Teaching kids with autism social skills using social stories
Typically kids with autism HAVE deficits in social and communication skills and behaviours, which can often lead to tension, stress and anxiety.
Commonly kids with autism ARE visual thinkers and learners, this means that they think in images and WILL almost certainly use speech/language secondary.
Therefore visual strategies ARE typically of more benefit to the child on the autism spectrum. Probably the most significant of the visual strategies ARE social skills stories.
Teaching kids with autism social skills using social stories as a strategy has proven successful. The social story is written in first person text and uses visual images to describe the skill or situation in a manner that the child on the spectrum can understand and is comfortable with.
The social story WILL typically answer the “wh” questions – who, what, why, when and where as well as “HOW” and should attempt to offer an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others, which is an area of considerable weakness in most kids with autism.
Social stories ACT like a visual plan or framework of the skill or situation being taught or re-enforced. The skill or situation is broken down into smaller sections with images much like a comic script and is then presented from the child’s own perspective.
Teaching kids with autism social skills using social stories CAN HELP with skills such as: making friends, sharing, taking turns, recess, trying new foods, hygiene and self-help skills.
In fact a social story can be introduced for almost any situation or skill the child on the autism spectrum is struggling with.
To learn more about how and when social stories can be used visit:
http://www.autismsocialstories.com
The social story needs NO formal training to use.
The social story should typically be written in word format making it easy to edit and personalize.
Social stories ARE typically written by experts and parents of children on the spectrum. To gain immediate downloads of OVER 100 social skills stories visit:
http://www.autismsocialstories.com
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