Crafting Connections ─ Contemporary Applied Behavior Analysis for Enriching the Social Lives of Persons With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Taubman, a psychologist who co-directs an autism organization, et al. argue that social skills, along with communication, are a core deficit in people with autism spectrum disorders. They draw on their research and interventional experiences to show treatment and education practitioners, in addition to families, how to teach the social skills of social awareness, communication, interaction, learning, and relatedness to these individuals, with curriculum programs for each of these skills included. They address important issues related to social skills and autism spectrum disorders, including play, socialization and adolescence, and true friendships. Also discussed are ways to assess competencies and develop programs, curricula and instructional content, and methods for teaching and programming social skills using an applied behavior analysis approach meant to teach true social skills development. Discussion of teaching interactions and social skills groups is incorporated. There is no index. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)