• Replies 4 replies
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 2292 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

one-to-one interventions and social interaction

longman

I keep reading about a variety of interventions that are based on a one-to-one interaction between someone on the spectrum and a counsellor. One term I see used in relation to this is "dyadic".

There seems to be an assumption that if progress can be made on a one-to-one basis it resolves the kinds of problems that arise in social interaction and communication where multiples of people are involved.

I was under the impression that one-to-one is usually easier and improves with time and greater understanding. It is easier too to rely on spoken language rather than body language in one-to-one, so that it is easy to develop verbal skills to compensate. My question is whether the skills learned in one-to-one situations can be meaningful or helpful to other kinds of social situation.

I have not seen anything that tackles the wider social integration problem where people on the spectrum have to converse as one of a group of people or in an environment where lots of conversations are ongoing. This applies to lots of social situations including fitting in at work.

Have I misunderstood things, or are people advocating interventions actually claiming that one-to-one will solve anything significantly more than what to expect in a one-to-one dialogue?

Parents

  • I find your questions really interesting.

    I believe one-to-one interaction is by far the most effective way of assisting people on the autistic spectrum.  If you understand that many of them are overloaded by the sensory messages they are receiving constantly from the surrounding environment, then you realise that removing as many distractions as possible creates the optimal learning environment.  How can one possibly interpret the language and body language of a group of people simultaneously if one has not first acquired the skills to interpret these messages from one individual?  The ideal one-to-one intervention, in my opinion, is one where there is a team of people involved, who each work individual shifts with the autistic person.  This enables maximum contact time and minimum overload, with gradual exposure to different personal styles of interaction.

    Only when this becomes a comfortable situation for the autistic person, and they have had plenty of opportunity to practise social skills, is it time to move them on to increasingly wider exposure.  Remember, most of us wouldn't throw a child into the deep end of the swimming pool before we had taught them the skills necessary to be effective swimmers (though there are no doubt some who would!).

    The Son-Rise Program is a one-to-one intervention which I have used successfully with my child to do this.  In fact, it has been so successful that he is now thriving in a mainstream school environment, and his social skills are now spontaneous.  This programme takes the child from the level they are at and helps them learn the skills they need to become a successful social being to whatever level they are able to achieve.  It's one-to-one and parent-led, but also involves the use of volunteers who are trained by the parent(s). 

Reply

  • I find your questions really interesting.

    I believe one-to-one interaction is by far the most effective way of assisting people on the autistic spectrum.  If you understand that many of them are overloaded by the sensory messages they are receiving constantly from the surrounding environment, then you realise that removing as many distractions as possible creates the optimal learning environment.  How can one possibly interpret the language and body language of a group of people simultaneously if one has not first acquired the skills to interpret these messages from one individual?  The ideal one-to-one intervention, in my opinion, is one where there is a team of people involved, who each work individual shifts with the autistic person.  This enables maximum contact time and minimum overload, with gradual exposure to different personal styles of interaction.

    Only when this becomes a comfortable situation for the autistic person, and they have had plenty of opportunity to practise social skills, is it time to move them on to increasingly wider exposure.  Remember, most of us wouldn't throw a child into the deep end of the swimming pool before we had taught them the skills necessary to be effective swimmers (though there are no doubt some who would!).

    The Son-Rise Program is a one-to-one intervention which I have used successfully with my child to do this.  In fact, it has been so successful that he is now thriving in a mainstream school environment, and his social skills are now spontaneous.  This programme takes the child from the level they are at and helps them learn the skills they need to become a successful social being to whatever level they are able to achieve.  It's one-to-one and parent-led, but also involves the use of volunteers who are trained by the parent(s). 

Children
No Data