S.S.GRIN HFA (Social Skills Group Intervention for High Functioning Autism) is a 15-session small group therapy program for children in grades 3‒5. This intervention program is specifically designed to build the social skills of children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFA) and to promote positive social relationships with peers.
S.S.GRIN HFA goals:
- Build basic behavioral and cognitive social skills
- Reinforce pro-social attitudes
- Build adaptive coping strategies for social problems
Social skills taught and practiced in S.S.GRIN HFA:
- Communication (verbal and nonverbal)
- Cooperation
- Compromise
- Perspective taking
- Initiation of play/conversation
- Pro-social attitudes: respect, responsibility, and empathy
S.S.GRIN HFA group sessions address specific social difficulties such as peer pressure and being teased and rejected by others. Group leaders work with children to develop more appropriate methods of coping with stressful social experiences.
