Frequently Needed Answers

What are social stories?

 

Social stories are short descriptive stories which explain a skill or situation in terms of relative social cues, perspectives and common responses in a defined manner, using pictures or images and first person text, much like a comic script.

 

The goal of a Social Story is to present accurate information in a consistent and reassuring manner that children with autism can easily understand.

 

Social Stories were first developed around twenty years ago to help with communication difficulties in children with an ASD. Today, Social Stories are not only ideal for children with an ASD but are also a positive approach for adolescents and young people with autism and related communication disorders.

 

For children with an ASD communication both verbal and non verbal is an area of marked weakness, this is mainly due to social skills deficits which are common to all individuals with autism.

 

What are social skills deficits?

 

Social skills deficits are sometimes referred to as the triad of autistic impairments:

Social skills deficits

Communication deficits

Imagination deficits

 

These deficits are always present in individuals with autism to varying degrees, as with typically developing children no two ASD children are ever the same and development will vary.

 

Social Stories are used to focus on a specific skill or situation the child on the spectrum is struggling with for example: changes to routines, for most ASD children any changes to routines no matter how small can be a real problem, using a social story to explain the upcoming change can help reassure and prevent anxiety and stress.

 

Writing social stories for children with autism is an effective way of dealing with issues. A social story should contain Descriptive, Perspective, Directive and control sentences always be from the child’s point of view and in first person text.

 

Children on the spectrum tend to be visual thinkers and learners, which means they think in pictures, this concept is used in most social stories. The social story should map out the skill or situation using images and text. Answering the ever important “wh” questions – who, where, why, when and what as well as “HOW” and give an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others, this is an area of weakness to individuals with autism.

 

A social story is like a role model or visual framework showing the social cues.  Social stories need no formal training to use and are editable, no two children are the same and we all use different terminology, therefore generally most social stories will need slight tweaks to make the content relevant to your child.

 

To learn more about implementing social stories and get downloads of social stories which have been already written for you to save you time visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

 

Where you will also gather information on writing social stories for children with autism as well as info on what are social stories and why do they help?

 

Visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

Social Stories are a visual tool used to help teach social skills to children with autism.

Social stories provide the individual with autism an explanation and visual framework of the skill or situation that they may find difficult or confusing.

Research shows that the Social Stories are an excellent visual tool which can be used to help reduce stress and inappropriate behaviours in some children with an ASD. The social story also increases social understanding and has been reported as a good approach for helping children with an ASD to reach their full potential.

The goal of a social skills story is to increase the autistic child’s understanding of skills and social situations they are struggling to master and understand. By making the child with an ASD more comfortable with and in the situation, and suggest possible responses they may receive from others.

 

Social skills stories follow specific sentence types: descriptive, perspective, directive and control. Introduced around twenty years ago as a means of communication, social stories have grown into a very popular visual strategy that can be used with all autistic individuals regardless of age and ability.

 

Generally social skills stories are written by experts, teachers and parents to help teach social and communication skills to autistic individuals. Social stories can be edited to suit all needs, personalized, printed and are portable making them convenient and easy to use.

A social skills story can be introduced to help deal with any situation or skill that the autistic child needs help with. No formal training is needed to use social skills stories, site which offer support and expertly written social stories can be found using search engines such as Google.

 

Sites that offer social stories for children with autism like http://www.autismsocialstories.com offer support and downloads of social skills stories for various situations and skills for a small fee.

A social skills story should be visual and use first person text, like a role model the social skills story will help with transitions, and changes to routines as well as teach and support social skills and communication difficulties.

 

For more information on this visual strategy visit any of the following sites and find social stories for children with autism

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school

Social skills stories are used to teach social and communication skills to children with autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Social stories were first used around twenty years ago by therapist Carol Gray to help her communicate with the autistic children she was working with.

 

A social skills story is much like a comic strip conversation, which describes a skill or situation in relevant social cues, using visual prompts and text answering the “wh” (what, where, why, when and who) as well as “HOW” questions for a particular skill, situation or behaviour.

 

For example social stories for children with autism spectrum disorder can be used for skills such as; tooth brushing, showering, visiting the dentist etc. A social skills story can be used fo teenagers to help with issues such as puberty, menstruation, making friends and so on.

 

Normally written by experts and following a set plan a social skills story can give specific information in a step by step visual plan or framework in a manner that can be easily digested and understood by children with ASD, much like a role model.

 

Social stories for children with autism spectrum disorder provide ASD children, teens and adults with relevant information that can help them determine how another person may be feeling their emotions, thoughts and actions, thus showing ASD children how to react and respond in specific situations.

Social skills stories are today one of the most significant tools used to help teach social and communication skills to children with ASD. Consequently social skills stories are easily adaptable, and generally visually rich.

