Social Skills Activities For Adults With Autism
Social Skills Activities For Adults With Autism
Social Skills Activities For Adults With Autism
By Kate Miller-Wilson
For adults on the autism spectrum, social interaction can be a significant challenge. The increased demands of social life in the adult world, coupled with the non-verbal communication and perspective challenges that come with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), can make aspects of daily interaction overwhelming for adults at any developmental level. Fortunately, there are lots of great activities that can target and strengthen these skills and improve independence and quality of life. Ads by Google Parenting Books The fastest and easiest way to get your kids to listen and behave. GoodChild-Guide.com
Every adult with autism is different, but many people have visual and tactile strengths that can be a great foundation for building social skills. In many cases, non-verbal communication gets in the way of daily adult interaction, since gestures and facial expressions can make up a large portion of social communication. This activity uses strong visual and tactile abilities to support growth in non-verbal communication. To play, adults are grouped into pairs, and each pair is given a stack of goal cards and a pile of building blocks. The challenge is for one partner to explain to the other partner through gestures and non-verbal communication how to build the shape displayed on each card. The team with the most completed shapes is the winner. This fun activity makes a great social group icebreaker, and it works for both verbal and non-verbal adults.
The unpredictable nature of social interaction can add to the challenges faced by many adults with ASD. In addition, problems with Theory of Mind and perspective-taking can make it seem like adults on the spectrum lack empathy or an ability to relate emotionally to others. Role play is an excellent way to work on building social-emotional reciprocity while controlling for unexpected variables. Since the interaction is scripted, it provides an interactive example without the stress of a real-world scenario. This scripted scenario involves offering comfort to a friend who is sad or worried. The script pauses at strategic points to allow for group discussion about important aspects like identifying that someone else is upset, asking questions to offer support, and providing comfort. It's perfect for the group setting. Ads by Google 10 Diabetes Secrets Beat Diabetes Fast With These 10 Diabetes Secrets. Free 16pp ReportRealDiabetesTruth.com/Diabetes
Adhd children? Program Used Around the World Download free LD Profile Test Now!www.MoveToLearn.com.au Care Home Milton Keynes Learning disabilities High standard Value for money 5 Star Carewww.abihomesuk.co.uk This activity is best for verbal adults with higher levels of functioning.
Initiating a conversation can be challenging for many adults on the autism spectrum, but it's an important social skill that makes life a little easier. Sharing an activity offers common ground and makes a good springboard for social interaction. In this activity, participants use a variety of art supplies to create a piece that represents something special to them. It may be a special interest, family member, place, or anything else. Then participants pair off to talk about the artwork. The conversation guide includes suggestions for good questions to ask about the other person's work, as well as topics to avoid in this interaction. This activity is best suited to verbal adults, but with modifications, it could work for nonverbal adults as well.
Game Night
A game night is a great way to get several people together and enjoy a common activity. Have everyone bring a favorite board game or card game and take turns playing different ones. A group leader can facilitate casual conversation during game play. This type of activity is best for verbal adults of varying functioning levels. To keep things flowing smoothly, make sure everyone agrees on the rules ahead of time. Also clearly state that casual conversation is the objective, so participants don't see it as a distraction from the game itself.
Non-Competitive Sports
Sometimes, a non-structured activity can be a great icebreaker and a fun way to build social relationships. Swimming, cross-country skiing, biking, and other non-competitive sports can keep things fun and relaxed. This type of activity can be challenging for those who love structure, but with proper support, this can help broaden the range of experiences individuals can share with others. This is a great opportunity to practice casual conversation, and it's a perfect choice for both verbal and non-verbal adults. To make the activity more structured for those who need it, offer a map of a route you plan to take or a schedule of events.
Classes
Taking a class with other people is another great activity that can help build social skills. Ideally, this class will focus on an individual's special interest or some aspect of that interest. Some fun ideas include cooking, art classes, languages, model building, history, and more. The fascinating subject and structured environment will make it easier for the adult with ASD to interact with the group. If the individual is non-verbal or requires extra support, consider having a helper come along. Over time, the helper can phase out his or her involvement, helping the adult with autism build skills and confidence.
