Free webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern time (US), Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Playing games is a key part of child development. Children with autism often have difficulty forming peer relationships, but fostering game skills may serve as a lifelong bridge to engaging with peers.

Board Games and Social Skills - Positive Support

Name(Required)

The speaker:
Gray Atherton, PhD, has a BSc in Child Development from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s in Counselling from University of Houston, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Individual Differences from University of Houston. She has previously lectured at University of Houston and the University of Wolverhampton. Prior to entering academia, Gray was a counselor for adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions. “I am interested in understanding how people with autism spectrum condition see the social world. Specifically, I explore individual differences in social processing and how these differences often found in people with autism also exist in the general population. I also investigate anthropomorphism, or seeing the human in the non-human, and how this relates to social processing in autism. To investigate this I am developing virtual reality techniques that allow for anthropomorphic experiences. My other research interest lies more broadly in embodied social processing. I am particularly interested in how movement can affect the way we see ourselves and our social partners, and how this can be used to understand special populations.”

The Science of Making Friends for Autistic Youth: Lessons from the UCLA PEERS Program

August 28th, 2024|Adults on the Spectrum, Anxiety, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Self Care, Sensory, Social Skills, Ways to Help, Webinar|

Free webinar at 5 p.m. Eastern time (US), Wednesday August 28, 2024 Learn research updates on evidence-based strategies to support adolescents and young adults develop social skills that encourage lasting friendships.