ABS' Community Based Services

ABS' Community Based Programs is very similar to our Socialization Program (CBP and SP). Socialization, in reference to skills and habits necessary for individuals to participate within their own society, is essential whether or not you have a diagnosis of autism/Asperger’s.

Socialization is thus "the means by which social and cultural continuity are attained". This just so happens to be directly tied into our communal sense of existence, otherwise known as our societal culture. Unfortunately, many families affected with autism spectrum disorder, have a lack or absent sense of community as their children’s diagnosis prevent them from actively seeking out common communal events or occasions such as going out for dinner, seeing a new movie at the theater, or visiting friends or relatives for special occasions such as birthdays. Typically, when parents force themselves to ignore past experiences associated with attempting to engage in such activities, it usually isn’t long before they remember why they so actively avoided the community in the first place.

If your child is a teenager or young adult, you may be observing the effects of a lack of a social life, and the challenges and frustrations that can be associated with it. The purpose of ABS’ Socialization Program and Community Based Program is to address the concerns mentioned above across all age groups, yes, however these programs are much more beneficial than one may imagine. The skills that are taught during these two programs extend beyond challenges faced when attempting to engage in community based events with your child, teen, or young adult. What is life without a sense of socialization?

The fact that a new born baby, even when kept fed and nourished, will eventually pass away if not picked up and interacted with gives us some insight to the power behind socialization, and more importantly, the ability to socialize. ABS’Socialization and Community Based Programs provide your son, daughter, teenager, or young adult with the missing characteristics which assist the popular to not even have to try to make friends, which is another all too common disadvantage individuals with autism experience. This can lead to isolation, unhappiness, even depression. At ABS, we do not attempt to change who your child or loved one is, we simply prepare them for life’s challenges which will inevitably be made known and continue to require a larger and stronger skill set. We do not attempt to pressure or force your loved one to be the most popular child in school, nor do we attempt to change who they are in the community when you take them to the supermarket.

Our Socialization and Community Based Programs prepare your child to be best suited for the unavoidable environment which surrounds them today and will continue to surround them the rest of their lives. If that means assisting them to comprehend why others may be poking fun at them in school, or teaching them the benefits to sitting and waiting patiently until a restaurant is able to serve you your dinner, then they will be better suited for their inescapable environments, now, and in the future.

Once the skills we teach during Socialization and Community Based Programs are mastered, we begin promoting the generalization of these skills into real life settings, for example, by joining you for dinner, to strengthen the skill to the point it is occurring in the environments and with the people where and when it currently exists. Let’s discuss ABS’ SP and CBP’s ability to significantly decrease challenges with making friends and its importance to your child or loved one’s success, not only in school, but in life as well. School is an especially difficult time for children, teenagers, and young adults on the spectrum. In kindergarten, a child must, in addition to several other things, interact with his or her friends and engage in independent, cooperative, and pretend play. In grade school, a child must be able to sit for longer durations at a time and attend as well as retain information provided. By high school, students are expected to change classes hourly, keep track of books and assignments for each class, follow complex directions, complete multi-phase projects, and turn in homework on time. Individuals of all ages on the spectrum will require a greater level of external support from both their families and their school.

All this can add to the existing pressure one feels if they do not have friends who they can utilize to help them feel like they are not the only ones feeling nervous or overwhelmed. Of course parents must ensure the school is capable of providing the essential support system needed for their child, teenager, or young adult to benefit and thrive. The application of ABA can significantly advance a school’s existing support system, making it much more effective and likely to succeed. ABA not only teaches this population about the variables leading to the susceptibility of not being able to make friends, it also facilitates the awareness or rationale behind the challenges sustaining friendships that are actually made.

Many individuals with ASD have similar dreams and goals as you and I. There may be only subtle differences in some cases, while in others, they are much more apparent. Some classmates may have difficulties with certain activities due to their disability, but may have strengths in other areas. For example, a teenager with ASD may be a computer or science whiz, but may have difficulty in social situations or playing on a sports team. Some children, teenagers, and young adults with ASD may misunderstand rules to various sports or get anxious when rules are not followed. Many even have a difficult time with following unspoken rules or routines, such as always sitting in the same place in the cafeteria or always taking the same route to class. They may experience an intense desire to pursue an interest and become very focused on one particular thing, such as a video game, mythology, or sports facts. In addition, they may have a hard time coping with everyday challenges, such as schedule changes, making eye contact.

Children, adolescents and young adults on the spectrum may react strongly or become overwhelmed by things like noisy cafeterias and gymnasiums, fire alarms, crowded hallways, or bright fluorescent lights. Autism Behavioral Services’ Socialization and Community Based Programs are designed to address these concerns and more. ABS utilizes systematic desensitization during our bi-weekly Community Based Program (CBP) and weekly Socialization Program (SP) to address these challenges or sensitivities. ABS, through the application of ABA, focuses on these concerns during our Girl’s Group, Teen’s ADAPT and Leaders in Training Programs as well, although the deficits related to communal environments are best addressed during our SP and CBPs.

There are many other existing deficits or behavioral excesses we address through our ABS’ SP and CBPs. The following are more examples: Often times, children. Teenagers, and young adults do not recognize or protect themselves from bullying or teasing at school, in public, or on the Internet. Because they are literal thinkers, they may not understand sarcasm, slang or jokes. Social situations produces many challenges due to the unspoken rules mentioned earlier. They may stand too close when talking to someone or may not comprehend the hint that the conversation is over. They may make comments that seem rude without understanding their social impact (for example, you have bad breath). This may lead to the perception that individuals on the spectrum do not care about other people’s feelings. Your loved one may want to make friends, but might not want to talk about things other than his/her special interests. You should realize they are trying to connect and make friends. There is a common perception that individuals on the spectrum would rather be by themselves. However, more often than not, the negative consequences they have experienced in the past while attempting to make friends through discussions of their interests only, affects their desire to continue attempting to build friendships.

ABS’ SP and CBP helps them to be more conscious of the causes behind many of their challenges. Additionally, children, teenagers, and young adults on the spectrum may not be able to interpret facial expressions, such as when the teacher gives a meaningful look to signal that it is time to be quiet. Why do they act in what seems to be such unusual ways? They are typically not choosing to misbehave or act peculiar. They may be having a hard time controlling their behavior because of difficulties understanding expectations or dealing with the world around them. They also may not be aware of their behavior or that it is perceived as unusual. Again, ABS’ SP and CBP addresses each of these concerns.

ABS also addresses another common concern directly related to socialization, whether at school or in the community, among this population: communication. Individuals with ASD may have a problem with receptive and expressive communication. This means that they may not always understand everything that is being said to them, may need some extra time to process what is being said or may become confused when someone says too much at once.

Children who are deprived of the opportunity to be socialized (children who are isolated due to abuse, extreme forms of institutionalization, etc.) never learn to understand or use the basic tools of human interaction: speech, touch, body language, etc. If you're the parent of a child with autism, you may recognize that your child has some of the symptoms of isolation, even though he/she has not been physically isolated.

Social skills groups offer an opportunity for individuals with autism to to practice their social skills with each other and/or typical peers on a regular basis.