By addressing the theory of mind (social skills deficits) social skills stories can be used in the home, school, college and almost anywhere where the individual with autism needs help to understand and master a skill or behaviour that they are struggling to deal with.

Hopefully this will answer the ~ what are social skills stories for children with autism spectrum disorder question, for more information and to download social skills stories for children with autism spectrum disorder and related conditions visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

 

Other sites offering downloads of social stories for ASD children or teens with autism spectrum disorder can be found at:

http://www.autismsocialstoires.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/autistic_teens

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/asperger_adolescents

 

 

Many children with autism are visual thinkers and learners, which means they can process and understand information better when it is presented visually, for example in pictures and images rather than orally or in written format.

 

Therefore, it is advisable that when trying to give information to a child with autism, it is normally better to avoid long verbal sentences. And to support any verbal instructions wherever possible using visual supports aids.

By using visual supports aids for autism such as visual support cards, social stories and visual timetables, the child with autism can better understand what is expected of them, or what information the other person is attempting to express.

 

Using visual supports aids for autism, for example social stories; has been proven to benefit many children and young people with autism. Social Stories are a tool for teaching social skills to children with autism and related disabilities.

 

A social story is much like a step by step visual plan, similar to a comic strip script.

The social story provides the autistic individual with accurate information about any situation, skill or behaviour they may be finding difficult, stressful or confusing.

A social story will break the situation, skill or behaviour down into small easier to understand pieces, and give key focus to the main points. Social stories attempt to answer the “wh” questions (who, where, when, why and what) as well as attempt to give the autistic individual an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others.

 

By giving the autistic individual possible reactions they may get from others as well as how others will expect them to act and why. The goal of the social story is to increase the individual’s understanding of, make him more comfortable in, and possibly suggest some appropriate responses for the situation, skill or behaviour.

 

By using visual support aids for Autism parents, care givers, teachers and other professionals agree that teaching and improving social and communications skills is made easier and less confusing for children with autism.

 

To learn more about social stories for children with autism visit:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

 

Alternatively other sites offering downloads of social stories for children with autism can be found at:

 

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school_resources

The term “Mind reading” probably conjures up thoughts of psychics and mystical beings. This however is not the case. As typically developing beings we have the ability to predict the thoughts and feelings of those around us, by reading the person’s facial and body language. This ability is often referred to as the theory of mind.

With autism however the theory of mind is missing, an autistic individual will struggle to predict emotion, thought, feelings and desires by simply reading the persons body and facial language and expression.

Consequently for those having autism this lack of theory of mind or non-verbal communication skills can cause social blunders at times, which in itself can leave the autistic individual open to bullying in some cases.

Research into autism suggests that children with autism can be helped learn and develop social and communication skills. Including non-verbal communication skills successfully, by using appropriate methods and treatments for autism and related conditions, such as visual support cards, PECS and social stories.

For many children with autism and the ability to mind read is aided successfully using these methods. Social stories are short descriptive visual representations of a skill or behaviour much like a visual framework they can follow. Taking a situation or skill that they are struggling with, like for example, respecting personal space and making it more predictable and routine.

All autistic individuals will want routine and sameness this is a symptom of autism. By using social stories you can easily make unpredictable situations, stressful situations even everyday skills and behaviours that the autistic individual is struggling with more routine, by giving them a clear precise structured framework to follow.

Social stories are appropriate methods and treatments for autism and related conditions. By using visual images, the social story makes it easier to understand the skill. For those with autism information is absorbed and understood far easier if that information is given visually as with visual support cards and social stories.

The social story follows a specific formula of specially designed short no frill sentences with visual images. To download appropriate social stories for children with autism and related conditions visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

Or for other specific social stories for children with autism visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

Social skills stories were first introduced around twenty years ago by Carol Gray, today social skills stories are used widely to help teach children with autism social skills and behaviors.

All kids with autism will have autistic social skills deficits in social, communication, interaction and imagination skills. The social skills story was introduced to help cope with these deficits.

 

Social skills stories are written by therapists, parents of kids with autism and teachers to help teach or re-enforce positive behaviors and autism social skills teaching.

 

The social stories for children with autism can be on any situation the child is struggling to master or understand for example tooth brushing, visiting grand parents, changing school, plus having good manners and even potty training.

 

Written in the first person from the point of view of the autistic child also using appropriate language and images they describe the situation, skill or behavior being taught or re-enforced giving key focus to the main points or social cues.

 

The goal being to make the autistic child more comfortable with the situation, skill or behavior being taught or re-enforced, making the autistic child more comfortable can alleviate stress and enforce good positive behaviors.

