Social Enjoyment Groups for Children, Teens and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Guiding Toward Growth
John Merges
Paperback: £14.99 / $22.95
2010, 234mm x 156mm / 9.25in x 6in, 208pp
ISBN: 978-1-84905-834-6, BIC 2: JNSG2
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Young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often feel uncomfortable and anxious in social situations, but socializing with classmates and colleagues can be made easier - and more enjoyable - with Guiding Toward Growth group sessions.
John Merges' simple yet effective program for teaching social enjoyment skills is based on the concept that there are ten hurdles that make it challenging for people with ASD to enjoy social interaction. This book guides the reader through planning, running, and assessing group sessions that have been designed to help participants overcome these hurdles, interact with confidence, and ultimately enjoy more independent and fulfilling lives. As social interaction is a vital element of any work environment, this book also teaches young adults with ASD an important employment skill.
This adaptable book can be used with a wide range of ages and communicative abilities, and will be an invaluable resource for all professionals working with groups of children and young people with ASD.
Blog posts
How Social Enjoyment Groups Work: An Interview with John Merges
11 January 2011
In December, JKP author John Merges shared some thoughts about his passion: helping young people on the autism spectrum enjoy social interactions – an important skill they’ll need later in life and in work. Here, he answers some more practical questions about how social enjoyment groups work, and about his new book, Social Enjoyment Groups for Children, Teens[... read more]
John Merges on Social Enjoyment Groups for young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders
13 December 2010
"Social enjoyment, as both an important life and employment skill, needs to be taught and practiced as early as possible. We need to provide our young people with safe, predictable situations to practice enjoying a social interaction. The successes I've seen in my own work demonstrate that social enjoyment is indeed a skill – and thus, can be learned."
Author information
Subject areas
Keywords
- ADD,
- ADHD,
- adolescence,
- adults,
- anxiety,
- Asperger syndrome,
- autism,
- careers,
- child development,
- child psychology,
- children,
- communication,
- community care,
- counselling,
- depression,
- disability,
- education,
- educational psychology,
- emotions,
- employment,
- families,
- high functioning autism,
- mainstream education,
- mental health,
- occupational therapy,
- pastoral care,
- pervasive developmental disorder,
- play,
- PSHE,
- psychology,
- relationships,
- resilience,
- self esteem,
- sensory issues,
- social care,
- social skills,
- special education,
- speech and language pathology,
- speech and language therapy,
- teenagers,
- transitions,
- youthwork
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