Make It Fun!
No matter which activity you choose, remember that it needs to be fun. On its own, social interaction may not be inherently reinforcing for the adult with autism, and in some cases, it may even be stressful. If the activity is fun and the group is supportive, it can go a long way toward overcoming this type of emotional obstacle.
Autistic Adults
By Ella Rain
Autistic adults are valuable members of their communities who face many challenges on a daily basis. Topics of great concern include education, living arrangements, careers, and community involvement.
Ads by Google International Conference Education for Social Justice in Uppsala, Swedenwww.reading4life.org
Education
Many adults with autism thrive in their fields of interest. Vocational training and college courses can help the individual develop new skills while working with his strengths. While the subject may be highly motivational, many higher education programs fall short of meeting the needs of people on the autism spectrum.
Higher Education
Contacting the learning institution about the student's condition is ideal. An accommodation letter to the university or college is a great approach. This sample letter is a nice model to use. The letter includes details about the classroom setting, the individual's possible behaviors, and accommodations that yield the best results.
Workplace Accommodations
Autistic adults are terrific candidates for countless careers. The first step is to determine which careers for people with autism piques the individual's interests. Some employers are more than willing to hire people on the spectrum. It is important that employers make the proper accommodations for employees who have pervasive developmental disorders.
Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children provides excellent support and guidance for adults on the spectrum including:
o o o o o o
Skill assessment Job coaches Education for neurotypical coworkers Training Workplace safety Public transportation skill development
SARRC
The Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center is a prime example of an organization dedicated to improving lives of people affected by autism spectrum disorders. Among the many services provided by the SARRC are programs for autistic adults. Services include:
Vocational Life Skills Academy provides instruction and guidance for determining fields of interest. The program also helps teenagers and young adults develop work-related skills.
Opus West Vocational and Life Skills Academy offers skill development programs for individuals 13 years and older with an emphasis on community involvement.
SARRC is a wonderful model of the ideal organization dedicated to helping families affected by autism spectrum disorders, including autistic adults.
Autism Source
Autism Source is a directory provided by the Autism Society of America. Simply enter information into the site's Autism Source Search Page to find local services and programs for autistic adults.
By Kate Miller-Wilson
From using and understanding nonverbal communication to initiating an interaction with peers, social skills can be extremely challenging for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In fact, since social skills challenges are one of the defining diagnostic criteria of ASD, they are a core area of focus for many therapists, parents, and teachers. Fortunately, there are many fun activities that can help children learn to interact socially. Ads by Google Single Estonian Ladies Pretty women from Estonia are looking for true love now. SingleBaltic-Lady.com/Estonia
A social story is a great way to explain the intricacies of sharing toys, something that may not come naturally to children with autism. This activity combines a story about sharing with fun coloring pages for children to enjoy. It is ideal for verbal and non-verbal preschoolers and young elementary kids. Here's how to use this social story activity: 1. Click on the image of the printable and download it to your computer. 2. Print out the desired number of copies. 3. Create a small book out of the pages to the story. 4. Read through the story with kids, talking about how each character feels. 5. After reading, give kids crayons so they can color the pictures.
Non-verbal communication, and especially facial expressions, can be an area of major challenge for children with autism. Instead of focusing on the facial expression as a whole, it may be easier for kids to systematize the parts of the face that make the expression. In addition, practicing their own facial expressions can help them communicate effectively with peers. This activity works well for verbal or non-verbal kids of any age. Here's how to use it: 1. Click on the image of the printable and download it to your computer. 2. Print out as many copies as you need. 3. Hand the copies out to kids. For those who can't yet read, have a paraprofessional or aide work directly with the child. 4. Give each child a small mirror. 5. Work together to practice reading and mimicking the various facial expressions. Ads by Google
Czech Ladies Beautiful Czech Women are waiting you. Get in touch with them Now ! www.Czech-Ladies.com Online Dating Ukraine Beautiful Ukrainian Women are looking for dating with foreign men Online-Dating-Ukraine.com Children's Hearing Test If your child has impaired hearing try WIDEX BABY440 hearing aidwww.widex.com/HearingTests
Initiating a conversation can be tricky, especially for children with autism. It can help to have a few ideas on hand about how to start a conversation with a peer. These printable conversation starter cards also make a great in-class or at-home activity. Kids can practice with teachers and parents to perfect their skills. This activity is best for verbal, older elementary and middle school kids. Here's how to use this printable: 1. Click on the image of the conversation cards and download the file to your computer. 2. Print the desired number of copies. 3. Cut out the cards and punch a hole through the corner. Tie them together with a piece of yarn. For extra durability, consider laminating the cards. 4. Have the child select a card to use and ask you the question on it. Respond as a peer might. 5. Pair children up to practice the conversations on the cards.
Children with autism often think in absolutes, and this can be a social challenge when it comes to truth-telling. This worksheet helps kids understand situations where telling the complete truth may not be appropriate. This activity requires kids to be able to read, so it's best for verbal or non-verbal children in later elementary school or middle school. Here's how to use it: 1. Click on the worksheet and download it to your computer. 2. Print the desired number of copies. 3. Pass the worksheet out to kids. 4. You can discuss each situation as you go through the worksheet together.
Keeping the conversation on topic can be especially challenging for children with ASD. This game makes learning this skill fun. It's best for elementary school or older and requires kids to be verbal. Here's how to play: 1. Click on the image and download the file. 2. Print the desired number of copies. You'll need one for each pair of kids. 3. Cut out the red and green tokens.
4. Pair the children into groups of two. The goal for each group is to have an ontopic conversation. You provide the topic. 5. Kids take turns in conversation about the provided topic. 6. Each time a child says something that's on topic, he or she receives a green light token. Each time a child says something that's off topic, he or she gets a red light. 7. Conversation continues until you run out of green light tokens or the decide to stop the game. The child with the most green light tokens is the winner.
Form a Band
Making noise is a fun way to interact together, and you can turn it into a social skillsfocused activity about reading adult cues. This game is great for preschoolers. Here's how to play: 1. Gather up several instruments and give one to each child. 2. Explain that you'll be creating music together but that not everyone can play at once. 3. Instruct children to wait for you to point at them before they start playing. Tell them to stop playing when you point and shake your head. 4. Sit in a circle with the kids, and practice the pointing and head-shaking cues in addition to the music.
Act It Out
For older kids, interactive games like charades can be fun. You can give this activity a social skills focus. Here's what to do: 1. Brainstorm simple social situations and emotions. 2. Write these ideas on slips of paper. Put all the papers in a bucket. 3. Have each child draw a piece of paper out of the bucket and act out what it says. The rest of the group can guess.
1. Describe a problem scenario to the child or group of kids. It's best to choose something they may encounter in daily life. 2. Have kids brainstorm ways to respond. Write down all ideas and don't engage in discussion until everyone has had a chance to share. 3. Discuss which of the ideas are most likely to help. 4. Have kids vote on how they would finish the story.
