Social Skills Curriculum for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum

Updated by Barb Fogarty, MS and Kristie Lofland, MS

July 2016
(Original document compiled by Kristi A. Jordan, OTR and Barb Fogarty, MS)

Individuals on the Autism Spectrum characteristically have deficits in social communication and social interaction skills. Teaching
social skills requires educators and families to determine the needs of each student. Social skills are foundational to success in
school and in life. The use of technology has also added a new dimension to teaching social skills. It is important to carefully
choose curriculum and programs that are successful and research based whenever possible.

Below is a listing of some examples of curriculum and programs that can be used to teach social skills to individuals on the autism
spectrum. In addition to these programs, please be aware that there are many other supplemental programs, books, strategies,
and resources that are not included but are available. Many of these resources can be accessed by Indiana residents via the
Center for Disability Information and Referral at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. Inclusion on this list does not
imply endorsement of any one program.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
Autism, What Grades: 3 to 12+ Future Horizons, Inc.
Does it Mean to Catherine Faherty
A workbook, explaining self-awareness and life lessons, using http://fhautism.com
Me?
structured teaching strategies.

Building Social Grades: K to 12+ AAPC Publishing

Relationships Scott Bellini
This resource provides a comprehensive, five-step model of how http://www.aapcpublishing.net/
to address social skills for children and adolescents through
designing effective social programming. Can be used to guide
curriculum.
Do-Watch- Grades: K to 12+ Brookes Publishing Company
Listen-Say http://www.brookespublishing.com/
Research-based techniques and an assessment tool are
included in this intervention guide. Activities included can be http://autisminstitute.net/
easily adapted to develop a curriculum. Practical and user-
friendly.
Enhance: Social Grades: 6 to 12+ Attainment Company
Skills http://www.attainmentcompany.com
Curriculum focusing on social skills development of 50 important
skills. Provides students with step-by-step instruction via video
modeling, photo-based directions, and role playing.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
Hidden Grades: 1 to 12+ AAPC Publishing
Curriculum Brenda Smith-Myles, Ph.D.
Books written to provide a hidden curriculum of social rules to http://www.aapcpublishing.net/
help children and adolescents with social skills, particularly peer
relationships and everyday activities.

The Hidden Curriculum and Other Everyday Challenges for

Elementary-Age Children with High-Functioning Autism

The Hidden Curriculum of Getting and Keeping a Job:

Navigating the Social Landscape of Employment: A Guide for
Individuals With Autism Spectrum and Other Social-Cognitive
Challenges
The Incredible- Grades: Pre-K to 12+ AAPC Publishing
5 Point Scale Kari Dunn Buron, MS
The Incredible 5-Point Scale is a visual tool that can be www.5pointscale.com
combined with other resources, such as A 5 is Against the Law http://www.aapcpublishing.net/
or When My Worries Get Too Big, to teach self-awareness and
management.
Language for Grades: 3 to 12 Attainment Company
Theory of Mind http://www.attainmentcompany.com

Software This software program helps students learn verbs of perception

and intention needed to understand what others can or cannot
perceive.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
Linguisystems Grades: Pre-K to 12+ Pro-Ed, Inc.
http://www.proedinc.com
Offers a variety of products to address social skills, including:

Autism & PDD Adolescent Social Skills Lesson Books

Autism & PDD Picture Stories Series
Early Social Behavior Books
Social Language Development
Spotlight for Figurative Language
Spotlight on Social Skills
TheraLink Social Language

For more resources, visit vendor online.

Model Me Kids Grades: K to 12+ Model Me Kids
http://www.modelmekids.com
Videos for
Modeling Social Curriculum includes teaching manuals, lesson plans,
Skills worksheets, activities, DVDs, progress monitoring, reinforcement
charts, and home-school communication.

Model Me Organization & Motivation

Model Me Tips & Tricks
Model Me Confidence & Bullying Prevention
Time for School
Model Me Conversation Cues
Model Me Friendship
Navigating the Grades: 4 to 12+ Future Horizons, Inc.
Social World http://fhautism.com
Curriculum that teaches communication skills, coping strategies,
self-awareness of stress or anxiety, and abstract thinking.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
No More Grades: 6 to 12 Future Horizons, Inc.
Victims: http://fhautism.com
Protecting Due to difficulty with perspective taking, isolation, increased time
Those with online, and difficulty with assertive communication, this manual
Autism from focuses on three areas of concern: cyber bullying, online sexual
Cyber Bullying, predators, and Internet scams. http://www.jedbaker.com/books.htm
Internet
Predators, and
Scams
PECS Grades: Pre-K to 12+ PECS
http://www.pecsusa.com/
An evidence-based practice for communication that is designed
to teach individuals to communicate in a social context. Teaches
individuals to physically exchange visuals, expand spontaneous
interactions, discriminate pictures, build language and sentence
structure, and communicate responses.
Preparing for Grades: K to 12+ Future Horizons, Inc.
Life-The http://fhautism.com
Complete Guide Resource that addresses perspective taking, non-verbal
for Transitioning communication, conversational skills, goal setting, and stress http://www.jedbaker.com/books.htm
to Adulthood for management.
Those with
Autism and
Aspergers
Syndrome

