The Autism ProSocial Tool
Dr. Johnson’s experience with verbal adolescents and adults with ASD is consistent with recent advances in autism research suggesting that these individuals are better able to perform behaviors which he calls Information Processing Skills but perform less well on tasks which focus on Social Relationship-Building Skills. Two complementary tools in the Autism Prosocial Tool (APT)TM (Leader Effect® Instruments and the ICONz® Social Concept Cards) help verbal individuals with ASD learn more effective Social Relationship-Building Skills and improve their ability to balance relationship-building and Information Processing Skills in everyday social life. Using specific verbal communication skills (i.e. Leader Effect® Skills), “Helpers” give feedback on social behavior in a way that is designed to increase effective social communication and behavior. The goal is to help individuals with ASD learn to improve the quality of their lives in terms of independence and overall satisfaction in their relationships with other people.
Leader Effect® Communication Skills Instruments
Leader Effect® instruments are proprietary measures of verbal social behavior that are used to teach and evaluate social skills. Some targeted verbal social behaviors include listening, explaining, comprehending and “teaming up” with others.
ICONz® Social Concept Cards
The proprietary ICONz® Social Concept Cards are a specialized visual language designed to help individuals learn, remember, and apply basic social concepts and behaviors in every day life. These vivid, compact symbols serve as powerful visual cues to activate social behaviors learned in conjunction with the Leader Effect® instruments. Some targeted social behaviors include compromise, self control, and “getting the big picture” (context). These and other verbal and social behaviors are especially difficult for individuals with ASD.
Dr. Johnson’s work with clients and families provides early encouragement that verbal individuals with ASD who work with trained Helpers using the Autism Prosocial Tool (APT)TM can make clear and recognizable gains in security (employment, education, housing), comfort (social relationships, advancement in employment) and (their) breadth of interests.
Address:
Louis Building
1824 Murray Ave, Suite 304
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.422.5001