Children naturally learn through play, but kids on the autism spectrum often need to learn how to play the way typical kids learn math or reading. If you're a parent or teacher of a child with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), you may be able to use games to improve the child's social skills. Games are very appealing because they have structure and rules, but they are also enjoyable. Ads by Google Free Psychic Reading Give your name and birthdate, and receive by email your own reading! Astro-Report.com
Setting Goals
Before you select a social skills game for a child with PDD, it's important to decide on goals and objectives. Depending on their age and developmental level, kids on the spectrum frequently struggle with some of the following social challenges:
Taking turns Making small talk Reading facial expressions Understanding figures of speech Getting someone's attention Maintaining a conversation Involving themselves in peers' play Taking another's perspective
Choose one or two areas of focus, and then select a game that helps with these challenges. Some games may work on several social challenges, and these can be great choices if you're working with a group of kids. However, it may be necessary to begin with short one-to-one play sessions before moving on to group games. In some cases, children on the spectrum follow other children's behaviors, which can be very beneficial when working in groups, but you may have to work up to playing in groups gradually. Ads by Google ADHD Software ADHD Visual Software Tool . Organize your life now. www.GoalEnforcer.com/ Learn Languages Online Choose a language and away you go! Enter Babbel & start learning now.learn.lanaguages.online.babbel.com Children's Hearing Test If your child has impaired hearing try WIDEX BABY440 hearing aidwww.widex.com/HearingTests
Go Fish
Go Fish is a fun and easy card game that can teach turn-taking while facilitating conversation. Kids with PDD can learn how to ask for specific information and they can learn how to answer questions appropriately. You can create your own version of Go Fish that focuses on language, idioms and expressions that may be challenging for kids on the spectrum. For example, make your own Go Fish cards with phrases like "hit the road" or "raining cats and dogs." In order to receive the card he or she needs, the child will need to tell you how this expression may be used in conversation. This is a very advance game, and some kids may merely use rote memorization to form their responses.
Who Am I?
You may have played a variation of Who Am I at a party. This is another game that is ideal for children with high functioning developmental disorders. To play, you can tape a note to the forehead of each child. On the note, write the name of an emotion. The child will not know which emotion is taped to his head, so he'll need to interact with other kids to find out. In addition to asking questions about the various emotions, kids can try acting them out. This gives socially-challenged kids a chance to practice interpreting facial expressions, and it's also a great way to help them understand conversational turn-taking. Add visual aids like pictures to prompt the child for correct responses.
While many traditional games inherently offer help in developing social skills, some are designed specifically for kids on the spectrum.
Ryuu is a video game that uses dragons to grasp attention while serving as a tool to develop important social skills.
Children Succeed offers many games for kids on the spectrum that focus on interactions.
Story Time Felts are sensory-friendly toys that promote imaginative play and social skills.
Since many children on the autism spectrum are visual learners, worksheets can be a very effective way to teach concepts. However, it can be difficult to find worksheets for autistic children that specifically target the issues that are most challenging. These free, printable worksheets from LoveToKnow are designed around the three diagnostic criteria for autism: communication challenges, impairments in social skills, and problematic behaviors. Ads by Google
Autism Learning Materials Mother shares success story and offers materials at only USD5.www.autismfriendlystation.com
For children on the autism spectrum, nonverbal communication can be especially difficult. They may have trouble interpreting the facial expressions and gestures of other children, which can lead to social and emotional difficulties. Specifically teaching the meaning of common gestures can help when kids encounter those movements in their daily lives. This worksheet shows children performing different common gestures. The autistic child can draw a line from the gesture to the meaning of the gesture. For children who cannot read, you may need to state the gesture meaning out loud. As you work with the child, you can discuss the situations where he or she may encounter this type of gesture and the appropriate response to the gesture.
Functional communication, or verbally expressing wants and needs, can be very difficult for children with autism. Often, kids will simply become frustrated because their needs have not been met, even though they haven't communicated those needs to someone who can help. Working on functional communication can give a child the verbal skills he or she needs to request items or activities. Ads by Google Math Worksheets for K-12 Search by grade level or standard. Fun, comprehensive site for kids. www.IXL.com/Math Download Free Software Download Free PC Manager Software. Easy File Transfer. Download Now ! mobogenie.com/download-software Download Free Montessori Materials Online Now ! Print and Use Instantly MontessoriHelper.com This worksheet shows children with obvious practical needs or wants. Examine the picture with the autistic child, and then have the child write or say what the person in the picture needs to communicate. You can work with the child to refine the phrasing of the statement to make it clear. Talk about how the child might use these phrases in his or her daily life.
