About the Author
Laurel Hoekman is the Executive Director of The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding. She graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previously, she taught first grade at Hudsonville Christian School. In addition to her work with the Gray Center, Laurel is associated with Early On of Kent County, serving on the Local Inter-Agency Coordinating Council.
Laurel has two sons, ages 13 and 10, and a five-year-old daughter.
Laurel is the author of The Good Food Cookbook For Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diets, and a co-editor of The Social Stories™ Quarterly. She has most recently authored and produced ASD to Z: Basic Information, Support, and Hope for Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Laurel has been endorsed by The Gray Center and Carol Gray to provide Social Stories(TM) trainings. She also presents frequently on topics such as social understanding, the autism spectrum, and finding ways to enable those with disabilities to use their gifts as members of a church. (Click here for a list of presentations available). Most recently she has developed (and is available to speak on) “The Social Response Pyramid(TM).” Details are available for that educational tool at www.thegraycenter.org.
Contact Laurel by e-mail at laurel@thegraycenter.org. Sign up to receive her weekly SUN News e-mail newsletter at www.thegraycenter.org!
I am confused. From reading your articles….Of course understanding the other person is helpful and sometimes very important. But is the Gray Center seeing Autism as a ‘lack of understanding’ perhaps inherited, or is it promoting more understanding of autism from the parents? And are you inclined to believe it is partly genetic? Thank you. LH
Autism is sometimes referred to as a “social cognitive disorder.” Individuals with this diagnosis struggle to “read” social cues and conventions; to gain accurate social information from their interactions with others. Research continues to be conducted so that we can better understand the role that genetics and the environment play in a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Current research points to the presence of several “subtypes” of autism, each of which may be caused by a different genetic combination and/or environmental factor(s).
At the Gray Center, we recognize that an oversimplified look at ASD indicates that they have a “social disability”–that they are lacking the ability to interact successfully without interventions. However, our “social understanding approach” states that in order to have a “social interaction” there need to be other people present. As participants in the interactions, we are both part of the problem, and part of the solution. We can increase their opportunities for successful interactions (and our own) by re-examining our own words and actions, and by providing relevant social information to increase their understanding.
I hope this helps!