For Aspies (and others) with social deficits

[MamaSheep]

Have you found an easy to use curriculum that teaches social skills?

I would so like to just sit down with ds and read a chapter from a book, and then do a worksheet or whatever, much like we do with other subjects we must learn "explicitly" like math or history. Something geared toward tweens would be ideal. And I want it to fit within my non-publically funded budget. Sigh. Anyone know of such a thing?

[HeidiD]

The Social Skills Picture Book

http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Teaching-emotion-communication-children/dp/1885477910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249675427&sr=8-1

The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond

http://www.amazon.com/Social-Skills-Picture-School-Beyond/dp/1932565353/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249675567&sr=8-2


Navigating the Social World

http://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Social-World-Individuals-Functioning/dp/1885477821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249675641&sr=1-1

[DB in NJ]

Heidi, thank you for posting those! The last one looks really good (and the library has it!). I need all the help I can get with my niece & nephew, so even though I didn't ask for the resources, THANK YOU again :D

[Carrie1234]

We haven't had the greatest luck with specific social skills books (so many seem geared for ps classrooms), but we're working through this workbook right now http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931282919/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=304485901&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1885477597&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0XB7K9E0ZW5SG30ZDT45 and ds likes it.

I have this one en route http://www.amazon.com/Aspergers-What-Does-Mean-Me/dp/1885477597
It has some great reviews.

[HeidiD]

Heidi, thank you for posting those! The last one looks really good (and the library has it!). I need all the help I can get with my niece & nephew, so even though I didn't ask for the resources, THANK YOU again :D


It's great you can get it from the library. Our library has so little that's up-to-date (I actually found a knitting book from 1920 in the stacks, complete with ancient food stains). :tongue_smilie:

Anyway, I ended up buying Navigating the Social World and I think (hope) it will be useful. Unfortunately it lacks pictures, and my daughter is a very visual learner, so I think I'll supplement it a bit (maybe with the Baker book). Good luck finding resources that help make your job easier. :)

[MamaSheep]

Thanks all. I've looked at some of these before and own a couple of them, but there are a couple here to check out.

We haven't had much luck with social skills books either. The problems I have with them generally fall into one or more of only a few categories.

1 - They're written to therapists, not to children with AS or to their parents. This being the case, they make every effort to sound knowledgeable and official by employing every smidge of technical jargon and every clinical turn of phrase they possibly can think to work in. I can wade through all that nonsense and figure out more or less what it means in plain English, but I find that it's rarely worth the effort. They don't have anything very substantial to SAY with all their pedantics. And AS is complicated enough without having to slog through that nonsense to figure out that the "expert" really has nothing useful to add.

2 - They're written to children with AS, BUT they are written for children who are either younger than my ds or who function at a much lower level when it comes to language. They come across as condescending to him and he has no patience for that, and also places no value on anything said by someone who cannot speak to him as though they consider him an intelligent human being. If they're not smart enough to speak to him like a person, then they're not smart enough to come up with anything he wants to hear. This is further complicated by the fact that most of the skills they teach are things he has already mastered, and they stop right before they get to the level of what he really needs to learn.

3 - They purport to teach social skills but they don't actually TEACH social skills. They try instead to teach the teacher (or more often the therapist) how to teach social skills. They spend a great deal of time explaining THAT you need to teach them, WHY you need to teach them, and various modalities for communicating effectively with kids who have AS, and may even give a list of social skills to consider teaching. But they don't actually TEACH the social skills. This is like having a history book or a science book that tells you that children will not just pick up very much historical or scientific understanding intuitively as they experience life, explains why understanding history and science can be an advantage to your child, and discusses the various advantages of learning through the written word, through the use of auditory instruction, visual aids, and hands-on activities. Maybe it even gives you a list of topics to cover--be sure to teach your child about light, sound, and magnetism. But it doesn't actually TEACH your child a thing about any of those topics. (This is especially frustrating to me when it's couched in therapist jargon-speech as I whined about above.)

I need something that does the social skills equivalent of teaching my son about light and sound waves, frequency, wavelength, reflection, refraction, etc. And I need it to do the social skill equivalent of teaching about magnetic polarity and whatnot, rather than just pointing out that sometimes magnets stick to stuff. I'm tired of social skills worksheets that are the equivalent of saying, "Sometimes magnets stick to some things. Can you name two reasons a magnet might stick to something?" without first teaching a lesson on why magnets stick to things. Velcro and glue? Might be. Totally wrong, but without being TAUGHT about magnets, how would he know? And since he needs to be explicitly taught about social skills, just as he does with science or math or history, how is a question like, "In some settings behavior X is inappropriate. Write two reasons this behavior might be inappropriate. What behavior might be more acceptable?" at all useful. If you don't TELL him, he doesn't KNOW. If he DID know, we wouldn't be needing this book in the first place. Sometimes I just want to shake the authors and ask them what they were thinking.

Of course I can get some use out of them, if this is all I can find, because at least it gives me a jumping off point where we can discuss some of these issues. And yes, I can give him my take on social skills issues as they arise in life. But why can't we have a social skills text book the same way we can have a grammar text book or a history textbook? A book that actually TEACHES the skill AND the background knowledge that makes the skill meaningful TO THE STUDENT. Is that really too much to ask?

End of rant. I am now off to check out the options you suggested that I haven't already been through. And I apologize for my snarky attitude. It's been a long day.

[Carrie1234]

Of course I can get some use out of them, if this is all I can find, because at least it gives me a jumping off point where we can discuss some of these issues. And yes, I can give him my take on social skills issues as they arise in life. But why can't we have a social skills text book the same way we can have a grammar text book or a history textbook? A book that actually TEACHES the skill AND the background knowledge that makes the skill meaningful TO THE STUDENT. Is that really too much to ask?



Apparently, yes, lol.
I feel very much the same way. I've spent 6 years reading about AS, and still find it difficult to locate sources that my son can use for himself.

I'm thinking the same way you are, as well. Earlier this year, I had decided that I want to "do" AS as a subject with ds. The workbooks I linked are my first steps, but I'm really hoping to figure out some other sources and ideas.

Perhaps we can collaborate on a student text and hs IG one day. ;)

[MamaSheep]

Apparently, yes, lol.
I feel very much the same way. I've spent 6 years reading about AS, and still find it difficult to locate sources that my son can use for himself.

I'm thinking the same way you are, as well. Earlier this year, I had decided that I want to "do" AS as a subject with ds. The workbooks I linked are my first steps, but I'm really hoping to figure out some other sources and ideas.

Perhaps we can collaborate on a student text and hs IG one day. ;)

We've been at it for 7 years ourselves, and the books are all starting to sound like rehashes of each other. Well, if nobody has gotten around to it by the time I don't feel like I'm completely drowning in way too much to do, maybe we SHOULD make a student text and IG. I bet more than hsers would buy it. We can make corresponding children's books too. I have yet to find one of those that I'm really satisfied with.

[MamaSheep]

Been poking around a little more today. This looks interesting: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932565337/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p14_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=136YEFCVBYX0N2MTGYBK&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846#

[Carrie1234]

We've been at it for 7 years ourselves, and the books are all starting to sound like rehashes of each other. Well, if nobody has gotten around to it by the time I don't feel like I'm completely drowning in way too much to do, maybe we SHOULD make a student text and IG. I bet more than hsers would buy it. We can make corresponding children's books too. I have yet to find one of those that I'm really satisfied with.

That's it, exactly! When I bought Attwood's latest book, I was so disappointed. I was really hoping for some ground breaking new information, but I felt as though it was a summary of everything else I've read since his first book.

[MamaSheep]

That's it, exactly! When I bought Attwood's latest book, I was so disappointed. I was really hoping for some ground breaking new information, but I felt as though it was a summary of everything else I've read since his first book.

I hear ya. And they're always so darn expensive too. In fact, I think that's part of my frustration today; I finally got to sit down with a new book I spent $40 plus shipping on because the preview pages looked promising, only to find that it isn't really quite what I thought it was. I may still be able to use it, but I don't think I can return it now because one of the covers got bent and it's no longer in "new" condition. Sigh. Or possibly I'll just donate it to my favorite SLP.

[living_2_learn]

Apparently, yes, lol.
I feel very much the same way. I've spent 6 years reading about AS, and still find it difficult to locate sources that my son can use for himself.

I'm thinking the same way you are, as well. Earlier this year, I had decided that I want to "do" AS as a subject with ds. The workbooks I linked are my first steps, but I'm really hoping to figure out some other sources and ideas.

Perhaps we can collaborate on a student text and hs IG one day. ;)
THAT IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA!!!! I would buy it!! :001_smile: I'm in the same boat. I want a social skills curriculum!! I've been reading about AS for about 4 yrs now, but no luck finding things for ds to read. I'm watching this thread intently..

[Dobela]

brightapple.com has several games, books, and activities designed to teach social skills.

[melmichigan]

Watching with interest. I think I've read just about everything and am very disappointed that this is the best anyone can do. My problem is compounded by my DD's LOG which further compounds the issue. :confused:

[living_2_learn]

brightapple.com has several games, books, and activities designed to teach social skills.

Thanks for this suggestion. I just ordered their catalog.

I'm looking at getting the social skills training book on amazon I think, and probably the 5 point scale book. Not sure. Still searching. I'll post for everyone else if I find anything that looks promising.

[dsmith]

I hear ya. And they're always so darn expensive too. In fact, I think that's part of my frustration today; I finally got to sit down with a new book I spent $40 plus shipping on because the preview pages looked promising, only to find that it isn't really quite what I thought it was. I may still be able to use it, but I don't think I can return it now because one of the covers got bent and it's no longer in "new" condition. Sigh. Or possibly I'll just donate it to my favorite SLP.

I have a whole bookshelf of these... I'm currently waiting on Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders by Jeannie McAfee. Hopefully this doesn't join the shelf.

Dana

[priscilla]

My ds has found these DVD's enjoyable:

http://www.modelmekids.com/


http://www.teach2talk.com/


http://www.socialskillbuilder.com/

I especially like the first link, but they all have good offering and sample video clips last time I checked.

