Relationships Matter

This comprehensive five-step model addresses the need for social programming for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders by helping children identify the skills they need to form relationships and an intervention plan to help them acquire these skills. Instead of offering a single strategy, this book organizes the myriad social skills strategies and resources currently available to make it easier for parents and educational professionals to teach social skills and design social skills programs for children with ASD.

User Reviews about Building Social Relationships: A Systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Social Difficulties

Of the books I have read on the subject, this one listed my son's traits the most perfectly! It was such an excellent list, I highlighted those he struggles with the most, added notes, and lend it to his teachers in the beginning of the year every year. It really gives a clear picture of something that's often fairly abstract and hard for teachers to deal with at times, and helps them believe in the diagnosis. -- Excellent

It is really hard to find help for a child who is border line. He has social difficulties and several "asberger like" issues but doesn't have asbergers. He needs help recognizing, understanding social cues and proper behavior in social settings. I think there where parts of this book that was helpful and a few good exercises that we tried. I like the common sense approach this book takes to dealing with children with social issues. I also like the "through a child's eyes" prospective, what is socially appropriate behavior for adults doesn't apply to the playground. That is so true! The examples used are funny and made me laugh in an otherwise difficult part of our family life.

I did skip over several chapters because they didn't apply to our situation. For example there is a large part of the book that deals with how to tell if your child has social difficulties. We have seen 3 therapists and 2 pediatric neuropsychologists we understand his strengths and weaknesses so this part of the book was redundant for me. This is also the 3rd book I have read. The first few chapters help explain what are social difficulties are and how they affect your child and your family. If you are having trouble understanding why your child is having problems at school I think this would be helpful.
-- a boarder line kid

I attended a workshop presented by author Scott Bellini. It was excellent and so is this book. Lots of hands on activities and forms you can use to help you identify social skills difficulties. Easy reading and well organized. -- Building Social Relationships

This book is very helpful and positive. I really like books that are positive, and that tell you about solutions to problems.

As someone with Asperger's Syndrome myself, I know that if there had been books like this 30 years ago, I would have learned much earlier in life what things are appropriate to do and say in what situation. It's too bad that there were no books like this until very recent years! -- Very helpful and postive

This was an enjoyable read and an extremely insightful publication. It is the most comprehensive book available for teaching social skills to children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. The book contains over 30 social skill strategies that can be implemented by educators, clinicians, and parents in variety of settings. The author also provides detailed information on how to assess social functioning and evaluate outcomes. A social skill checklist is included that is helpful in identifying specific social skill deficits and in developing social objectives. Perhaps most impressive, the author translates a complex conceptual framework into an understandable and useful social skills training model. This book gets my highest recommendation.

Robert Linhares, M.A.
Portland, OR -- A must have for clinicians, educators and parents