Assisting Autistic Adults in Translating Social Media Skills Into Offline Social Skills: What is Occupational Therapy's Role?

Many autistic individuals highlighted their experiences with anxiety during face-to-face social interactions, which such struggles is one of the key reasons why they have difficulty in friendships and employment in their... [ view full abstract ]

Many autistic individuals highlighted their experiences with anxiety during face-to-face social interactions, which such struggles is one of the key reasons why they have difficulty in friendships and employment in their published autobiographies (Birch, 2003; Likens, 2012; Robinson, 2007; Willey, 2003; Shore, 2003; Shore 2004). Meanwhile, research showed that individuals with higher social anxiety levels experienced more interpersonal control with social media interactions than offline social interactions despite decreased well-being (Weidman et al, 2012; Lee & Stapinski, 2012). In addition, research showed autistic social media users are more likely to have close friends (Mazurek, 2013). According to the latest edition of Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (AOTA, 2014), occupational therapy practitioners are capable to help their clients with stress and anxiety management and social skills to increase participations in these clients’ communities. This presentation will feature the perspective of the presenter- an expert networker in the occupational therapy profession who is also autistic. The presenter will share tips on how autistic individuals can be more successful in offline interactions based on his own experiences in the occupational therapy profession.