TASN Autism and Tertiary Behavior Supports (ATBS)

Overview

Specially designed instruction to support assertiveness in students with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.

Articles

• Choicemaking: 5 Things to Think About
  • Tips to support students in making choices.
• Making it Work: The PrAACtical Side of Therapy to Teach Requests
  • This article discusses strategies such as building specific communication opportunities to support students in the skill of requesting.

Books

• An Exceptional Children's Guide to Touch:  Teaching Social and Physical Boundaries to Kids
• Autism and the Transition to Adulthood:  Success Beyond the Classroom
  • This book includes evidence based practices such as social skills training, social stories, video modeling, and scripts to teach targeted social skills such as communicating appropriately with co-workers and friends. Case studies and examples are provided
• Gear Up for Success
  • Many students with autism struggle to appropriately and effectively make their wants, needs, and thoughts known to others. Scripting is an evidence based practice that can be used to teach students skills related to assertive communication. This book provides information on how to teach and implement scripts with students. Examples and a case study are included.
• Preparing for Life:  The Complete Guide for Transitioning to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Aspgerger's Syndrome
  • Lessons in this book address a variety of issues including conflict management/assertiveness. Conflict management/assertiveness lessons include instruction in the difference between aggressive, passive, and assertive behaviors as well as steps to resolve conflicts.

• Promoting Self-Determination in Students with Developmental Disabilities
  • This book provides information regarding assertiveness training and other strategies to teach assertive behavior skills to students with disabilities. Instructional practices such as teaching students to discriminate between assertive, nonassertive, and aggressive behavior; self-monitoring; and role-playing are included.

• S.T.A.R.S. A Social Skills Training Guide for Teaching Assertiveness, Relationship Skills, and Sexual Awareness 
  • This program focuses on understanding relationships, social skills, sexual awareness, and assertiveness. Includes an assessment to determine strengths and needs and activities to promote skill acquisition.

Resources

• Asking for Help How To video from VCU Autism Center for Excellence
  • This video provides examples of strategies and teaching practices to teach young learners the important skill of asking for help.
• Assertiveness Case Study:  Meet Rosie
  • Review a scenario that explores implementing strategies for assertiveness; including examples of a visual support, implmentation plan, and other resources.
• College and Career Competencey Sequence Pre-K through 12: Assertiveness
• S.A.F.E. (Safety Awareness For Empowerment) curriculum
  • These materials, produced by the University Center for Excelence in Developmenal Disabilities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, contain modules, games, and visual supports to support transition age students.  Topics include personal safety, social rules, relationships, sexuality, first aid, and more.
• Social Narrative: When Someone Asks Me a Question
  •  This is an example of a social narrative designed to support assertiveness.

Websites

• I'm Determined
  • The "I'm Determined" project is a state directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education. This project focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to students with disabilities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior, including assertiveness. This website contains many resources including lesson plans with ideas for differentiation, videos, modules, a transition guide, and specific links for parents, educators, and youth.