The groundbreaking book that puts the focus on teens and young adults with social challenges This book offers parents a step-by-step guide to making and keeping friends for teens and young adults with social challenges such as those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, bipolar, or other conditions. With the book s concrete rules and steps of social etiquette, parents will be able to assist in improving conversational skills, expanding social opportunities, and developing strategies for handling peer rejection. Each chapter provides helpful overview information for parents; lessons with clear bulleted lists of key rules and steps; and expert advice on how to present the material to a teen or young adult. Throughout the book are role-playing exercises for practicing each skill, along with homework assignments to ensure the newly learned skills can be applied easily to a school, work, or other "e;real life"e; setting. Bonus content shows role-plays of skills covered, demonstrating the right and wrong way to enter conversations, schedule get-togethers, deal with conflict, and much more. PART ONE: GETTING READY Ch. 1: Why Teach Social Skills to Teens and Young Adults? PART TWO: THE SCIENCE OF DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING FRIENDSHIPS Ch. 2: Finding and Choosing Good Friends Ch. 3: Good Conversations: The Basics Ch. 4: Starting and Entering Conversations Ch. 5: Exiting Conversations Ch. 6: Managing Electronic Communication Ch. 7: Showing Good Sportsmanship Ch. 8: Enjoying Successful Get-Togethers PART THREE: THE SCIENCE OF HANDLING PEER CONFLICT AND REJECTION: HELPFUL STRATEGIES Ch. 9: Dealing With Arguments Ch. 10: Handling Verbal Teasing Ch. 11: Addressing Cyber Bullying Ch. 12: Minimizing Rumors and Gossip Ch. 13: Avoiding Physical Bullying Ch. 14: Changing a Bad Reputation Epilogue: Moving Forward

The groundbreaking book that puts the focus on teens and young adults with social challengesThis book offers parents a step-by-step guide to making and keeping friends for teens and young adults with social challenges--such as those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, bipolar, or other conditions. With the book's concrete rules and steps of social etiquette, parents will be able to assist in improving conversational skills, expanding social opportunities, and developing strategies for handling peer rejection.Each chapter provides helpful overview information for parents; lessons with clear bulleted lists of key rules and steps; and expert advice on how to present the material to a teen or young adult. Throughout the book are role-playing exercises for practicing each skill, along with homework assignments to ensure the newly learned skills can be applied easily to a school, work, or other "real life" setting. Bonus content shows role-plays of skills covered, demonstrating the right and wrong way to enter conversations, schedule get-togethers, deal with conflict, and much more.* PART ONE: GETTING READY* Ch. 1: Why Teach Social Skills to Teens and Young Adults?* PART TWO: THE SCIENCE OF DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING FRIENDSHIPS* Ch. 2: Finding and Choosing Good Friends* Ch. 3: Good Conversations: The Basics* Ch. 4: Starting and Entering Conversations* Ch. 5: Exiting Conversations* Ch. 6: Managing Electronic Communication* Ch. 7: Showing Good Sportsmanship* Ch. 8: Enjoying Successful Get-Togethers* PART THREE: THE SCIENCE OF HANDLING PEER CONFLICT AND REJECTION: HELPFUL STRATEGIES* Ch. 9: Dealing With Arguments* Ch. 10: Handling Verbal Teasing* Ch. 11: Addressing Cyber Bullying* Ch. 12: Minimizing Rumors and Gossip* Ch. 13: Avoiding Physical Bullying* Ch. 14: Changing a Bad ReputationEpilogue: Moving Forward

DVD Contents viiForeword John Elder Robison xiPreface xiiiAcknowledgments xvAbout the Author xviiPart One Getting ready1 Why Teach Social Skills to Teens and Young Adults? 1Part Two The Science of Developing and Maintaining Friendships2 Finding and Choosing Good Friends 173 Good Conversations: The Basics 514 Starting and Entering Conversations 975 Exiting Conversations 1216 Managing Electronic Communication 1457 Showing Good Sportsmanship 1798 Enjoying Successful Get-Togethers 199Part Three The Science of Handling Peer Conflict and Rejection: Helpful Strategies9 Dealing with Arguments 23110 Handling Verbal Teasing 24711 Addressing Cyber Bullying 26712 Minimizing Rumors and Gossip 28113 Avoiding Physical Bullying 30714 Changing a Bad Reputation 323Epilogue: Moving Forward 341How to Use the DVD 348Bibliography 349Index 359