Teaching Teenagers With Autism How to Make Friends

Nice story from U.S. News & World Report: Teenagers on the autism spectrum can learn social skills, according to researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles. They have created a new class that lets teens with autism practice key social skills, from asking someone to get together to brushing off teasing with a "That's so lame."

So much of the media attention and funding has been on services for children on the spectrum, but there are teens, young adults and adults who are in need of socialization and other programs.

Several years ago, our organization - YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities - was featured in an article on socialization and relationships in The New York Times. When we tried to create more interest among mainstream media, many producers told us they were afraid of the story. Bravo to Nancy Shute for bring the topic back to the forefront.

Here's The New York Times story: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/us/20romance.html?scp=4&sq=disabled%20%20%20+%20Phil%20Levy&st=cse