Importance of Improving and Building Social and Coping Skills

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Importance of Improving and Building Social and Coping Skills

Stacy L. Nonnemacher, Ph.D.

Clinical Director

Bureau of Autism Services

May 16, 2017

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• What type of communication style do I need to engage with others?

• What is “socially normed” attire?

• What is the “socially normed” etiquette and expectations?

What skills would I need?

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• What do I have within my repertoire to deal with this situation?

Wait until intermission and leave

Think about other things to pass the time

Engage my mind in other ways

What if things don’t go as planned?

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• Assimilate/Observe

• Tap into Resources

Research https://www.wikihow.com/Attend-Your-First-Opera

Friends

Call opera house

• Generalize

How do we develop these skills to be successful?

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DOES THIS WORK FOR EVERYONE?

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“Transportable Life Skills”

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BUT, WHY??

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Service Needs: Adults and Adolescents

Adults Adolescents

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IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS

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WHAT CAN WE DO?14

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• If people don’t experience situations, they may not know what triggers them or what skills they need to be successful.

• Social Fluency

• Social Flexibility

• Social Responsiveness

General Conversation Skills http://www.paautism.org/desktopmodules/asert-api/api/item/ItemDetailFileDownload/5003/Social-Skill-Project-Report-2%20(4).pdf

Expose

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Teach

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• Provide ample opportunities

• Make it individualized

• WHERE?

Contrived/arranged

In vivo/in situ

WORD OF CAUTION: Consider the person’s ability to generalize skills when arranging instruction!

Practice

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• Social Stories http://www.paautism.org/resources/All-Resources/All-Resources-Details/itemid/8746/Social-Story-Resource-Collection

• Strategies, strategies, strategies

Breathing exercises

If/Then

Exercise

• Self Management

• Scripts

• Technology

Give Tools

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"We know how to meet basic needs for shelter, food, safety, and personal care. Understanding how to meet other basic human needs is less obvious—the need to

love and be loved, give as well as receive, be of value to others, and have feelings of competence and control.“

– Kay Van Norman

Make it Meaningful

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www.MyODP.org

Scroll down on the home page to find How To Create an Account

Navigation Bar with Drop-down Menus

Training Drop-down Menu

Phone and email Help Desk options

Chat Feature

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to provide information and support to families

to facilitate connections between individuals, families, professionals, and providers throughout the Commonwealth

ASERT Statewide Resource Center

• Statewide Toll-free Number: Offering live assistance from ASERT’s Resource Center Specialists

• Website:

• ASERT Outreach Specialists Available to attend conferences,

support group meetings and community events to promote autism awareness and provide resources

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How to ensure you have all the information to do your job as a provider

• Have you visited the ASERT website (www.paautism.org)?

– Did you create profiles for the participants you support?

– Did you sign up to receive the ASERT monthly newsletter?

– Do you follow ASERT on facebook or twitter?

• Are you signed up on BAS list-servs (all providers and SC specific)?

– Are you receiving Admin Notices and Communications via the list-serv?

• Do you visit the online training platform (www.myodp.org) and save all pertinent documents and watch trainings? Do you participate in live training opportunities?

• Do you communicate with the Regional and Clinical Reps to ask questions and share participant concerns?

If you have questions on any of the above, please contact the Provider Support Mailbox (ra-basprovidersupprt@pa.gov)