Effective Social Interventions and Supports for Children on the Autism Spectrum
Kids and teens with Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) often have difficulty understanding social situations, which can cause stress and anxiety. Social situations that seem to be most problematic include: Interpreting nonliteral language (e.g., idioms and metaphors) Knowing how and when to use turn-taking skills (e.g., focusing on the interests of peers) Recognizing that others' intentions do not always match their verbalizations Understanding facial expressions and gestures Understanding the “hidden curriculum” (i.e., those complex social rules that often are not directly taught) Even when a youngster with AS or HFA receives effective instruction in social skills, situations will arise that require “interpretation.” Unless interpreted, these situations become a source of stress and do not support future learning. However, with interpretation, perceptions of seemingly random actions can be altered into meaningful interactions. Interpretive strategies