Social Thinking: A Training Paradigm for Professionals and Treatment Approach for Individuals With Social Learning/Social Pragmatic Challenges

Abstract Teaching students with social learning/pragmatic challenges what neurotypical children learn intuitively is an act that blends art and science. This article will describe the development of social learning and social communication and the relationship to social skills. A training and treatment framework referred to as Social Thinking will be introduced. The training aspect of Social Thinking is referred to as the ILAUGH Model, an acronym representing how different aspects of the school and home day relate require our core social knowledge and then how we use this knowledge to produce our social skills as well as participate successfully in specific academic tasks. This article will also introduce one aspect of Social Thinking treatment called the Social Thinking Vocabulary which creates concrete ways to explore and teach abstract lessons related to our social skills production.