Overview

Autism: Attacking Social Interaction Problems: A Pre-Vocational Training Manual for Ages 17+ includes more than 140 activities to promote success in the workplace and in the community. The AASIP Pre-Vocational Training Program provides a comprehensive yet practical approach to teaching social communication skills needed in the workplace and across the life span to individuals with moderate to high functioning autism spectrum disorder and other diagnoses that result in social communication deficits. The book brings added value by including activities that address three additional core clusters of skills: personal development, social skills for life, and daily living.

The Pre-Vocational Training Program has been described as “unique and fresh” and approaches vocational training with a primary focus on the social skills needed to be effective in the workplace. Topics presented in this program include sexting-texting and TMI (too much information), workplace idioms, social white lies, shades of “no,” the workplace bully, and unwritten rules of society.

These engaging activities, which include interactive videos, deviate from the typical approach to teaching by challenging the participants to explore, develop rules, and generate strategies. This approach takes into consideration their unique strengths and learning styles. Our teen and young adult participants are left asking for more.

This program, while developed for speech-language pathologists, can also be easily used by high school and college counselors, special educators, job coaches, and parents who express an interest in this type of program.

The AASIP program offers three additional books for children ages 4-9, 10-12, and the teen years.

• Autism: Attacking Social Interaction Problems: A Therapy Manual Targeting Social Skills in Children 4-9
• Autism: Attacking Social Interaction Problems: A Therapy Manual Targeting Social Skills in Children 10-12
• Autism: Attacking Social Interaction Problems: A Therapy Manual Targeting Social Skills in Teens

List of Videos
Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgements

Unit I. Personal Skills Development

Chapter 1. Autism: The Label

Lesson 1: Autism Through My Eyes
Lesson 2: Overcoming the Odds
Lesson 3: Building the Dream

Chapter 2. Character Development

Lesson 1: Self-Esteem
Lesson 2: Honesty, Integrity, Commitment
Lesson 3: Tools for Happiness

Chapter 3. Mind, Body, Soul Connection

Lesson 1: Stress
Lesson 2: Physical Activity
Lesson 3: Giving Back
Lesson 4: Hygiene

Unit II. Vocational Development

Chapter 4. Making a Good First Impression

Lesson 1: The Resume
Lesson 2: Rules of Engagement
Lesson 3: Acing the Interview

Chapter 5: Social Skills in the Workplace

Lesson 1: Workplace Culture
Lesson 2: Workplace Idioms
Lesson 3: Workplace Conversation

Chapter 6. Shades of No

Lesson 1: Emphatic
Lesson 2: Implied
Lesson 3: Nonverbal

Chapter 7. Workplace Advocacy

Lesson 1: Asking for a Raise
Lesson 2: The Employee Handbook
Lesson 3: Stand Your Ground
Lesson 4: Dealing with a Bully

Unit III. Social Skills For Life

Chapter 8. Relationships

Lesson 1: Friends Versus Acquaintances Versus Coworkers
Lesson 2: Sexting, Texting, Social Media
Lesson 3: TMI: Cyber Dangers

Chapter 9. Body Talk

Lesson 1: Your Face and You
Lesson 2: Inflection
Lesson 3: Body Language

Chapter 10. Pulling It All Together

Lesson 1: New Social Situations
Lesson 2: Keeping it Going
Lesson 3: Time and Tone

Chapter 11. Being the Best Me

Lesson 1: Welcoming Change
Lesson 2: Theory of Mind
Lesson 3: Unwritten Rules

Unit IV. Daily Living Skills

Chapter 12. Exploring Your Options

Lesson 1: Leaving the Nest
Lesson 2: Executive Functioning
Lesson 3: Personal Success

Chapter 13. Safety Awareness

Lesson 1: Law Enforcement and You
Lesson 2: General Safety Concerns
Lesson 3: Safety in Relationships

Chapter 14. Money Matters

Lesson 1: Money Relations
Lesson 2: Budgeting
Lesson 3: Credit

Appendix A. Sample Data Tracking Form 1
Appendix B. Sample Data Tracking Form 2

References

Related Titles

Purchasers of this book receive complimentary access to supplementary videos hosted on a PluralPlus companion website.

Materials:

• Educational videos

To access the materials, log in to the website using the URL and Access Code located inside the front cover of your copy of Autism: Attacking Social Interaction Problems: A Pre-Vocational Training Manual for Ages 17+.