Frequently Needed Answers

Common to individuals on the autism spectrum are social skills deficits, sometimes referred to as “The Theory of Mind” or social skills deficits.

The Theory of Mind or social skills deficits will affect the individual’s communication, imagination and social skills.  

All individuals on the autism spectrum will have varying degrees of social skills deficits. Having social deficits make reading facial expression and body language difficult this can lead to social misunderstandings.

Children on the autism spectrum will not normally adopt the anticipatory posture or raise their hands to be carried or picked up

Children on the autism spectrum are not normally cuddly babies, in-fact most autistic babies will stiffen or resist being held, they normally avoid snuggling up. They will normally prefer to be held facing outwards with their back to the person holding them.

Autistic infants will sometimes not recognize their own name or be inconsistent in recognizing it.

Probably the most noticeable symptom is the lack of eye contact. Where as a normally developing child will give and maintain eye contact, autistic infants will look away quickly and avoid eye contact.

A normally developing child may stare into the mother’s eye noticing their own reflection, infants with autism will show no interest in their reflection and choose not to stare or maintain any eye to eye contact.

Children on the spectrum will normally not be interested in the normal growing up games like pat-a-cake and incy wincy spider. They will prefer not to be engaged in social interactions choosing not to “wave bye bye to Daddy” and so on…

Which of cause will be upsetting and begin to sound alarm bells that perhaps something is not quite right…

All children on the spectrum will have impaired autism social skills…

However, the nature of these impairments can vary…And there are ways you can help your autistic youngster better cope and manage thoughts and feelings.

One such way is introducing autism social skills stories…These are an excellent proven technique for assisting infants with autism with the development of social skills. Helping to promote and maintain autism social skills…

Autism social skills stories…Are used with great success, providing the autistic youngster with support and an understanding of what, where, why and when things happen. As well as what they can expect from other as well as what others will be expecting of them.

Introducing autism social skills stories early to the autistic child’s is beneficial.

Infants with autism will want repetition and sameness so by introducing autism social skills stories early enough this will enable you to teach social skills early, like toileting and good eating habits as well as other skills like saying Hi and thank you.

All helping your autistic youngster being accepted within their own peer group as well as within today’s society

To view an example social story or to download autism social stories visit one of our many sites all specializing in autism and asperger social skills stories as well as offering friendly support advice and help

www.autismsocialstories.com

www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

www.autismsocialstories.com/autistic_teens

www.autismsocialstories.com/asperger_adolescents

www.autismsocialstories.com/school

www.autismsocialstories.com/hygiene

www.autismsocialstories.com/howto

Social stories teaching tools are a resource used to teach social and communication skills to individuals on the autism spectrum.

Social skills difficulties are a common characteristic of autism, and are generally treated with various autism tools.

Generally individuals on the autism spectrum are visual thinkers and learners, which means they think in pictures, therefore autism tools should be visual.

Social stories teaching tools are visual they were first developed by Carol Gray almost twenty years ago as a means of communicating with the autistic children she was working with.

Social stories are visual strategies that act like a role model for  autistic children. Using first person language and images the social skills story answers the important “wh” questions who, where, why, when and what as well as giving possible reactions and solutions the autistic child may consider, helping to make them more comfortable with and in the situation they may be struggling with.

The social skills story will show the autistic child how another person may re-act or feel in the situation by describing another’s point of view. It will also explain rules, routines, situations, upcoming events or abstract concepts; and how the child with autism can understand expectations.

Social stories teaching tools are visual strategies which can teach social and communication skills to individuals on the autism spectrum, are easy to implement can be edited and personalized as well as printed for convenience.

Visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com for more information on social skills stories and other autism tools used as visual strategies to teach social and communication skills to individuals on the autism spectrum.

Or  http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school_resources

As typically developing beings we naturally learn through our senses (sight, sound,  touch, taste and smell) as well as watching our peers and family how to interact with the world around us this is called the theory of mind

For those individuals on the autism spectrum this ability to naturally learn social and communication skills is missing, this is called and common in all individuals with autism. For individuals on the autism spectrum learning social and communication skills needs to be done directly.

Many parents and teachers of children with autism have found that by using visual supports for autism such as social stories and visual support cards, they can help encourage and teach daily living skills in children with autism.

Generally children with autism are visual thinkers and learners and will respond to information when it is presented visually rather than written text or orally, therefore parents and teachers of children with autism use visual supports for autism.

Social stories help improve social, communication, interaction and imagination skills and behaviours. Developed around twenty years ago as a method of communication the social story is one of the most significant treatments used in encouraging and teaching daily living skills in children with autism.

Social stories provide an autistic individual with accurate information about the skill or situation that they are finding difficult or confusing.

The social story describes in detail giving focus to the key points the skill or behavior, using visual images as key social cues the ASD individual can easily relate to the situation or skill. Rather like using a visual plan they can follow a step by step framework making them feel more comfortable with and in the situation.

The social story can be used to encourage and teach daily living skills for children with autism such as: personal hygiene, play skills, taking turns, sharing, personal space. The social story works well in school allowing the student with autism to understand school rules feel more comfortable at recess etc.

Social Stories attempt to address the theory of mind or social skills deficits that are displayed by all children with autism, by giving the ASD individual some perspective on the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of those around them.

To learn more about social stories and how they might help your child with autism visit any of the following sites were you will find appropriate social stories for download.

http://www.autismsocialstories.com
http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills