Social Skills Training: For Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and Social-Communication Problems

Previously, I had an agency I worked at purchase this book for me to use when developing a social skills group. I found it very straightforward and useful. So much so, that I bought a copy for myself after switching jobs! Even though it says for children with Asperger's on the cover, I have been able to successfully use it with any child with social skills deficits. Some of the exercises are better suited to children that are on the spectrum, but I just omitted those exercises from my group. I highly recommend using the group format the author outlines. It provides great structure and the kids respond very well to it. I foresee this book as being a resource in my clinical 'toolbox' for many years to come!

I am an SLP in the elementary school setting. I bought this book because I needed a go-to resource for my students with mild to moderate pragmatic difficulties. It is now the primary resource I use! There is a "menu" for teachers/parents to fill out, and then you can copy the stories that correspond to the areas of need checked on the menu. The lessons are in a format that allows me to photocopy the story and discussion questions on the front of a page and then additional expansion activities on the back of the page- an easy format to give to teachers and parents on one page. I use it for my high-functioning autistic and Asperger's students, and also for my typically functioning students who may need additional instruction in pragmatics. There is a large number and a good variety of lessons. I love this book.

This book is an excellent resource for those who want to assist children and young adults with social skills training. There are clear cut lessons and activities that cover a variety of topics from how to greet others to asking someone on a date. Very valuable for those who need concrete examples of the correct way to approach many different social situations. Could be used for children on the autism spectrum, but also for any child who could benefit from practice in social interaction, even those who are shy. Anyone who lives and works with students who have social skills defecits would find this book useful.

I work in mental health rehabilitation for older adults. I ordered this book and immediately put it to good use teaching social skills to clients with serious mental illness. It's practical, easy to understand, and the illustrations are great. I would highly recommend this resource.

I haven't changed my mind about my first thoughts on this book. It struck me as a competent down to Earth book on social skills training. Largely the book outlines the relevant skill on the left hand page and then provides an explanation of the purpose of the skill and how it can be best developed on the right hand side. It reminded me up to a point of the Boystown Teaching Basic Social Skills manuals. The positives of the book are that a great number of important skills are covered and the strategies for teaching and reinforcing them are presented. These features will grab teachers desperate in most cases for some guidance. In my opinion, the negatives are that not every skill is reducible to the format of the book. Many skills are more subtle and difficult to learn, and practice, than others. Also many communciation skills are primarily nonverbal and that needs to be emphasised when dealing with AS adolescents. These issues could have been addressed at greater length in the book and given the intended audience more theoretical work could have been introduced. One final quibble I have is grouping those with AS and social communication difficulties together. I think this is a mistake. AS has a distinct set of diagnsotic criteria. Social communication difficulties can arise from a variety of non AS related sources. Boundary blurring is not something I favour. Many teachers and therapists will find this a practical book. It is not as linguistically geared up as I would like, but it is very accessible. Ultimately no one book is going to work with every child or group. One of the strengths of teenagers with High Functioning Austim and Asperger Syndrome is their language skills. Few interventions leverage these skills, while at the same time catering for the behavioural dimension. For a combined programme I would recommend also looking at Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents. Combined hybrid programs are the next generation interventions.

This is a wonderful book for teaching social skills. As a certified professional in the field I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to work on social skills with a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or any child for that matter. This is the second copy I have ordered due to the frequent use.

This was a great purchase. I have worked in the field of developmental disabilities for many years. This book is not rehashing old practices into new. Good solid information. I have found much of the information helpful not only for myself, but in teaching staff the best ways to help people fit in and connect to others easier.

I was looking forward to getting this because I felt it would be beneficial for my son. However the pages were soiled. I will try to repair them, not sure if anything can be done.

love this curriculum use it for regular classroom social skills.

Bom livro. Ainda não terminei de ler, mas é bem informativo e útil para quem trabalha com crianças e adolescentes, ou pessoas com dificuldades sociais em geral. Veio em boas condições. A capa é mole e amassa fácil, então é preciso certo cuidado.

I bought this book again as my original one got lost! The great thing about this book is that it breaks down into small steps the very complex world of social skills which for most of us comes naturally but for which a small number of people - particularly those with autism - find incredibly difficult. Although, occasionally, some of the americanisms are not quite appropriate, you can easily adapt these for use in the UK. I would recommend this book for teachers and parents who would like some ideas on how to get started when teaching social skills to children and adolescents in their care.

Great resource book delighted.

Very good book. Love it