If you have been waiting for a social skills training program that works, this is it! Dr. Baker translates 20 years of outcome research and clinical experience into this new, user-friendly model to support social skills training. There are 92 specific skill lessons covering:
Emotion management (frustration, anger, anxiety, OCD, social fears and depression)
   Verbal and nonverbal communication
Play and group interaction
   Empathy, friendship, and dating
Conflict management
   Dealing with emergencies
Social Skills Training is the complete package: whether learning how long to look at somebody; how to shift topics, despite a desire to stick with that all-consuming special interest; how to say no to peer pressure; or dealing with sensitive topics—it’s all here. In this comprehensive and user-friendly book, the author translates years of experience working with students with autism and social communication differences.
This is not just another social skills curriculum, but instead, a manual that lays out the key components of effective social skills training. Detailed chapters contain critical elements of skills training, including how to collaborate with and motivate clients, target relevant skills, match teaching strategy to language ability, generalize skills, create accepting peer programs, and measure progress.
This 20th-anniversary edition includes more than twenty-five new skill lessons and new research.
He clearly articulates models of the key components of skills training, based on outcome research. The chapters focusing on creating motivation for clients to partner to problem solve, as well as generalize their skills once they become automatic are informative and helpful to pass on to parents. I also found the chapters on creating peer accepting environments inspiring. I highly recommend this manual to practitioners, school personnel and parents of individuals with any social communication challenges