Tag Archive for: Social Skills

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Social Skills Program Review by Advanceweb.com

We’re fortunate to have several members of the Speech-Language Pathologists’ community who use, review, and recommend our social skills learning program.

Speech-language pathologist, Jeremy Legaspi, recently posted this review of The Social Express on the community site, advanceweb.com

The Social Express is gorgeous animated and interactive app to address social skills. It was created to work on social skills as well as target children’s social thinking skills by problem solving situations.  It’s intended to be used for elementary school-aged children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, nonverbal learning disabilities, pragmatic language deficits or other social-cognitive challenges.

The Social Express Opening Screen

This app provides some of the following:

Integrates many components including: hidden rules, Social Thinking® concepts, video modeling, self-regulation, and problem solving to help the user and adult “put it all together”

– Allows for multiple responses with different outcomes

– Presents teaching tips to assist the adult working with the user to expand on each lesson

– Provides printables for generalization of the presented skills

The Social Express [is] using video modeling to provide the visual models that children with Autism and ADHD need and crave. What is Video Modeling? Video modeling is a method of teaching that uses videos to provide a visual model of targeted behaviors or skills.

 

 

These scenes are animated.

 

 

 

There are 16 lessons across 2 Levels. Each Lesson has a Skill Level, Hidden Social key, and a goal. These include:

Skill Level 1

Skill Level 1: What are they thinking about?

Hidden Social Key: Look at what others are looking at

Goal: To introduce the concept that we look at things that we are  thinking about

Skill Level 1: Being with the group

Hidden Social Key: Keep your body facing the group

Goal: To introduce the concept that it’s important to keep your body facing the group

Skill Level 1: Pick the feeling

Hidden Social Key: User your eyes and brain to figure things out

Goal: to demonstrate how peoples’ bodies and face express emotions

Skill Level 1: Using the DPS: Digital Problem Solver

Hidden Social Key: Monitor and adjust your behavior when you’re in a group

Goal: to allow the user to identify and solve social problems

Skill Level 1: What’s Next?

Hidden Social Key: User your eyes and brain to figure things out

Goal: To present the concept of inferring what will happen next

Skill Level 1: What are they doing?

Hidden Social Key: Look at who is talking

Goal: To introduce the concept of figuring out what others are doing by looking at them

Skill Level 1: Saying the right thing

Hidden Social Key: Talk about things that others like to talk about

Goal: To introduce the concept that it is important to think about what other people like

Skill Level 1: Unlocking the clubhouse

Hidden Social Key: Use your eyes and brain to figure things out

Goal: To provide an opportunity for the user to observe and identify when others are using hidden social keys

Skill Level 2

Skill Level 2: Watch what I do

Hidden Social Key: Look at what others are looking at

Goal: To introduce the concept that it is important to watch what others are looking at or doing

Skill Level 2: Using our friend files

Hidden Social Key: Keep your body facing the group and talk about what others are discussing

Goal: To introduce the concept of listening to what others are saying

Skill Level 2: Thinking about your friend

Hidden Social Key:  Try to figure out what to do based on how others are feeling

Goal: To identify mad, sad, happy, and scared feelings, and figure out what to do when others are feeling this way

 

Skill Level 2: Using the DPS:  Digital Problem Solver

Hidden Social Key: Monitor and adjust your behavior when you’re with a group

Goal: To introduce four coping strategies and the results of using them

 

Skill Level 2: What’s their plan?

Hidden Social Key: Use your eyes and brain to figure things out

Goal: To introduce the concept of observing other’s body and eye movements to figure out what they will do next

 

Skill Level 2: What does that mean?

Hidden Social Key: Look at who is talking

Goal: to introduce the use of idioms in conversation

 

Skill Level 2: Having a conversation

Hidden Social Key: Talk about what the group is talking about

Goal: To introduce the concept that people ask follow-up questions to find out more about a topic

 

Skill Level 2: Unlocking the clubhouse

Hidden Social Key: Use your eyes and brain to figure things out

Goal: To provide the opportunity for the user to observe and identify when others are using the Hidden Social Keys

The included printables are a nice way to make these lessons tangible for the child. Here are a few examples of what the printables look like:

Watch a video of the Social Express in action.

Overall the app has some amazingly cool features and targets a number of skills that most children on the spectrum need but maybe priced out of range of some SLP’s budgets. Priced at $89.99 The Social Express is available for Mac, PC, and iPad. I say treat it as an investment and check it out on the App Store for more info here: The Social Express.

This review originally posted by Jeremy Legaspi on Advance Web you can visit by clicking here,  Advanceweb.com

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Great Review of App: Social Skills Coping Strategies for Kids

Common Sense Media Reviews My DPS, by The Social ExpressThanks to Common Sense Media for a great review of a social skills app for kids from The Social Express: My DPS, Digital Problem Solver!

