Social Situations for Adolescents is an invaluable handbook designed for autistic teens and anyone who wants to improve their social communication skills. It's the first book in the "Social Steps" series that addresses social situations confronted by adolescents. Through 60 engaging short stories, it provides a toolkit for understanding a variety of social situations that includes potential alternatives, thought-provoking questions, and structured problem-solving strategies.

Age Group: 12 years and over

This book is a groundbreaking resource designed to facilitate the social development of adolescents, particularly those within the autism spectrum (ASD). Reaching beyond its target groups, Social Situations for Adolescents offers profound insights and practical tools to a broader audience of adolescents who care to improve their social communication skills.

At the core of this textbook is a series of carefully developed stories, each serving as a basis for exploring a social situation. They are complemented by thoughtful analysis of possible solutions, engaging questions for encouraging reflection, and structured problem-solving strategies that can be discussed or practiced through written exercises. This format helps adolescents understand social cues and enhances their decision-making skills in real-world interactions.

In addition, Social Situations for Adolescents emphasizes the importance of social narratives by creating scenarios that illustrate appropriate social responses, preparing adolescents for various social interactions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on emotion regulation, coping strategies, and improving social interactions, which makes it an effective approach for older adolescents. Family involvement is also considered essential, as it provides consistent support and reinforcement in different settings.

The book addresses the need for generalization strategies to ensure the skills learned apply in different settings and interactions. Additionally, it presents various stress reduction techniques to counter the sensory challenges faced by individuals with ASD.

Each book section, from the illustrated expressive language exercises to the problem-solving and decision-making suggestions, is broken into clear, applicable steps. This approach supports the quick comprehension and easy application of the demonstrated social skills and promotes long-term development and confidence in social contexts.

Social Situations for autistic adolescents stands out as a comprehensive guide carefully designed to meet the developmental needs of its target audience. Beyond mere tutoring, it's a companion to adolescents navigating the complexities of social interactions, ultimately promoting a more inclusive and understandable social environment for all.