Social Development and ASD Students Rosemary Cullain Ph.D.

Typical Social Development Level 1: Tuning In »(Birth) –Emotional Attunement –Social Referencing –Excitement Sharing –Simple Games

ASD Social Development Problems with emotional attunement And become overwhelmed by stimulation. Seldom view their parents as sources of meaning in their world. Seldom initiate joint attention Not competent in excitement sharing

Typical Social Development Level 2: Learning to Dance »(6 months) –Learns rules, roles, structures of experience sharing. –Variety –Synchronized actions –Observing and regulating to coordinate

ASD Social Development Rules, roles, and structures are not fluid. Individuals with ASD perceive social fluidity not as potential sources of joy and excitement but as overwhelming foreign environments.

Typical Social Development Level 3: Improvising and Co-Creating »(one year) –Constant Co- variation –Fluid Transitions –Improvisation –Co-Creation

ASD Social Development ASD more comfortable with static systems than with fluid systems Improvising and co creating are part of a fluid social system Systems that dont rely on specific rules, sequences and a clear outcome are meaningless for ASD individuals.

Typical Social Development Level 4: Sharing Outside Worlds »(18 months) –Perception Sharing –Perspective Taking –Unique Reactions –Adding Imagination

ASD Social Development Difficulties with –Understanding others perceptions (Theory of Mind) –Different reactions to events, places, or people. –Imaginative play, or thoughts

Typical Social Development Level 5: Discovering Inside Worlds »(30 months) Sharing Ideas Enjoying Differences The Inside and Outside Worlds Primacy of Minds

ASD Social Development Enjoyment not obtained by sharing or integrating ideas with a social partner. Intolerant of different ideas or themes in social interaction Cant view internal reactions as different than external reactions Experience sharing very hard

Typical Social Development Level 6: Binding Selves to Others »(48 months and older) Unique Selves Belonging to Groups Pals and Playmates Enduring Friendships

ASD Social Development Do not see meaning in relating to others to better define self Membership in groups is not enjoyable More comfortable to play alone than to try to play with others Seldom have enduring friendships

Assessment of Social Development Most children with ASD are missing critical parts of skills in Level l There are clinical programs to assist with directly teaching these missing parts (RDI) In school more important to recognize how their social development is different Plan social demands around those differences and teach when you can

Level One Example Teach child to visually scan adult actions and reactions (use video) Teach child to reference adults when uncertain or anxious Teach visual cues that child can recognize as a sign to shift attention Teach simple games and model excitement for the child to imitate.

Level 2 Example Teach child to carry out coordinated interactions Teach child to perform his role in a coordinated interaction Teach child to time himself to coordinate this interaction Teach regulating in a social interaction. Teach methods to communicate to maintain coordination in social interaction

Level Three Example Multi step level involving: –Co-variation (novelty) –Fluid transitions –Improvising –Co creation

Level 3 Teaching Ideas Teach how to enjoy things that are new. (Co-variation) Use chained activities that culminate in a single activity (Fluid Transitions) Teach how to collaborate with a group (Improvised Actions) INVOLVE THE CHILD IN A GROUP

Level 4 Teaching Ideas Multi step level involving: Joint attention Perspective Taking Unique Reactions Imagination

Teaching Ideas for Level 4 Provide opportunities for child to practice visual and/or verbal sharing with his peers. (joint attention) Facilitate interaction for the child to seek out differences between his and a social partners perceptions. (perspective taking)

Sample Activities Level 1: Turn Taking Games Level 2: Mirror Games Level 3: Cooperative Games Level 4: Sharing Games

Learning Objective Review 1. Learn typical social development levels 2. Learn differences in ASD social development 3. Learn teaching ideas for each level 4. Learn sample activities for each level. Next topic: Interventions for Sensory Differences