Can people with autism improve their social skills?

Licensed psychologist and autism specialist Ronald Leaf, PhD, discusses how people with autism can improve their social skills.

Transcript

00:00

We need children with autism, adolescents, adults to have meaningful social connections, to have meaningful friendships.

00:06

And this comes about through the improvement in social skills. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:19

We're very hopeful in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with autism. We're of the belief that we can prove any skill

00:26

as long as we're good teachers. Social skills are one of those things we

00:33

need to emphasize in treatment. It's certainly one of the features of autism, the deficit in social skills. It's one of those things we must emphasize,

00:41

because it's a quality of life issue. We need children with autism, adolescents, adults

00:49

to have meaningful social connections, to have meaningful friendships. And this comes about through the improvement in social skills.

00:58

It's a matter of teaching. It's a matter of emphasis. We're going to take a child with autism and look at where their deficit areas are socially

01:04

and help improve those by teaching them alternatives, giving them tons of practice, provide motivation for social skills.

01:13

So they develop into meaningful, have meaningful friendships. And when you have meaningful friendships, then you have all the rewards in life.

01:20

You have the quality of life. Something that's critical that we work on social skills with our children with autism.