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Health & Fitness

Social Skills Group Starting Soon!

Written by Ed Littleton, M.S., BCBA

Beginning soon, Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay will be offering a social skills group class for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asperger Syndrome.  The class will meet once weekly over a 12 week period, and is being offered at all three of our offices, in Tampa, Brandon, and Wesley Chapel.  The class will utilize the Teaching Theory of Mind curriculum, by Dr. Kirstina Ordetx.

The topics covered will include identifying feelings/facial cues, checking in to ensure the intended audience is listening, following the “social seven” rules, body language, reciprocating conversation, taking turns during conversation, shifting topics, being an active listener, non-verbal communication, and self-assessment.

The class will be a small group format and each student will be paired with a therapist.  The class will utilize role-play, show and tell, video assessment, and data sheets to track progress.  Every week parents will be given information on what topic will be covered the following week and any materials the student may need to bring in with them. 

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There are still a limited number of spots available for these groups.  In determining if your child may be a candidate for this class, your child must be assessed by one of our behavior analysts and able to pass false belief tests.  The following are the examples given in the Teaching Theory of Mind book, by Dr. Kirstina Ordetx.  

  1. The first order false belief test gives the example that the instructor shows the child a crayon box.  The child assumes that the box contains crayons, but is shown that in fact it contains batteries.  The instructor closes the box and asks the child what she or he thinks another person, who has not been shown the contents, thinks is inside.  The child passes the test if they respond that another person will think that there are crayons in the box, but fails if they respond that another person will think it contains batteries.

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  2. The second order false belief tests require making inferences about someone’s false attribution of belief.  The following scenario tests the child’s knowledge: Mother bought Billy a remote control car for his birthday.  She has it hidden away and will wrap it and give it to him tonight.  Billy said, “Mother, I really want that new remote control car for my birthday.”  Mother answers, “Sorry, Billy.  I did not get that remote control car for you.  I got you a book.”  Later that day, Billy went into the hall closet.  There, he found the remote control car hidden under some towels.  Later, Father came home.  He said to Mother, “What does Billy think you got him for his birthday?” (adapted from Sullivan et al. 1994)  The instructor will pose the question, “What does Mother tell Father?”  The correct answer is, “A book.”  This is because Mother does not know that Billy found the remote control car.

Many children do well with academics and other skills, but still struggle with demonstrating appropriate social skills in a wide variety of situations, particularly as they get older and social demands and peer dynamics become more complex.  If you or someone you know is interested in having your child be a part of the social skills group, please contact Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay at 813-814-2000 for the Tampa office, 813-440-4933 for the Brandon office, or 813-345-8584 for the Wesley Chapel office.    


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