-communication difficulties.

Brief introductory chapters cover: skills to target, instructional strategies, behaviour management, promoting generalization, and relevant characteristics of autism spectrum disorders. The book then focuses on 70 of the skills that most commonly cause difficulty for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and social-communication problems. The presentation of each skill consists of a reproducible skill handout, as well as activity sheets listing ways teachers and parents can demonstrate, practice, and reinforce the skill in the classroom and at home. A concluding chapter on promoting peer acceptance offers sensitivity training programs for both students of various age groups and school staff, making this a complete social skills training package for students of all ages.

"If you've been searching for a social skills curriculum that really works, you've found it! Jed Baker's long-awaited, much anticipated "how-to" manual is based on his enormously successful social skills training groups. The book covers everything from assessment and strategies for social skills training, to generalization of those skills, to behavior management, to the often-overlooked importance of promoting peer acceptance through sensitivity training. The core of this book, however, is the inclusion of individual skill lessons and activities (seventy in all) that address practically every social situation you can possibly think of. This book is a MUST-READ and should be part of every parent and professional's AS resource library!"

- Lori Shery, president and cofounder, Asperger Syndrome Education Network (ASPEN (R))

"This very user-friendly book provides a wealth of ready-to-use activities for both parents and educators. The centerpiece of the book is a series of 70 specific skills found to cause problems for individuals with autism spectrum and other social-communication disorders. Each skill is presented in a handy format, with the skill to be learned on one page and related activities on the facing page. The last chapter on sensitivity and awareness training makes this a complete social skills training package."

- Diane Adreon, assoc dir., Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, University of Miami

"Dr. Baker's clinical expertise and personal concern for individuals with Asperger Syndrome is evident throughout this wonderful book. The chapters contain many easy-to-use strategies to make and keep friends, specific examples for various age groups, and clear direction for assessment and intervention. This book is an essential resource for professionals who want to increase all students' social and coping skills within individual and group sessions and in everyday life."

- Suzanne Buchanan, Psy.D., BCBA, and Jenna Miller, M.A.T., The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC)