Targeting Social Skills During Social Distancing - YAI (PDF)

Targeting Social Skills During Social Distancing: Strategies to Use Across the Spectrum and Across Ages YAI NYC Autism Conference Michelle Gorenstein, Psy.D. Director of Community Outreach Seaver Autism Center  Agenda 1. Why Social Skills Matter 2. General Strategies for Teaching Social Skills 3. Specific Skills 1. Listening 2. Conversation Skills 3. Nonverbal Communication 4. Theory of Mind 4. Social Skills in Adulthood 5. Our new normal 6. Question and Answer  Social Impairments in Autism • Striking deficits in social communication are a hallmark of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) • Lack of early interest in faces and voices • Home videotapes of first birthdays (Osterling & Dawson, 1994) • Preference for non-speech analog over motherese (Kuhl et al., 2005) • Early deficits • Joint Attention, Play, Imitation, Eye Gaze, Emotion Recognition • Impairment in the use of nonverbal behaviors to regulate social interaction • Lack of social or emotional reciprocity Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Impact of social competence on overall development • Impaired social functioning has shown to be the most persistent challenge for individuals with ASD throughout the lifespan (Reichow & Volkmar, 2010) • Poor social skills in children with ASD place them at increased risk of social isolation, peer rejection, and victimization (Wang & Spillane, 2009). • Good social skills in childhood predict: • Peer approval (Bierman & Montminy, 1993) • School adjustment (Eisenberg, et al., 1996) • Attention skills (Eisenberg, et al., 1996) • Coping skills (Eisenberg, et al., 1996) • Mental health in later life (Denham & Holt, 1993; Parker & Asher, 1987) • School placement, job opportunities (Rey & Putnam, 2002) • Overall quality of life (Howlin & Goode, 2000)  General Strategies • Target one skill at a time • Developmentally appropriate skills • Skills that are needed right now • Teach the deficit • Break up abstract concepts into concrete steps Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  General Strategies • Use visual supports and concrete steps • Prompt Cards • Social Stories (Carol Gray) • Comic Strip Conversations • Bait the skill • Reinforce desired behavior/response Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Visual Strategies-Prompt Card Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Visual Strategies – Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Listening Skills • Clapping Game- Clap when you hear a target word • Bingo/Zingo • Simon Says • Telephone Game • Board games such as Guess Who, Battleship Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Nonverbal Communication • Charades • Simon Does • Finger Play Songs (for younger children) • The Wheels on the Bus • The Itsy Bitsy Spider • Open, Shut Them • Where is Thumbkin • Follow My Eyes to the Prize Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Conversation Skills Many different skills • Initiating a conversation • Asking Questions/Making Comments • Staying on Topic • Ending a Conversation • Sensitive Topics 1. Role Play and Practice Before 2. Call or FaceTime Relative or Friend 3. Social Autopsy • Conversation jenga, Conversation dice Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Theory of Mind- I think, you think • Watching Television • Reading a Book • Stop and ask the child what the character is feeling. If they are able to identify the character’s feelings then ask what they are thinking. Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Creative Ways to Stay Social • Schedule calls with family and friends. • Zoom Game Night/ House Party App • Bingo https://myfreebingocards.com/ • Hangman/ Pictionary/ Tic Tac Toe using the wipeboard features • Scattergories https://swellgarfo.com/scattergories/ • Trivia Night https://www.randomtriviagenerator.com/#!/ • Zoom Move Night/ Netflix Parties • Zoom Scavenger Hunt Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Creative Ways to Stay Busy • Join online meet-ups related to interests • Go on virtual field trips • Arts and Culture https://artsandculture.google.com/ • Go to space https://www.nasa.gov/stem • Go to Mars https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/ • Ellis Island http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/webcast.htm • The Louvre https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne#tabs • San Diego Zoo https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos • Take up a new hobby • Drawing https://www.artforkidshub.com/ • Cooking https://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/resource/cookability-videos/ • Music https://www.danielsmusic.org/virtualcommunity/dmf-on-demand • Exercise https://www.facebook.com/groups/647840419497365 Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021  Social Skills in our New Norm • Non-verbal communication while wearing a mask • New greetings • Personal space Mount Sinai / Social Skills / April 28, 2021