My Digital Problem Solver Helps Kids with Social Skills Coping Techniques

Here is an excerpt from the review of our social skills coping app for kids:

What parents Need to Know:

Parents need to know that My DPS is an excellent app to teach emotions and problem-solving techniques. The app focuses on identifying a variety of emotions through facial expressions, body language, and written/spoken language, and suggests coping strategies to deal with a range of social situations. My DPS is short for “My Digital Problem Solver” and uses CGI-animated videos to show social situations and coping skills in settings relevant to kids.

My Digital Problem Solver app, by The Social ExpressMy DPS is an excellent app to help teach emotions and social problem solving techniques. It’s easy to use, can be customized to show a variety of emotions, and teaches valuable everyday life skills. The CGI animations are impressive, and the app’s music is calming with comforting lyrics. The app would be even better if it had a spoken text option for non-readers and a way to import video to customize coping strategies options.

That said, My DPS is a fantastic tool to help kids learn effective coping techniques. You can read the complete review by clicking here.

What kids can learn

Kids can learn to identify emotions and successful coping mechanisms, as well as hone interpersonal skills to help them manage a variety of social situations. The CGI animations also help kids handle stress by developing self-reliance to move beyond emotional obstacles. The in-app visual and aural cues are accessible to kids with developmental and learning differences. While the aural and video cues can’t be modified, still picture and text cues can be customized to match specific emotions and coping strategies. The customization options and impressive animations help make My DPS a great way to learn about emotions.

Common Sense Media is a great resource for parents looking to find the best apps to help their kids. Find out more by visiting their website by clicking here.

 

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5 Tips to Help Your Child Make Friends


Helping Your Child Learn Social SkillsIf your child is having difficulty making friends at school, it is heart breaking. You want to help him. It could be that he’s experiencing problems developing a range of social skills. Maybe he’s having difficulty looking others in the eye, talking about what the group is talking about, or other behaviors that are needed for him to “stay with the group” successfully. It could be your child’s problem solving skills need help.

Talk to him about what’s going on and try to identify the barriers. Is it that he’s having difficulty relating to his classmates? Is he not able to stay with the group? Is he not noticing or even saying “hello” to the other kids?

Ask your child’s teacher the same questions. I recommend to parents that you treat all of your child’s teachers, therapists, coaches, and anyone else who is in their daily lives like your ‘team’. Stay in regular contact with them so that you can benefit from their observations and suggestions.

These are just the first steps in helping your child to improve his or her social skills.

I’ll discuss more ways to help your child make friends in future articles.

It’s Hard to Find Social Skills Homework

 

I certainly learned about the importance of social skills when our twin sons began mainstream kindergarten. (You can read how we accomplished mainstreaming here.)

This was in 2007, before apps and interactive software programs were widely available. I searched high and low for a social skills learning software program. There were none at the time. That’s what led me to develop The Social Express. (But that’s another story.)

Here Are 5 Tips for Helping Your Child Improve His Social Skills

1. Have calm conversations with your child about what’s keeping him from making friends. Find out exactly where he’s having trouble when trying to interact with other kids. Ask him to describe the other kids in his class and what he thinks about them. Find out what happens during recess or group activities. Ask lots of simple questions. Dig deep with your questions.

2. Become the CSI Read more

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The Social Express Attends Special Needs Education CASE Conference

Social-skills-special-education-CASE-conferenceSan Diego, CA (PRWEB) September 30, 2012

The Social Express™, creators of a new social skills learning software program for special needs children, is attending the Annual CASE Conference from November 1-3 in Scottsdale. The Social Express was voted Most Likely to Succeed at SIIA’s Ed Tech Summit in May.

The company joins top special education leaders at the 23rd annual CASE conference. The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) is an international professional educational organization which is affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) whose members are dedicated to the enhancement of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of each individual in society.

“We’ve been humbled by the amazing reception and feedback we’ve received from special needs Read more

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3 Ways Group Video Games Help Your Child to Improve Social Skills

 

We believe that every child deserves to have a friend. Often making friends is harder for kids with autism, Asperger’s, and ADHD. They need extra help to develop social skills such as being with the group, understanding what’s happening next, communication, and looking at who is talking.

Many times it’s because they don’t pick up cues from other kids in the same ways that neurotypical children do.

My wife and I have always made helping our boys improve their social skills a priority. That’s where the inspiration for creating The Social Express began.

Eileen Campos’ recent blog post at MommyTeaches.com got me thinking even more about the different ways you can approach social skills learning for your child. Video game playing in a group of children is a top one!

Eileen writes about how she’s observed her children improve their math and reading skills while playing video games. Like one explaining to the others why he has more points. (Love that!) You can read Eileen’s post here.

