The Center for Disease Control reports estimates that 1 in every 88 individuals (1 in 54 males) meet the criteria with an autism spectrum disorder and 7.6 children in 1000 are diagnosed with and intellectual disability. These children often don’t develop friendships because they haven’t learned the verbal and non-verbal skills necessary for fitting-in. These children dread going to school because they can’t connect with peers and are bullied. As adults, they are often underemployed or unemployed because they fail to pick up on the office politics necessary for success. Both groups experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem that are fueled by poor social success. These individuals don’t realize that anxiety or arrogance makes enemies whereas great conversation makes friends.

Object of the Game:

Players discard cards to have a casual conversation. Over the course of the game, players learn to use the skills of Making a Statement, Asking Thoughtful Questions, Using Encouraging Gestures and Sounds, and Friendly Teasing. Players try to advance through incrementally more challenging levels of card play until they become a Chime In Master. Social awkward individuals can master conversation skills through repeatedly playing the game. This core set of skills helps them fit in and make friends.

They learn that the Goal of Conversation is to Build a Positive Emotional Connection.

Skills taught include the following.

1. Perspective Taking

2. Listening

3. Using Encouraging Gestures and Sounds

4. Asking Thoughtful Questions

5. Considering other's interests

6. Learning to distinguish Friendly Teasing from bullying

Behaviors that Participants learn to avoid include

1. Lecturing

2. Having Huge Topic Changes

3. Hogging the Conversation Time

4. Talking over others

5. Being Annoying or Negative

6. Choosing to say little or nothing at all