Description
Book SynopsisTypically, ASD high school graduates are unprepared for the transition to independence. Early, ongoing training in the social skills crucial to establishing successful adult relationships - in college, vocational school, residential living, or on the job - can help. He also guides readers through the legal, financial, educational, vocational, and community resources available after graduation. The essence of the book lies in the 73 'Skill Lessons' targeting nonverbal communication, empathy, anger/anxiety management, conversational skills, and employment-related skills - which can be taught by parents, teachers, or professionals. This easy-to-follow resource offers a complete toolbox of social skills and the means to attain them.
Table of Contents
- Chapter One: Asperger’s Syndrome, autism disorders, and the need for life
- skills training
- Chapter Two: The transition process and the law
- Chapter Three: Self-awareness and moving beyond denial
- Chapter Four: College, Career and Residential Options Beyond High School:
- What parents can do to prepare their son or daughter (by Rick Blumberg,
- Ph.D.)
- Chapter Five: Assessment of social skill needs
- Chapter Six: Skill instruction strategies: Individual, small group, self-instruction
- Chapter Seven: Generalization of skills
- Chapter Eight: Training peers to be more accepting of students on the
- spectrum
- Chapter Nine: Skill Lessons
- Nonverbal cues/body language
- 1. Expressing and reading welcoming versus unwelcoming social
- cues.
- 2. Interest versus boredom social cues
- 3. Sarcasm versus genuine expressions
- 4. Attending to others
- 5. Respecting personal space and belongings
- 6. Personal hygiene
- 7. Dealing with odd motor mannerisms
- Dealing with anger/frustration
- 8. Overview of dealing with anger
- 9. Identifying triggers to your anger
- 10. Altering or avoiding the triggers to your anger
- 11. Better ways to think about and deal with the triggers to your
- anger.
- 12. Calming yourself when angry
- 13. Talking versus acting out your feelings
- 14. Putting it all together: Using the Daily Anger Record
- Dealing with anxiety
- 15. Dealing with anxiety and fear
- 16. Dealing with unpleasant, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
- 17. Dealing with social fears
- 18. Dealing with new feared situations
- Conversation
- 19. Saying hello’s and goodbye’s
- 20. Introductions
- 21. Politely interrupting
- 22. Maintaining and joining a conversation
- 23. Starting conversations with people you know
- 24. Getting to know someone new
- 25. POSTER: Summary of Starting and Maintaining Conversations
- 26. Conversation repair strategies
- 27. Politely changing topics
- 28. Being sensitive to the listener’s interests
- 29. Politely ending conversations
- 30. Answering the telephone and taking messages
- 31. Calling friends on the telephone
- Building and maintaining friendships (and dealing with roommates)
- 32.Where to find friends
- 33.Don’t try too hard too soon
- 34.Sharing friends
- 35.Avoiding touchy subjects and insults
- 36. Complimenting
- 37. Respecting others’ views
- 38. Don’t impose rules on others (minding your own business)
- 39. Avoid bragging
- 40. Dealing with peer pressure and avoiding setups
- 41. Empathic listening
- 42. Showing caring for others’ feelings through supportive
- statements.
- 43. Deepening relationships—sharing personal information
- 44. Conflict resolution/Assertiveness
- 45. Dealing with teasing
- 46. Showing good sportsmanship
- 47. Getting attention in positive ways
- Dating
- 48. Where to find a date and how and when to ask someone on a
- Date
- 49. Asking someone out on a date
- 50. Reading the signals—when to pursue a romantic relationship
- 51. Sexual harassment
- 52. Do’s and Don’ts on a date
- 53. Communicating clearly to meet each other’s needs
- Dealing with school and family demands
- 54. Asking for reasonable modifications
- 55. Dealing with frustrating work
- 56. Accepting no or waiting for what you want
- 57. Asking nicely for what you want
- 58. Working cooperatively in groups
- 59. Dealing with mistakes and correction
- 60. How to respectfully disagree with teachers, parents, or supervisors
- 61. Dealing with stressful living situations
- Employment Skills
- 62. Choosing job/career directions
- 63. Conducting a job search
- 64. Writing a resume and cover letters
- 65. Scripts for networking with friends, relatives, and potential employers
- 66. Interview skills (and whether to disclose a disability)
- 67. Handling rejection
- 68. Do’s and Don’ts to maintain a job
- 69. Responding to criticisms, accusations, or complaints on the job
- 70. Exiting a job
- Money Matters
- 71. Managing money
- Preparing for emergencies
- 72. Dealing with emergencies and emergency workers (such as police or hospital workers)
- Transportation
- 73. Negotiating transportation