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
Quest Programs Grades: 1 to 5 Future Horizons, Inc
http://fhautism.com
Quest Program I Quest Program I
Social Skills Helps students acquire social and pragmatic skills by combining
Curriculum for written instruction with games, stories, and role playing.
Elementary
School Students
with Autism
Grades: 6 to 8
Quest Program
Quest Program II
II
This 6-unit program will help students to acquire social and
Social Skills pragmatic skills by combining written instruction with games,
Curriculum for activities, and social interaction.
Middle School
Students with
Autism
Skillstreaming Grades: Pre-K to 12+ Skillstreaming
http://www.skillstreaming.com
A four-part training approach that includes modeling, role-
playing, performance feedback, and generalization. Includes
books, CDs, and printable materials. Available in different levels.
The Social Grades: Pre-K to 12 The Social Express
Express http://thesocialexpress.com/what-is-the-
Based on animated interactive webisodes that encourage social-express/social-express-pro/
students to practice real-life social interactions. Works on eight
target skills: Self-Management, Conflict Resolution, Coping
Strategies, Group Participation, Attentive Listening, Relationship
Management, Non-verbal Communication, and Conversations.
Offers on-line and offline activities.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
Social Skills Grades: K to 12+ Future Horizons, Inc.
Picture Book http://fhautism.com
Two books designed for individuals with social challenges.
Photos of a variety of social situations demonstrate the correct
and incorrect ways to interact in different circumstances and http://www.jedbaker.com/books.htm
illustrate the positive and negative consequences of both ways
of interacting.

Social Skills Picture Book and Social Skills Picture Book for
High School and Beyond
Social Thinking Grades: Pre-K+ Social Thinking
Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP
Resources https://www.socialthinking.com
We Thinkers!
We Thinkers! Vol I
Vol I
The We Thinkers curriculum is designed to help young learners
Social Explorers develop the skills they need to be flexible social thinkers and
(Formerly known as social problem solvers.
The Incredible
Flexible You)
Grades: Pre K+
We Thinkers!
Vol II We Thinkers! Vol II
Problem Solvers Continues to present and teach core concepts needed to be
flexible and social thinkers

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
Social Thinking Grades: K to 12 Social Thinking
Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP
Resources https://www.socialthinking.com
Thinking About Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME
YOU Thinking Provides core concepts of Social Thinking and a foundation for
About ME other curriculum, like Superflex

Grades: K to 12
Think Social Think Social
Provides step-by-step methods for teaching the core concepts of
Social Thinking

Grades: K to 5
You are a Social
Detective You are a Social Detective
Visual book curriculum that teaches the concepts and
vocabulary related to Social Thinking. Available in French and
Spanish.

Grades: 5 to 8

Social Thinking Social Thinking & Me

& Me Presents and teaches core Social Thinking vocabulary and
concepts.

Grades: Pre K to 12+

The Zones of
Regulation The Zones of Regulation
This curriculum teaches students how to regulate their action
and increase self-control and problem solving abilities.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
Social Skills Grades: 5 to 12+ Future Horizons, Inc.
Training http://fhautism.com
This curriculum presents social skills with printable handouts and
activity sheets to demonstrate, practice, and reinforce skills in
the classroom and at home. Peer acceptance and sensitivity http://www.jedbaker.com/books.htm
training programs are also included.
S.O.S. Grades: 5 to 12+ AAPC Publishing
Social Skills in http://www.aapcpublishing.net/
Our Schools Social skills curriculum that helps students with autism learn
correct social skills and cultivates understanding and acceptance
with typical peers and school staff.
STAR Autism Grades: K to 12+. STAR Autism Support
Support http://starautismsupport.com
Programs that are designed specifically for individuals with ASD
FACTER and developmental delays. Uses ABA (applied behavior
analysis) instructional methods of discrete trial training and
Links pivotal response to teach functional routines and social skills.
Includes detailed lesson plans, teaching materials, data
systems, and a curriculum-based assessment.

FACTER and Links

Grades: 5 to 12+

Teach everyday routines and skills for daily living. Promote

independence in natural environment.
Teach Me Grades: 1 to 12+ Different Learning
Language http://www.difflearn.com/product/Teach_
Program is designed to be used by parents or therapists as part Me_Language/teaching_language_conv
ersation
of a therapy program to teach social language skills. Requires
visual learning skills and the ability to follow simple directions

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Resource Description Vendor/Company
TeachTown Grades: Pre-K to 3 TeachTown
http://web.teachtown.com
Designed for children ages 2 to 7. Uses research and evidence-
based practices, such as ABA (applied behavior analysis), to
teach a wide range of meaningful skills, including literacy.
Additional social skills activities are available.
The Walker Grades: 6 to 12 Pro-Ed, Inc.
Social Skills http://www.proedinc.com/customer/produ
Designed for individuals with developmental delays. The ctView.aspx?ID=615
Curriculum:
Access program teaches peer-to-peer skills, skills for relating to adults,
and self-management skills. The ACCESS curriculum, which is
designed for use by both regular and special education teachers,
may be taught in one-to-one, small-group, or large-group
instruction formats.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University, Bloomington
1905 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408-9801 812-855-6508 Fax 812-855-9630 https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca