Social skills training for autistic adults

Social skills deficit is one of the majors problems related to autism. Difficulties get particularly invalidating when people suffering from autism become adolescents and then adults. Social skills training aims at helping people suffering from autism to interact with other people in a more functional manner. As far as people with high functioning autism or the Asperger's syndrome are concerned, social skills will help them become more satisfied and better integrated in their school or their professional environment. This article describes the authors experience with a group of five people aged from 16 to 21 with autism or with Asperger's syndrome. Evaluations carried out at the end of the training point to a systematic improvement in parental perception of their offspring's social skills. Training sessions, methodology and evaluations carried out are presented by the authors, who examine the necessary conditions for the success of such interventions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.