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Autistic Children Don’t Need To Be Taught Social Skills
There are many reasons autistic children might struggle in neurotypical environments. But what teachers and other adults often zero in on is that they keep to themselves and don’t mix with other children.
It’s assumed that there is something wrong with the autistic child. They would interact with other children if only they knew how. They just need to learn the skills.
Teaching social skills to autistic children continues to be big business. Companies market fun and cheery sounding programs to parents who are concerned about their child becoming socially isolated because they don’t fit in with their neurotypical peers. They want their children to play nicely. To be invited to play dates and invited back again.
But they’ve got it all wrong and it’s damaging. This is what needs to happen instead.
Stop placing the responsibility and blame on autistic children
No-one asks why it’s so hard for autistic children to fit or take a closer look at what’s going on in the environment. It’s far too easy to put it down to the autistic child’s deficit in social communication, which after all is in the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for autism.