 

Quite often social stories for children with autism are written to help promote family skills like for example eating as a family, why people hug, playing with siblings and sharing. Or for interactions within the classroom like lining up, asking questions, recess and lunch times.

 

Parents of kids with autism report significant benefits in using social stories for autism social skills teaching and re-enforcing social skills and behaviors. Parents of kids with autism also report less stress from autistic social skills deficits once social stories have been introduced to the autistic child.

To download social skills stories visit: www.autismsocialstories.com

This site offers 100 social skills stories for children with autism on varied topics such as tooth brushing, visiting grand parents, getting a haircut and having good manners.

 

All written by a specialist in autism behaviors with appropriate language and images and for immediate download of social skills stories for children with autism go to: www.autismsocialstories.com

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Shopping is a normal “everyday” activity; we think nothing of hopping on a bus or in the car and going to the shop.

 

However, this normal everyday activity can be a complete nightmare to children with autism and autistic parents.

 

Autism spectrum disorder is a disorder affecting the brain and social development of the individual on the autism spectrum disorder scale.

 

If your child is on the autism spectrum disorder scale taking them shopping can be stressful and will need careful planning.

 

Children with autism are very sensitive to stimuli affecting, touch, smell, light and sound; making shopping an anxious and often painful experience.

 

Things we do not even notice like the strip lights in the shop, or spotlights above some displays can hurt their eyes. The bright lights in the fridges or flashing signs can all be autism anxiety triggers.

 

The smell of the shop, the fresh food display, aromas from perfumes, soaps, deodorant and the smell from a flower stand. Smell of the stale air in the shopping mall, the smell of the perfume the lady at the checkout is wearing; the aftershave of the man behind you, the smell of the gum the little girl in front of you is chewing. The smell from the bakers shop to us tempting and yummy to an autistic child can all be autism anxiety triggers.

 

The sound of the checkout, the loud speakers, people chatting, a shrill laugh, the drone of the escalator, the ping of the lift, children laughing, giggling a baby crying, a mobile phone ring all normal noises we shut out and put into the background.

 

But to an autistic child these noises can be overwhelming and frightening.

 

Children with autism don’t process sensations in the same way we do and although to us these normal everyday sounds are ok to them they can be dreadful.

 

Touch is a big issue also with children with autism, some autistic children do not like being touched, and in a busy bustling shop sometimes this can not be avoided!

 

As a parent your child’s safety is always your first thought; in a busy supermarket, what do you do when that child won’t let you hold their hand? How do you keep that child safe?

 

Autistic children are sensitive to touch; they may dislike rough material, silky material, and bubbly feeling fabric. They may dislike the feel of the chair in the cafe or the cold metal table.

 

The journey to the shop on the bus the uncomfortable fabric of the seat the sound of the engine the lights the buzzer the chatter the laughter, a mum telling of her child, a cry a mobile phone ring all can cause autistic anxiety triggers.

 

So how are you going to make this normal everyday activity less stressful and painful for your child?

A good starting point is to have these autistic anxiety triggers in mind before setting out on a shopping trip, choose a less busy day, and prepare your child for the trip.

 

A good place to begin is with social stories for children with autism. Social stories are an excellent autism resource for teaching social skills like “I can go shopping” to an autistic child-giving clear focus to the key points the autism social skills story will focus on the main points and give clear instruction on how, why, where and when we shop.

 

Helping the child make sense and feel more comfortable with the shopping trip, a good social skills story will prepare the autistic child for the shopping trip and find coping strategies and methods of dealing with the anxious moments and fears the autistic child will have.

Autistic parents use social stories for children with autism going shopping as well as other stories to help their child cope with social skills, personal care, events and all of life’s normal and not so normal happenings and situations.

 

Download this autism resource social stories for children with autism going shopping and other autism social skills stories from

www.autismsocialstories.com

www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

www.autismsocialstories.com/preschool

www.autismsocialstories.com/school

www.autismsocialstories.com/howto

www.autismsocialstories.com/potty

www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

www.autismsocialstories.com/autistic_teens

www.autismsocialstories.com/asperger_adolescents

www.autismsocialstories.com/valentines_day

www.autismsocialstories.com/mothers_day

 

 

PLUS:

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What every parent should know about the medication we give our children

What is safe and what is not!

Plus when to call the Doctor and important question YOU OUGHT TO ASK

Plus a section on Natural Remedies

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PLUS - Grab Your Exclusive “Fun Package” Offer

The “Fun Package” includes:

32 Ways To Keep Your Kids Busy

101 Craft Project Ideas

Part Games For Kids of ALL Ages (including Adults)

Fun Arts and Crafts For ALL Children

Gift Basket Ideas - but not necessarily in a Basket!!

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