Strategies for improving social integration of children with Asperger syndrome

By Tony Attwood, (2000) autism, 4, 85-100.

There is a general agreement that children with Asperger syndrome have difficulties in soical integration with their peers. Our current understanding of the nature of these difficulites is explained and specific strategies are described that are designed to encourage greater competence in the skills that are necessary to achieve effective social integration. While we do not have any clear scientific evidence of whether and how these strategies are successful, they provide a source of ideas for future examination by academic research and provisional remedial programmes for practitioners.

Specific strategies described in the paper are: Opportunities to interact with normal children, Knowledge of the nature of Asperger syndrome, Teaching theory of mind skills, Social stories, Comic Strip Conversations, Encouraging friendship skills, Social Skills groups, Project on specific emotions and Imitation.