FAQ
Program's Audience
Program's Design
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), which usually begin during early childhood and last throughout a person's life, are a group of developmental disabilities that are caused by unusual brain development. ASDs include Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Asperger Disorder. These three conditions share symptoms but differ in terms of when the symptoms start, how fast they appear, how severe they are, and their exact nature. People with ASDs tend to have problems with social and communication skills, and have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to different sensations.
What is the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders?
The US National Institute of Health estimates that one American child in 250 is affected with an ASD, compared with one in 10,000 a decade ago. As many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. The overall incidence is consistent around the globe, but is four times more prevalent in boys than girls.
What is social skills training and why is it a priority?
Unlike their peers, children with ASDs do not acquire basic social skills, such as sharing enjoyment and maintaining eye contact, through general experience and observation. This social inadequacy often results in anxiety, depression, social avoidance, academic difficulties, and problematic peer interactions. Social skills training uses problem-solving techniques to actively teach children the skills they need to be successful and cope with challenging situations in the social environment. Research has demonstrated that social skills training is one of the most effective treatments for children with ASDs and helps them to succeed in their personal and academic lives.
How does one decide if a child needs social skills training?
Formal standardized tests can determine basic levels of social skills functioning, but it is also important to interview the child's caregiver and observe him interacting with his environment. Teachers can also play an important role by watching the child during unstructured activities such as recess, and by using support staff to make note of breakdown times.
What is Social Skill Builder social skills training software?
Unlike their peers, children with ASDs do not acquire basic social skills, such as sharing enjoyment and maintaining eye contact, through general experience and observation. This social inadequacy often results in anxiety, depression, social avoidance, academic difficulties, and problematic peer interactions. Social skills training uses problem-solving techniques to actively teach children the skills they need to be successful and cope with challenging situations in the social environment. Research has demonstrated that social skills training is one of the most effective treatments for children with ASDs and helps them to succeed in their personal and academic lives.
Who created Social Skill Builder software?
The Social Skill Builder software products were developed by practicing speech pathologists and sisters, both having ten years of experience improving children's pragmatic skills in various environments, based on the unique needs of their ASD clients.
How does the software work?
Social Skill Builder software products are designed to facilitate learning while providing opportunities to pause and discuss information, to replay scenarios for greater recall and understanding, and to engage in exercises that help the child carry learned skills into everyday life. Each program highlights video scenarios of real children interacting in social scenarios and then the user has the ability to choose what should be said or done next. Programs cater to a wide range of functioning and abilities. At Level 1, children learn key social vocabulary. At Level 2, they answer multiple-choice questions, and at Level 3, they identify social cues. Level 4 allows children to create a novel social response based on the situation.
What are the technical requirements for Social Skill Builder software?
Social Skill Builder software products are both Macintosh (OSX or above) and IBM PC (Windows 95 or above) compatible. They require 200 MHz or higher, 600 megabytes of available hard drive space, a 4x CD-ROM drive, a 16 bit color monitor, 800/600 resolution or better video card compatibility, and a mouse. The software is easy to install and use and does not require outside instruction or maintenance.
Who can use the Social Skill builder software?
Social Skill Builder's products are designed for speech and occupational therapists, educators, counselors and psychologists, and parents who interact with children and adolescents ages 3-18 affected by ASDs and other learning/language deficits.
What results can parents and practitioners expect?
Children that have used Social Skill Builder software products have exhibited increased confidence and acceptance of transitions in different social scenarios. Increased expressive language skills and decreased anxiety and negative behaviors have been noted in situations that once caused problems. After using the programs, children have been observed interacting more with others and displaying great understanding and empathy.
Does research demonstrate that Social Skill Builder software is effective in teaching social skills?
A 2004 pilot study of Social Skill builder's effectiveness conducted in the Virginia Public Schools indicated that the software dramatically increased ASD children's socialization, daily living skills, adaptive behavior, and communication. The results of a national study will be released in late 2005.
How are these programs motivating for a child?
Social Skill Builder software products offer animated reinforcers after each answered question. Products geared to school-age children and older teens provide interactive "game reinforcements" that appear after a series of social scenarios have been explored. Such motivators not only allow children to remain engaged, but also provide breaks throughout the game to keep them from becoming overwhelmed or frustrated.
How does working on a computer encourage a child to interact with others?
Because social interaction between people usually happens so quickly and naturally, it is hard to teach these skills to children with social competence difficulties. Social Skill Builder software programs allow children to dissect social situations in a safe and controlled environment, with the opportunity to replay scenarios for greater understanding. Such practice provides children with greater insight into social interactions and increases their confidence as they try out new skills in their real-world environments.
