Social skills is one of the core features of ASD. It can be difficult to understand how differently individuals with ASD perceive the social world, but these books can help. The also address teaching social skills to individuals with autism.
Trainman Gaining Acceptance…and Friends…Through Special Interest by Stefan and Barbara Kavan
(XBK Kavan 2011)
If available, item can be checked out from resource room at no cost.
Out and About Preparing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Participate in Their Communities by Jill Hudson & Amy Bixler Coffin
(XSS Hudso 2007)
If available, item can be checked out from resource room at no cost.
The Child with Autism at Home & in the Community by Kathy LaBosh and LanNita Miller
(XFM 2011 Labos)
If available, item can be checked out from resource room at no cost.
Attainment’s Social Standards at School by Judi & Tom Kinney
(XSS Kinne 2005)
If available, item can be checked out from resource room at no cost.
Socially Savvy: An Assessment and Curriculum Guide for Young Children by James T Ellis, PhD, BCBA-D and Christine Elmeida, MSED, EdS, BCBA
XSS Ellis 2014
If available, item can be checked out of the resource room at no cost.
Superflex takes on One-Sided Sid, Un-Wonderer and the Team of Unthinkables by Michelle Garcia Winner and Stephanie Madrigal
(XSS Winne 2013)
In this newest comic, children become familiar with several ways to squash the powers of two, related Unthinkable characters: One-Sided Sid, who gets people to talk only about themselves, and his sidekick sister Un-Wonderer, who likes to keep people from thinking about others. This clever duo tries to get students to do or say things that show they’re only thinking about themselves and not others. Students learn helpful strategies to regulate their own behaviors when Sid and his sister invade their thinking.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Learning the Hidden Curriculum 
by Judy Endow MSW
(XAD Endow 2012)
The framework presented in this book enables readers to learn to create their own social rules and, as a result, live freer, more successful lives. The fact that the book is written by an autistic person who has learned by trial and error makes it all the more valuable.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Teach Me With Pictures by Simone Griffin, Ruth Harris, and Linda Hodgdon
(XED Griff 2013)
This book provides fun and practical ideas to help motivate and extend communication and play skills in children with autism with the support of pictures. The book describes how picture scripts can help facilitate play and learning and provides 40 photocopiable scripts across a range of different activities such as drawing, cooking, using construction toys, imaginative play, arts and crafts, and social games.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Superflex Superdecks- Card Games to Promote Superflexible Social Thinking by Social Thinking.
(Learning Aid)
Superflex Superdecks are card games created to invoke your own superflexible thinking as you teach students to be more superflexible social thinkers. It’s all about superflexibility! The game pack is a companion teaching tool to the popular Superflex Curriculum, which helps parents and professionals teach children ages 8 – 11 about social thinking, social regulation, and social problem solving.
We’ve included a game to play with each deck (and more games are available online), but the product was really created to be super-uper flexible, with uses limited only by your imagination and your own superflexible thinking. For instance:
The Superdecks are not an introduction to Superflex, and should only be used with students who are already familiar with the concept of being a Social Detective (introduced in the book, You Are a Social Detective), and are either working through or have completed the Superflex Curriculum. The games and activities provided prompt players to think about the powers of the characters, brainstorm which Unthinkable might appear in a situation, match strategies to characters, or Thinkables and Unthinkables, and use their social thinking in other superflexible ways.
Ages: 8-11
Players: 2+
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Teaching Students with Classic Autism Functional Social Skills: A Program Based on Individualized Comprehensive Assessment & Evidence Based Practices by Susan J. Sheridan.
(XED Sheri 2013)
This highly practical book guides teachers and other practitioners in developing and implementing comprehensive social skills programs for individuals with classic autism. This program was developed specifically for students with classic features of autism, who tend to learn best by participating in activities they find interesting, engaging, and part of their daily lives. As a result, the social skills are embedded in motivating lessons in real-life social situations, involving such things as learning to do something nice for others, working on a classroom project, or waiting in a cafeteria line. To make this well-crafted functional social skills curriculum even more relevant, it includes a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use assessment tool tied to IEP development using evidence-based practices.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Social Pragmatic Success for Asperger Syndrome by Timothy P. Kowalski.
XSS Kowal 2010
Not getting the results you want? Overwhelmed? Not sure where to begin? Confused? This book is an easy, practical tool designed to assess and document strengths and weaknesses in social-pragmatic communication across settings. The author provides a comprehensive tutorial in establishing treatment goals and techniques that address holistic, functional improvement is social-pragmatic communication skills. This tool is particularly useful in the school setting when meeting certain eligibility requirements for the students is a challenge, this tool can serve as the critical element needed to navigate the eligibility process.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
No More Victims by Dr. Jed Baker
(XAS Baker 2013)
The digital world offers a wonderful way to communicate and socialize with others. Yet, it is also rife with the dangers of being victimized emotionally, physically, and financially.
Trusting individuals with autism spectrum disorders, who are oftentimes socially isolated, are especially vulnerable to online predators. Finally, we have a resource to help prepare them for the minefields they may encounter on the Internet.
In this much-needed book, Dr Baker presents three main areas of concern for our kids:
Through Dr. Baker’s invaluable advice, kids will learn what to look out for, whom to avoid, and how to protect themselves when they’re communicating online.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
The Social Skills Picture Book Teaching Play, Emotion, and Communication to Children with Autism by Jed Baker.
XSS Baker 2001
This book uses photographs of students engaging in a variety of real-life social situations. The realistic format plays to the visual strengths of children with ASD to teach appropriate social behaviors. Color photographs illustrate the “right way” and “wrong way” to approach each situation and the positive/negative consequences of each. A facilitator (parent, teacher, etc.) is initially needed to explain each situation, and ask questions such as “What is happening in this picture?” Children role-play skills until confident enough to practice them in real-life interactions.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Spotlight on Social Skills Adolescent by Carol LoGuidice.
LoGui 2008
Increase success in social communication with instruction that systematically targets specific skills and uses a variety of learning methods.
The activities teach explicit aspects of social skills in everyday contexts with these learning strategies:
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
The Asperkid’s Secret Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-so-obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens With Asperger Syndrome by Jennifer Cooke O’Toole.
XSS O’Toole 2013
Being a teen or tween isn’t easy for anyone — but it’s especially tough for Asperkids. I know. I was one, I taught a whole bunch, and I am going to be raising three! That’s also why I know that Asperkdis deserve their very own guide to all of the hidden social rules that are awfully confusing to us, even if they seem obvious to everyone else. “The Asperkids’ (Secret) Rule Book of Social Rules.” This isn’t your momma’s Emily Post, and there is no “don’t do this” finger-wagging or patronizing “high and mighty preaching” here. Instead, the “Secret” Book gives Asperkids (aged 10-17) respectful, funny insights written “for Aspies by an Aspie.” Chock full of illustrations, logic and even a practice session or six (in comic strip style, thank you very much!), this is the handbook every adult Aspie wishes we’d had growing up, but never did.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments by Brenda Myles and Jack Southwick.
XBM Myles 2005
This expanded edition of the bestselling AAPC classic offers both parents and professionals tried-and-true solutions to minimize and circumvent the often frightening circumstances that surround the rage cycle not only for the child with Asperger Syndrome but others in the environment as well. In addition to almost doubling the section on interventions, this highly practical and user-friendly resource also focuses on the reactions of the adults around the child. This detailed book takes the reader through the stages of the rage cycle and emphasizes the importance of utilizing the teachable moments before and after a rage episode.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
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