Five Views of Autism

Person-centered

Understanding symptoms, strategies, and services can improve individual lives.

Describing Symptoms: Social Challenges

Social challenges for individuals with autism can impact their interactions, relationships, and emotional well-being. Here’s an expanded look at each of the challenges you mentioned, along with their possible implications and strategies for support.

Go back to Describing Symptoms

1. Trouble Making Friends

Many individuals with autism find it challenging to establish friendships due to:

Understanding social cues: Nonverbal communication like body language and facial expressions can be difficult to interpret.
Shared interests: They may have unique interests that don’t align with those of their peers, making it harder to connect.

Strategies for Support:

Social skills training: Engage in structured programs that teach conversation starters, eye contact, and appropriate responses.
Facilitate structured playdates: Organize small-group activities focusing on shared interests, thus easing the pressure of unstructured social settings.
Peer mentoring: Pair individuals with understanding peers who can model friendship skills.