Over the past 25 years, we have been on a journey to discover, describe and teach social skills. The modelpresented in this book has had many incarnations, from checklists, to diagrams, and even conceived as apicture frame one especially creative year! As we began conceptualizing the steps, we learned that each stepneeded to be broken down into still others, allowing the opportunity to analyze this task that is "being social"and support those for whom it does not come naturally. The "steps" are more of an escalator, ever moving andinfluenced by so much that happens within the day to day interactions of a real person's life. Creating the ""Foundation," derived of the desire to understand and communicate the essence of what it meansto be "engaged" with another person, is one of the highlights of this process, and this guide. The Foundationcomponent of the model is currently being implemented as part of a research project related to Fetal AlcoholSyndrome in South Africa - affiliation of Stellenbosch University, University of North Carolina, and Universityof New Mexico. Marci Laurel uses this model extensively in her work in Russia, Nicaragua, and in her privatepractice (Theraplay in New Mexico). Our goal is to address both a growing understanding of the nature of what it means to be in social relationshipwith others and how to "step on" to the learning process on any given day and over time. Indeed, as we havelearned from so many extraordinary teachers, the process can be exhilarating! It is our hope that people whohave an interest in promoting social skills - family members, teachers, therapists, and the individuals they careabout so deeply - will find Social Engagement and the Steps to Being Social to be a meaningful and practicalguide.

"I feel like I've waited my entire career for this book ... This is a book written with a professional's expertise and a parent's heart.-"Dr. Jane Bluestein, author, "Creating Emotionally Safe Schools" and "The Parent's Little Book of Lists"

If you are involved in the life of a child with sensory processing challenges, "Our Hearts' Desire" will serve as an invaluable resource throughout your journey. It will help you understand sensory processing disorder in a developmental framework and will empower you with the information and resources you need to create the most supportive environment for your child. It offers useful tips for how to deal with a variety of family, school, and social issues; provides scripts and sample letters for communicating your child's needs; and delivers numerous other tools to ease your struggles.

Alongside the information it supplies, the book shares Marci Laurel's experiences and insights as a parent who raised two children who struggled with some of the same problems. A highly practical guide, "Our Hearts' Desire" is also deeply personal.