I’ve observed how video games played in a group help a child with autism improve how he or she gets along with others. Here are three ideas you can try with your child.

How Group Video Games Help Autistic Kids with Social Skills

1. Encourage Group Video Game Playing for Best Social Interaction

Arrange for your child to play selected video games with siblings or other children. This leads Read more

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Autism Software: Engaging New Way to Learn Social Skills, in Autism Digest

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our autism software is featured in the July/August issue of the Autism Digest print magazine! Being highlighted by this wonderful publication is a terrific honor for us! Autism Digest is focused on providing the latest in help for autism.

They titled the article about our social learning software: “Engaging New Way to Learn Social Skills”

According to its website, Autism –Asperger’s Digest provides helpful information for teachers, families and therapists who support children and people diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

From the Autism Digest article:

The Social Express has wrapped best practices for learning social skills into an exciting platform.

The Social Express is educational software designed to teach users how to think about and manage social situations, helping them to develop meaningful social relationships and succeed in life.

The interactive content teaches social skills as it follows characters through social interactions around town. The Social Express is based on best practices for helping children and young adults with ASD to learn social skills—and has wrapped them into an exciting platform.

The lessons build on each another to teach skills that include perspective-taking, understanding that others have feelings, and coping before an impending meltdown. It is designed to start discussions on social situations giving opportunities for parents to interact with their children frequently throughout the program.

We’re also excited because they told us in an email, that they “really enjoyed reviewing The Social Express”.

About Autism Digest

The company that publishes Autism Digest was established in 1996. Its founder talks about what an inspiration his son, Alex, had on him and the reason he started the company. Nearly everyone who works at the company, Future Horizons, has a friend or family member impacted by autism, according to the website.

This quote sums up their mission, from the Autism Digest website:

It is our strong belief that every child and adult with autism can improve and contribute to the lives of those who love them and, in many ways, contribute to society.

You can learn more about Autism – Asperger’s Digest at its website here: http://autismdigest.com/

Join our free newsletter! Get insider updates from The Social Express, click here to join us![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Apps for Social Skills and Autism Interview by Time Timer(R)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Thanks to Jessica Chase of Consonantly Speaking website and the Time Timer®  team for a great blog post: Apps for Social Skills and Autism.

Jessica mentioned The Social Express when asked to name her favorite social skills apps.

Here’s an excerpt from the Time Timer interview:

Time Timer: What is the goal of speech therapy? How can it help children across the Autism Spectrum? 

Jessica Chase: Speech-Language Therapy is all about helping people communicate by any means possible.  People on the Autism Spectrum are so diverse. Some have much difficulty communicating at all, while others are great verbal communicators but have difficulty with social communication skills. Some may be working on using eye contact, some may be focusing on using an Alternative Communication device, and others may be learning how to maintain conversation topics.

It really depends on the person’s communication needs, but speech-language therpay can greatly benefit people on the Autism Spectrum – and the sooner they start, the better. 

TT: Which are your favorite apps for building social skills?

JC: I recommend the Social Express, Conversation Builder, Emotional Detective, Social Adventures and any of the Wonkido apps.

I also like the Fun Decks: What Would You Do At School If, What Would You Do at Home If, How Would You Feel If and Practicing Pragmatics.

Jessica also recommends The Social Express for Speech Therapists.

You can read the complete interview at the Time Timer’s blog by clicking here

Time Timer is a cool company that offers many different visual timers.  Each timer displays a wonderful large red (colorful) dot.

The dot becomes smaller as the time counts down. Time Timers are available in in physical clock form or as an app.

From the website, Time Timers are recommended for special needs children and youth.

Recommended by Autism and ADHD experts, the Time Timer is totally intuitive. It comforts toddlers, builds independence in youth with learning disabilities…

They also suggest ideas for using Time Timers to help children with autism. Here are two tips from the company’s Tip Sheet for Special Needs:

Succeed at timed activities:  “Finish your dinner before the red runs out.”

Learn to anticipate transitions: “Here’s what ‘5 more minutes’really means.”

I think we may all need help with ‘What 5 more minutes really means’. Like maybe when I’m watching a football game and my wife has a chore for me to do…

Join our free newsletter! Get insider updates from The Social Express, click here to join us![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Autism Education Resource: SLPs Review Social Skills App

Autism Education Resources-The Social ExpressOver at Public School SLPs blog, Pam and Holly posted a great review of our autism education resource, The Social Express!

They like the movie-quality graphics. They also noted that this autism education resource is customizable for each student.

We’ve posted Pam and Holly’s review below.