One social challenge many children on the spectrum encounter is following another person's eye gaze. This is called shared attention. Often, these children may not notice that someone is looking at an object. If asked what another person is looking at, the child may imagine that the other person is looking at the same thing he or she is. This worksheet focuses on eye gaze. In each picture, the child is looking at one of several objects. The autistic child can draw a line from the person's eyes to the object that person is looking at. Since no reading is involved in this worksheet, you can use it with children who have not yet learned to read.
How Do I Feel?
How Do I Feel?
Part of taking another person's perspective is understanding how that person may be feeling emotionally in a situation. First, the child needs to assess the situation, and then he or she needs to pretend to be in that situation. This can be very difficult for children on the autism spectrum. However, having social relationships with peers requires this type of emotional perspective-taking. This worksheet involves interpreting a picture and assigning emotions to the child in the picture. Talk about the picture with the child. Have the child describe what he or she sees, and then ask them to say or write how the person in the picture feels. For children who are unable to write, you can verbally go through the worksheet.
Repetitive or problematic behaviors are another diagnostic criteria for autism. While stimming behaviors like hand flapping or rocking don't lend themselves to worksheets, other behaviors do. Printable worksheets that focus on appropriate behaviors can help autistic children function in the home or classroom.
Anger is a difficult emotion for any child, but for autistic children, it can be nearly insurmountable. Many children struggle with how to express their anger or process the feelings before they react with inappropriate behaviors. For some, verbalizing their feelings may be challenging. For others, controlling impulses can be difficult. Having a clear plan for handling anger can be very helpul. This worksheet is designed to help kids create a plan for dealing with their anger. All of the methods on this sheet are socially appropriate ways for autistic children to manage their feelings. Talk to the child about choosing a few of these options, and then practice how the child might put this plan into place with peers.
Everyone works better when there's a clear goal, and autistic children are no exception. In fact, many children on the spectrum love the idea of working towards something, especially if they can see and understand their progress. Additionally, if they can see a visual
representation of the goal itself, they are even more likely to feel encouraged and motivated. This worksheet focuses on a weekly goal, which you can display in picture form. When a child does something that moves him or her toward the goal, you can place a sticker or check mark on that section of the worksheet. Encourage the child to check the sheet on a regular basis to help keep the goal in mind throughout the week.
Read all text out loud. Describe the pictures in words. Verbally ask the child questions about the worksheets. Use vocabulary with which the child is comfortable. Allow time for the child to process this auditory information.
Reading
Reading activities can improve communication skills while building vocabulary. The ability to read builds on basic sequencing skills. Some resources to consider include the following:
Phonics worksheets can be extremely enjoyable for kids on the autism spectrum, especially if they are motivated by music.
Printable reading logs help parents, educators and kids keep track of their reading progress. Encourage your child to talk about some of the stories listed on the log after each book is finished.
Check LoveToknow's Children's Books channel for more free printables and downloads for kids.
Math Skills
Printable math worksheets may be educational in nature, but some children on the spectrum love counting, adding, and math puzzles. You can use math activities for sequencing, and these skills are integral to many other activities, including games and music.
Life Skills
Worksheets can help with life skills and fine motor development. In addition, worksheetbased tasks can help build other critical skills required for daily living.
Handwriting worksheets can help struggling writers achieve success. Some of the worksheets allow parents and educators to create their own activities, and choosing topics that the child finds interesting can be very motivating.
Printable chore charts can help make daily chores clearly defined. Some kids may benefit from having a "Check Your Chore Chart" space in their daily schedules.
Fun
Worksheets for autistic children can include fun activities that are very motivating. Everything from printable puzzles to travel games are available at no cost. Check LoveToKnow's Kids channel for fun printable worksheets for kids.
Homeschooling Resources
Parents and teachers working with children on the autism spectrum can benefit from researching homeschooling resources. LoveToKnow's Homeschooling channel offers a generous list of resources that may come in handy.