[MamaSheep]

brightapple.com has several games, books, and activities designed to teach social skills.

Thanks, I'm always up for a new source to check out. It looks like a lot of their stuff is similar to linguisystems.com or superduperinc.com. Some of the stuff at all these places looks useful, though a lot of it seems geared toward groups (and contain a lot of therapy-speak, which frankly just makes me tired) and it all tends to be a bit spendy. I'll look it over again, though, when I have more time to really sift through.

Watching with interest. I think I've read just about everything and am very disappointed that this is the best anyone can do. My problem is compounded by my DD's LOG which further compounds the issue. :confused:

Help me out...LOG? I'm fairly sure I'm missing the obvious, and as soon as you tell me I'll go "oh duh!", but I'm really worn out today and the ol' gray matter is just not firing on all cylinders.

I have a whole bookshelf of these... I'm currently waiting on Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders by Jeannie McAfee. Hopefully this doesn't join the shelf.

Dana

I borrowed that one a while back. I think I remember it being one of those ones that is overflowing with technical language and tells more about HOW to teach the lesson than actually teaching the lesson. But it's been a while, and here's hoping that it's exactly what you need. If so, let me know and I'll definitely have another look at it. I had it during a particularly "challenging" time in our lives and I'm not sure I delved very deeply. I mostly kind of remember flipping through a few times and thinking it required more processing than I had in me at the time.

My ds has found these DVD's enjoyable:

http://www.modelmekids.com/


http://www.teach2talk.com/


http://www.socialskillbuilder.com/

I especially like the first link, but they all have good offering and sample video clips last time I checked.

Thanks, I'll check 'em out!

[MamaSheep]

My ds has found these DVD's enjoyable:

http://www.modelmekids.com/


http://www.teach2talk.com/


http://www.socialskillbuilder.com/

I especially like the first link, but they all have good offering and sample video clips last time I checked.

Oh I see what you mean about that first one! Especially with the instructor books and workbooks to go with the videos. I may have to see if I can scrape together enough money for that at some point.

[cjbeach]

Have you found an easy to use curriculum that teaches social skills?

I would so like to just sit down with ds and read a chapter from a book, and then do a worksheet or whatever, much like we do with other subjects we must learn "explicitly" like math or history. Something geared toward tweens would be ideal. And I want it to fit within my non-publically funded budget. Sigh. Anyone know of such a thing?

I have heard wonderful, wonderful thinks about Michelle Garcia Winner. I know someone in Cali whose son's school uses this program for his SS class with ++ results.
I have yet to purchase the program but am anxious to start.
IF you call the office and speak with them they will recommend a product to start with ....
www.socialthinking.org (http://www.socialthinking.org)

I *love* the fact that so much of the program revolves around teaching the child perspective. It's like one of those "duh" moments.. why didn't someone think of that sooner? It makes total sense to me...

HTH!

[priscilla]

Oh I see what you mean about that first one! Especially with the instructor books and workbooks to go with the videos. I may have to see if I can scrape together enough money for that at some point.

I do not have the workbooks yet. I just have the DVDs but the workbooks did peek my interest as well. :)

[MamaSheep]

I have heard wonderful, wonderful thinks about Michelle Garcia Winner. I know someone in Cali whose son's school uses this program for his SS class with ++ results.
I have yet to purchase the program but am anxious to start.
IF you call the office and speak with them they will recommend a product to start with ....
www.socialthinking.org (http://www.socialthinking.org)

I *love* the fact that so much of the program revolves around teaching the child perspective. It's like one of those "duh" moments.. why didn't someone think of that sooner? It makes total sense to me...

HTH!

I've recently bought one of her books, and have looked at another one from the library, and I like what I see. I wish it wasn't all so expensive.

[Pajama Mama]

I have the Model Me Kids DVDs. They are helpful. I haven't purchased the workbooks though. I have a CD-Rom called Mind Reading. I'll put a link from Amazon on here. It doesn't have a great review on there because only 2 people reviewed it. One gave it 5 stars and the other gave it one(because it didn't work on her computer) I've found it helpful with ds.http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Emotions-Library-Simon-Baron-Cohen/dp/1843102161/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251570528&sr=8-4

[MamaSheep]

I have the Model Me Kids DVDs. They are helpful. I haven't purchased the workbooks though. I have a CD-Rom called Mind Reading. I'll put a link from Amazon on here. It doesn't have a great review on there because only 2 people reviewed it. One gave it 5 stars and the other gave it one(because it didn't work on her computer) I've found it helpful with ds.http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Emotions-Library-Simon-Baron-Cohen/dp/1843102161/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251570528&sr=8-4

Thanks! This looks interesting. Just to make sure I'm reading this right, it this pretty much limited to reading emotions, or does it also include things like starting and ending a conversation, friendship skills, and so forth?

[asta]

Not social skills, but self advocacy (written by ASD folk for ASD folk):

Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum (http://www.amazon.com/Ask-Tell-Self-Advocacy-Disclosure-Spectrum/dp/1931282587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251917963&sr=8-1)

I used to work with one of the authors, and she currently works with ASD kids, as well as being autistic herself.


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