Social skills tend to be particularly difficult for individuals on the autism spectrum. Most people can read non-verbal body language, tone of voice, and other social cues during daily interactions. For people on the autism spectrum, this poses a big challenge. Without knowing why, a person on the autism spectrum can hurt feelings, ask inappropriate questions, or act oddly. Social skills therapy will provide people on the autism spectrum with the ability to converse, share, play, and work with typical peers in a positive manner.
There is no certification for social skills therapy, so social skills practitioners come from a wide range of backgrounds and training. Psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech/language pathologists who specialize in autism can conduct social skills therapy.
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Locate a service provider
Questions To Ask Your Provider:
- What experience do you have with social skills training?
- What degrees or professional certifications do you hold?
- What experience do you have working with individuals on the autism spectrum?
- Think of your child and areas of concern (i.e. tantrums, hitting, etc) and ask the service provider how they would handle these situations.
- Do you have a list of references I may contact?
- How do you determine that my child would be a good candidate for social skills therapy?
- Are the sessions done individually or in a group? If the sessions are done individually how will my child practice the skills with other children in a way that he/she is able to be coached by the therapist?
- How long and how often are the sessions?
- Do you have payment plan options?
- Describe a typical social skills session.
- Will I be present during the therapy? Is there a place for me to observe?
- Will you work with my child in our home?
- What is our family’s role in this progress? Will you provide us with activities to practice at home?
- How will progress be measured? Will I receive written progress reports?
- What if I want to discontinue this therapy? Are there any contracts involved?
1 About.com: Autism, “Social Skills Training and Autism: The Basics,” (18 August 2007) http://autism.about.com/od/autismtherapy101/a/socskillbasics.htm (25 November 2008)