About the Book

Social Skills for Teenagers with Developmental and Autism Spectrum Disorders is a comprehensive, evidence-based, fourteen-week program based at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the adaptation to teens of the highly successful Children’s Friendship Training (Routledge, 2002) manual for children. After reviewing techniques designed to help parents and therapists tailor the manual to the needs of the teens with whom they’re working, the text moves on to the individual treatment sessions and strategies for tackling issues such as developing conversational skills, choosing friends, using humor, get togethers, teasing, bullying, gossiping, and handling disagreements. Each session chapter includes handouts, homework assignments, descriptions of what to expect (and how to handle challenges in delivering the intervention), and customized tips for both parents and therapists.