CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
CHADD does not endorse products, services, publications, medications or treatments. Individuals at a CHADD-sponsored event do not represent an endorsement by CHADD, nor is it testimony by CHADD as to the quality of the products, services, publications, medications or treatments or the validity of the individual's claims.
May 08, 2012
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Movie Night ~ Beyond F.A.T. City,
A Look Ahead
Facilitator: Heidi Turchan, SLD Center
This movie underderscores the frustration, anxiety, and tension (F.A.T) children with learning disabilities experience
This presentation is suitable for:
- Parents
- Educators
April 10, 2012 Program
“Will you be my friend?” - When social skills don't come easy
Speaker: Julie Wilson, MA, Autism Education Specialist, Envision Center
It was a pleasure for Kalamazoo CHADD to welcome Julie Wilson, M.ED.,CAS, as our April speaker. Julie is an area expert in social thinking and social skills training for children through adults. According to the National Resource Center on AD/HD, "Researchers have found that the social challenges of children with AD/HD include disturbed relationships with their peers, difficulty making and keeping friends, and deficiencies in appropriate social behavior. Long-term outcome studies suggest that these problems continue into adolescence and adulthood and impede the social adjustment of adults with AD/HD." Julie clarified that a lack of social skills does not equal a lack of social interest and that social skills are much more than manners. She also shared that social skills are ultimately the main predictor for future socialization and independent success.
The concept of Doing Your Social BEST was developed by Julie and first published in the March/April 2007 Autism Asperger Digest. Julie feels that it is critical that persons working on social skills growth understand all areas of social functioning and the need to learn and monitor these skills. She uses the acronym BEST to address the four main areas of social skills, Body, Emotions, Speaking, Thinking (of self and others). BEST is a framework and it is important to understand that these four areas overlap each other. Body refers to body language and all
non-verbal interactions. Emotions focuses on awareness and understanding of emotions of oneself and others. It involves understanding and labeling emotions and 'reading' others' emotions and one's own emotional regulation. Speaking focuses on voice and speech including tone of voice, rate of speech, emphasis/variation, and voice volume. Thinking is necessary for all social skills as we need to think about the social behavior of ourselves and others. Teaching social skills requires teaching social thinking!
Julie provided us with a wealth of information, examples, teaching activities, and resources. Her knowledge and passion for individuals who struggle with social issues was evident and the audience greatly benefited from her presentation. Thank you, Julie Wilson!
Written and submitted by: Heather Moore, CHADD Steering Committee Member
Kalamazoo County CHADD Chapter
