Not all autistic people crave social interaction, but many do. Often, they struggle with the skills required to engage successfully.
Your efforts to support the development of these skills will have a tremendously positive effect on their mental wellness and quality of life. Teaching them how to act in a variety of social settings, how to make and maintain friendships and learn from others will help foster relationships that give students with autism a sense of belonging.
Teaching social skills in five steps
- Identify your student’s strengths and needs: Create a social skills checklist and identify areas of need.
- Determine goals: Or even just one goal. Base this on your checklist’s areas of need.
- Select a teaching tool or strategy: There are plenty of options – see below.
- Teach the skill: Include a practice component to ensure the student knows how to demonstrate the skill accurately.
- Evaluate: Determine the effectiveness of the strategy and comprehension of the skill taught. Adapt as necessary.
Social skill development strategies
- Role play: Act out a specific scenario to familiarize students with the types of situations that may occur. Guide them on the language and actions required to participate in those situations appropriately. This often includes some form of direct instruction, modeling and rehearsal.
- Video modeling: Use video to display a targeted skill. Have students watch and then practice the skill demonstrated.
- Social script: Prepare a verbal or written description about a skill that serves as a model for the student. Have them practice the script repeatedly before using it in the actual situation.
- Social narratives or stories: Tell a story to describe a social situation. Highlight relevant cues and offer examples of appropriate responses. Most stories aim to increase perspective-taking skills. They’re tailored to the individual and can include pictures or other visual aids.
- Naturalistic teaching: This is a compilation of strategies that teach the student within the typical setting/activity/routine. The environment is arranged to provide an opportunity to practice the targeted skill, and the learner is given support to engage in the skill.
- Social skills packages or curriculums: Group or individual instruction designed to provide individuals with the skills necessary to meaningfully participate in a variety of social contexts.
Tip: Focus on what the student does well socially and provide behaviour-specific praise. I really liked when you …
Tip: Create social opportunities for students to make friends and practice skills – games, clubs, recess buddies and lunch activities for example