How Social Skills Coaching Prepares Autistic Teens for Adulthood

Adolescence is a transformative phase in a person’s life, filled with countless challenges. This is true for all growing young people—regardless of their neurotype—but for neurodivergent or autistic teens, it can be especially difficult. Differences in sensory processing and communication styles add further complexity. IRL Social Skills coaching can prepare autistic teens for the complex demands of adulthood.

By providing specialized education, guidance, support, and structured training for teens, young adults, and their parents, our program empowers students to navigate social situations with confidence and authenticity. Here are just a few of the ways social skills coaching can make a profound impact on the lives of developing young people.

Enhancing communication skills 

Successful human relationships rely on clear and effective communication. Unfortunately, many teenagers struggle with expressing themselves adequately, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and feelings of isolation. Certain neurotypes also have difficulty processing incoming communication, needing more time to understand fully or requiring the elimination of other sensory input they find distracting (for example, not making eye contact can sometimes be an expression of deep thinking and listening).

IRL Social Skills programs offer teenagers a way to develop and refine their communication skills. Through group classes, teens practice active listening, assertiveness, and conflict resolution techniques and learn to understand non-verbal communication cues better. By mastering these skills, they can express their thoughts and feelings better. This improved communication fosters stronger friendships, improved family connections, and more positive interactions with peers, teachers, employers, and other authority figures—even intimate relationships.

Developing emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a person’s ability to manage feelings so that they are expressed appropriately and effectively. To possess emotional intelligence is to become self-aware, demonstrate empathy, and be able to regulate emotions. Understanding and managing emotions is challenging for many, leading to impulsive behavior, mood swings, and difficulty forming meaningful connections. Without good modeling of emotional intelligence, it can be hard to bridge the gaps between self and others. 

Our programs equip participants with the tools to recognize the physical sensations that arise in their bodies and how they contribute to emotional states. Through this practice of interoception — of paying attention to the feelings in our bodies — students learn the language to express themselves effectively in any social interaction or situation. 

Through improved self-awareness and practice with these skills, students begin to see the impact of their actions on those around them and themselves. By learning techniques to strengthen this foundational skill of getting out of their heads and into their bodies, humans of all neurotypes can better manage stress, resolve conflicts amicably, make informed decisions, and enjoy healthy, positive relationships in every area of life.

Boosting self-confidence and self-esteem

Teens and young adults who struggle socially often grapple with self-doubt and low self-esteem, which can hinder their personal growth and limit their opportunities. Our social skills programs provide them with a supportive, neurodivergence, and identity-affirming environment to develop a positive self-image and build self-confidence. 

Our coaches guide students in recognizing their unique strengths and talents, fostering a sense of self-worth and pride. Through various exercises and role-playing scenarios, students practice social skills with peers who share their neurotype and desire to improve their social interactions, gradually gaining confidence in their abilities to navigate real-life social situations. This newfound self-assurance extends beyond improved friendships and self-esteem, positively impacting academic performance, extracurricular participation, dating, and future career prospects.

“When one has been socially impoverished, it makes sense that social skills would be underdeveloped. How can you be good at something if you haven’t had enough practice? Through direct instruction to teens and young adults, as well as parent training to help students integrate these skills, we notice vast improvements across the board in social interaction and communication as well as self-awareness.”
—MARA McLOUGHLIN

Improving academic success

Contrary to popular misconceptions, social skills coaching does not solely focus on interpersonal relationships; it also directly impacts academic success. Effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities are essential skills that enable teenagers to thrive in educational settings. 

Our program empowers teens with the tools to engage with their teachers, ask questions, and actively participate in class discussions. By improving their communication, emotional intelligence, and teamwork skills, teens will excel in group projects, enhance their critical thinking abilities, and foster positive relationships with classmates. 

Increased self-confidence will snowball over time, positively impacting students’ academic performance as they become more willing to seek help (self-advocacy), tackle complex challenges, and embrace new learning opportunities. 

It’s worth noting that most general education teachers lack sufficient autism-related training. Students in our programs can enlighten their teachers about what autism is and is not — dispelling propaganda and improving teachers’ understanding and ability to accommodate neurological differences. 

Improving work and career prospects

Worrying about their future work options may seem premature if your teen is just entering high school. However, the sooner they master communication and relational skills, the stronger their ability to find, acquire and retain satisfying work.

 “According to a survey by Adecco Staffing USA, 44 percent of executives report that a lack of soft skills was the biggest proficiency gap they saw in the U.S. workforce. The International Association of Administrative Professionals, OfficeTeam, and HR.com report that 67 percent of HR managers would hire a candidate with strong professional skills even if their technical abilities were lacking. Only nine percent of these managers would hire someone with strong technical credentials but weak soft skills.”

—Excerpt from the Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board Essential Employability Report, 2020

Lagging social skills are among the main barriers to employment. Effective communication is vital in the workplace. Our program helps teens develop these skills. 

In group classes with experienced coaches and peers who struggle with social and communication skills, students learn how to articulate their thoughts clearly, actively listen to others, and communicate professionally and respectfully. These skills enable teenagers to express their ideas, collaborate with colleagues, and build positive relationships with supervisors and clients.

To sum it up

Social skills are necessary for every interaction involving another person. This will always be true, no matter how virtual or remote our civilization becomes. Whether we communicate face-to-face in ‘real life’ or through a screen, our ability to relate, empathize, and make emotional connections is critical for success — at work, in school, and in our relationships — as well as our mental and physical health. 

Young people who develop their social skills do so not only for their personal benefit and advantage; they also empower themselves to have a greater impact on the world around them.