Social Engagement & the Steps to Being Social

Kathleen "Mo" Taylor, OTR/L is an occupational therapist with a 30-year history of working with children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Mo works at the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Programs. She teaches and consults around evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD. In addition, Mo has a private practice, Theraplay, where she provides therapy and consultation for people with ASD, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Behavioral Differences across the life span. Mo facilitates sensory/social groups and also consults within the community to help provide appropriate evidence-based supports and accommodations for individuals with ASD in classroom, community and home settings. She has shared her experiences through trainings around New Mexico, nationally and internationally. Her career has been devoted to better "real life" outcomes for all individuals. Marci Laurel, MA, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist with the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Programs. Marci has practiced in Albuquerque for the past 35 years providing direct services, consultation, training, and student supervision in public school, private practice, and university settings. She has lectured nationally and internationally on topics related to sensory processing and communication, family issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Marci is co-author of several related publications, most recently Our Hearts' Desire: For Families Navigating the Journey of Sensory Processing Challenges.

FOREWORD - Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D.INTRODUCTION
Why are Social Skills So Important?
CHAPTER 1: ENGAGEMENT as the FOUNDATION
Self-Regulation: Calm + Alert = READY
Shared Space: A Place to Be Together
Shared Focus: A Reason to Be Together
Shared Pleasure: Enjoying the Moment Together
Sub-Skills of ENGAGEMENT
Critical Strategies to Enhance ENGAGEMENT
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support ENGAGEMENT
Case Study: Meet Jorge
Introducing the Steps to Being Social
CHAPTER 2: LOWER FOUR
Proximity
Parallel
Joint Attention
Reciprocal Exchange
Sub-Skills of LOWER 4
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support LOWER 4
Sample Activities to Enhance LOWER 4 Skill Sets
Case Study: Meet Chase
CHAPTER 3: MIDDLE FOUR
Reciprocal Exchange
Give and Take of Conversation
Perspective Taking
Reading the Social Scene
Sub-Skills of MIDDLE 4
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support MIDDLE 4
Sample Activities to Enhance MIDDLE 4 Skill Sets
Case Study: Meet Mason
CHAPTER 4: UPPER 4
Reading the Social Scene
Group Cooperation
Friendship
Growing Connections
Sub-Skills of UPPER 4
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support UPPER 4
Sample Activities to Enhance UPPER 4 Skill Sets
Case Study: Meet Andy
CHAPTER 5: ASSESSMENT
The Steps Assessment
Introduction
ENGAGEMENT
LOWER 4
MIDDLE 4
UPPER 4
The STEPS Assessment Summary
Interpreting the Scores
Evidence-Based Practices Linking to the Skill Sets of the Social Steps
CHAPTER 6: Putting it all Together
Using the STEPS Assessment to Make a Social Plan
Social Plan
FOUNDATION: Scenario and Social Plan Example
LOWER 4: Scenario and Social Plan Example
MIDDLE 4: Scenario and Social Plan Example
UPPER 4: Scenario and Social Plan Example
Other Uses of Social Engagement & the Steps to Being Social
SummaryAPPENDICES
Social Engagement & the Steps to Being Social
The Four Skill Sets
FOUNDATION
LOWER 4: Steps to Being Social
MIDDLE 4: Steps to Being Social
UPPER 4: Steps to Being Social
Social Plan
Thank You
REFERENCES
ABOUT THE AUTHORS