Social Skills Help Needed

Post Reply New Topic

Hi Everyone. I'm new here. My 11 y/o son has pdd-nos, adhd, oppositional defiant, global dysphasia, stutters, poor eye contact (unless he knows you). He does Not do well with changes.He is now affectionate when he chooses to be. When he was a toddler he had NO social skills, and many more problems than now.
After entering school, he made a couple friends.
Over the years he lost the 2 friends he made. Both from his actions and behaviors. As he gets older it seems that he is surpassed by his peers. He says he "tries very hard" to make and keep friends. He doesn't understand why the other kids don't like him nor why they tease him. I've been told there is Social Skills Training. Does anyone know of this and/or does anyone have any ideas? Any help appreciated. ty Mary Barabos

Social skills classes are generally run by OT's or SLP's with particular expertise in working with children with ASD. Some social skills classes are time limited (e.g., a 6 or 8-week series of sessions); some are open-ended. They generally meet once per week. Time limited classes often start new sessions within a week or two after the end of a previous session, and many kids go straight from one class to the next. The groups are arranged by age (usually the kids do not range more than 2-3 years in age), as well as by level of social skills. Some schools have social skills supports provided, but that will depend in part on where you live and what kind of school your child attends.

Ty for your reply. Over a year ago the district decided my son didnt need ot. He has speech. She has one to 3 ppl at a time.
I was told by the CST that social skills is part of being in his classes. In the meantime him losing all his friends one by one. He does have "friends" in school. But gets teased (i guess his stuttering dont help).
Do you know what kind of objectives and goals there are? I dont know how to word them for his upcoming iep. He is about to attend a private school instead. thank you for your suggestions. luvinmom4life

I don't know what a "CST" is, but being in class is not the same as providing socialization skills. It is providing socialization opportunities, but for a child who doesn't already know how to use those opportunities successfully, that is not adequate. Most children on the spectrum require direct instruction in socialization skills. The goals vary, depending on where a child is, socially. For some children, the goals could be using a conversational partners name prior to speaking; turn taking in a "conversation" so that there are two or three "turns" by each partner in the conversation - but then you need to have something like whether there are prompts, whether the conversation takes place in a structured or unstructured environment, how many times such a conversation occurs ...; responding to greetings (verbally or otherwise); maintaining eye contact. Sometimes a curriculum to teach idioms and flexibility is necessary.

The social skills and autistic supports provided by an OT or SLP are NOT speech or OT support in the traditional sense of those disciplines - it is just that those professionals tend to be capable of providing the service competently.

I fully agree with your view. The differences of what social skills training is and isn't is what i've Tried to explain to the CST (Child Study Team). They have their idea and say I"M wrong.
The good part of all this so far is that he is Finally being released to a private school. (A 6 year battle) This school told me services he needs (some i knew some i didn't). At his intake interview, it was the first time it sounded like a school Finally understands my son.
Now i am trying to put together some goal and objectives in anticipation of being involved in his IEP. Do you know or can you direct me to where i can find specific goals that i can review for his IEP?
I am happy that there are people that understand. ty. luvinmom4life

I've found a few sites with IEP goals posted, but I haven't used them, so I can't vouch for them:

Special Education Services

IEP Goal Bank

Writing IEP Social Skills Goals

Good luck!

If the private school is experienced and skilled with kids like yours, it won't be all up to you to come up with the IEP goals! If you can help identify areas of need, they will be able to help figure out how to address those needs. I hope you have found a school that is well equipped to provide quality education and related services to your son!

Thank you SOOOO much for all your advice ! ! and i do think i finally found the "proper" placement for him. I will look into the suggestions you provided luvinmom4life

You're welcome!

The right school makes all the difference in the world!