App Review: The Social Express

The Social Express is more like watching a show on Disney than working on social skills on the iPad. I am so impressed with the work that went into making this app. Here’s what Holly and I love:

— awesome graphics that keep students engaged
— fully animated
— lessons that are real life scenarios
— customizable to your each of your students
— printable lessons
— research based

Thanks Pam and Holly for the review! You can find their excellent blog, Public School SLPs by clicking here.

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Mom Calls Social Learning Software Amazing

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]San Diego, CA (PRWEB) June 19, 2012

Katie Holler, a mother of five daughters including three diagnosed on the autism spectrum, finds that The Social Express is a valuable educational tool in her toolbox. She believes there are lots of learning apps available, but nothing that presents the skills she has set as goals for her daughters like The Social Express™.

The Social Express is a new 16-lesson social learning software program for children between the ages of five and 12 years. It uses interactive video modeling, movie quality animation and original characters that children find engaging. Each one of the 30 interactive scenes contains teachable moments to help parents reinforce learning.

The Social Express Is Movie-Like

According to Katie Holler, “The Social Express is pretty amazing. When you use it, it’s almost like watching an animated Hollywood movie. Except it’s interactive and I can stop the program at any time to talk with my daughters about the choices the characters in social situations can make.”

Holler continued, “The teaching tips included in The Social Express Guide are one of the best things for me. I’ve learned how to reinforce the social lessons when my daughters and I are out and about. As a mom of special needs children, I just try to use every resource I can. Especially one that helps me teach and reinforce the skills we are working with the children on in school and therapy sessions.”

Holler finds that The Social Express works equally well for both her higher functioning children with autism and her lower functioning daughter.

This Social Skills App is a Good Investment

Holler considers the program to be one of the best tools that she’s found because it’s helpful and informative. Holler said, “I highly recommend it to other parents of children with special needs. It helps me a lot. I consider The Social Express a worthwhile investment because it hits on all of the major social skills goals we have for our children. That includes learning social cues, pragmatic skills, non-verbal skills, and inferencing.”

About Brighten Learning, Inc.

Brighten Learning, founded by parents of autistic twins in 2008, is a privately held company based in Encinitas, California. The company develops The Social Express™ and other interactive social learning software. The company’s mission is to help children with ADHD, Autism and Asperger’s to improve their lives by teaching social skills using video modeling. Visit the company at http://thesocialexpress.com/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Social Skills App Review at Maryland Learning Links Blog

Social-Skills-Apps-Review-at-Maryland-Learning-LinksRebecca Penina Simon posted a great review of our social skills app on The Maryland Learning Links site. Rebecca is an educator and a mom.

Among the reasons she likes The Social Express is:

“Many children on the autism spectrum tend to be visual learners, so The Social Express utilizes Hollywood-quality animation to present content to the users.”

 

Her son also likes using The Social Express.  Here is Rebecca Penina Simon’s complete review:

 

Apps for Social Success

 

Social Skills, such as eye contact, communication, interactive attention span, and flexibility are important skills for all children. For children with special needs, these subtle skills are crucial for their social success.

Most parents of typically developing children take their child’s social skills development for granted. However, that ability to socialize and to create and sustain substantial interactive relationships with parents, siblings, peers, etc., can be a fundamental challenge for children on the autistic spectrum. While it is important to focus on all areas of a child’s development, I feel the first and most important skills to focus on is social development, the ability to socially interact. For oftentimes it is in this area that we are able to create the greatest possibility for change.

 

Children who have high functioning autism, Asperger’s and/or ADHD face many challenges socially. Although these children are likely mainstreamed with their typical peers, they often have a very difficult time creating and sustaining meaningful relationships with others around them. These children are often challenged by tasks such as recognizing others’ facial expressions, social cues, and most importantly, subtleties in body language that convey emotions and feelings.

 

The Social Express ™ was developed to address some of these developmental concerns. Created by a team at Social Express, this animated interactive software teaches children and young adults social and life skills. The app uses engaging scenarios to teach users how to think about and manage social situations so that they are better prepared to develop meaningful social relationships and succeed in life.

 

Many children on the autism spectrum tend to be visual learners, so The Social Express utilizes Hollywood-quality animation to present content to the users. These animations include a social story in which the user is asked to observe the characters in a specific situation as a problem arises. The user must then evaluate how one of the characters is feeling and decide upon a proper course of action to take to resolve the situation. Since not every situation has a black and white outcome, this app helps users to learn subtle nuances that are often hard for them to detect. The Social Express challenges the user to look at the entire social story and make the best choice.

 

The Social Express is one of the few social skills apps that my son enjoys using – so much so that he actually asks to use it. This app is a bit pricey but for good reason as there is no other social skills app like it. And a child being able to exhibit proper social skills and create meaningful relationships is priceless.

 

Thanks Rebecca for reviewing our social skills app!

You can follow Rebecca Penina Simon on Twitter for education and tech updates. Her handle is, @Edtechmorah


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