Frequently Needed Answers

Grandparents, parents and siblings look to the future with much excitement, when a new baby is born into a family unit, plans are made and everyone gets excited.

Most of the time grandparents can breathe a huge sigh of relief when their grandchild is developing normally. However what if that precious grandchild is on the autistic spectrum?

The conclusion of autism will undoubtedly be a shock to all family members; this can turn to sadness and grief. All these emotions are perfectly normal. A conclusion of autism is never easy children on the autism spectrum do not develop in the same way as typically growing children.

Your first step will naturally be of support for the parents, find out about autism. Find out what a conclusion of autism will mean for the family. There are plenty of sites on the internet and books in your library explaining what is autism

So let’s look at what is autism?

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder affecting the brain of the individual. The typical indications of autism are deficits in social, communication both verbal and non-verbal, interaction and imagination deficits. These indications of autism are sometimes referred to as the triad of autistic impairments or autistic social skills deficits.

When you scan and read articles you will often see the term triad of autistic impairments or autistic social skills deficits all children on the autism spectrum will have these indications of autism but the degree of deficit will vary between individuals.

What role do you take when your grandchild is on the autistic spectrum?

You will want to consider what affect the conclusion of autism has had on the rest of the family especially the parents of your autistic grandchild. The parents of your autistic grandchild must cope with autism on a daily bases, this is not going to be easy parenting a child with autism can be extremely stressful.

Grand parenting an autistic child maybe confusing and stressful, unlike your other typically developing grandchildren, a child with autism may dislike cuddles; avoid eye contact your autistic grandchild may not want to join in family occasions become distressed sometimes quite out of the blue.

However there are treatments and therapies available to help you as the grandparent of an autistic child cope with your autistic grandchild, for example autism social skills stories.

Autism social skills stories have a significant impact on the behavior and social skills learning of any autistic child. They were first developed by therapist Carol Gray almost twenty years ago to help parents, grandparents, families and educators of children on the autism spectrum teach and re-enforce good positive behaviors, social, plus communication both verbal and non-verbal skills.

Generally written by experts in autism they help guide and teach social skills and positive behaviors to the child with autism.

Children on the autism spectrum tend to be visual learners and will respond better to visual cues and prompts for behavior and skills to be taught effectively the autism social skills stories embrace this concept and are visually rich, with appropriate text in language the child with autism can relate too and understand.

Grandparents of children on the autism spectrum report significant benefits when using autism social skills stories for their grandchild with autism.

Finding appropriate autism social skills stories has been made a whole lot easier with the introduction of sites like www.autismsocialstories.com

Which specialize in autism social skills stories and other resources for teenagers and children on the autism spectrum

Having a grandchild with autism can be rewarding, helping them develop vital social skills and live a fulfilling life is not going to be easy, but with the introduction of resources such as autism social skills stories this can be achieved.

To learn more about how autism social skills stories can help your grandchild with autism as well as getting immediate download of this essential resource in the treatment of autism visit any of the following sites:

www.autismsocialstories.com

www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

www.autismsocialstories.com/potty

Research suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder spectrum disorder are visual learners. And that teachers and parents alike are finding that teaching and encouraging daily living skills in children with autism spectrum disorder  has greater affect when visual supports for autism are used.

For the majority of children with autism spectrum disorder probably their most debilitating facet is their difficulty with social and communication skills and behaviors.

All individuals with an ASD will have in varying degree’s social skills deficits.

Many parents of children with autism spectrum disorder worry their child with have difficulties finding and making friends and taking advantage of the vast range of opportunities of a socially orientated world, as a direct result of their child’s social skills deficits.

Consequently, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, care gives and teaches use visual supports for autism such as autism social skills stories to assist them in teaching and re-enforcing social and communication skills and behaviors.

Autism social skills stories help develop language and communication in children with autism spectrum disorder as well as encouraging daily living skills in children with autism spectrum disorder. They are also used to help teach social skills such as hygiene, or behaviors such as making friends, personal space, visiting the dentist and so on…

Autism social skills stories are also useful in and around school. Developed twenty years ago to teach social and communication skills to children with autism spectrum disorder, autism social skills stories are written in first person text, following a set formula using visual images to show and explain the skill or behavior being taught o re-enforced.

Almost like a comic strip, the visual step by step plan will show individuals with an ASD the what, why, where and when helping them feel more comfortable in and with the situation , activity, event or skill they are struggling to master.

To download and learn more about autism social skills stories for ASD and how they are used for encouraging daily living skills in children with autism spectrum disorder visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

For all other autism social skills stories for ASD visit:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

When we think about reading minds we would probably think more of psychics or fair ground gypsies. This is not the case though all typically developing children and adults have the ability to read minds; this is called the theory of mind.

It is the ability to look at another person and guess what they may be thinking or feeling by looking at the person’s facial expression and body language and guessing at what that person is feeling or thinking about this is the theory of mind.

The theory of mind is nevertheless complicated our minds are comprised of emotions, beliefs, desires, perceptions, and intentions. By using these various attributes within our own minds we can predict how another person is feeling.

The ability to read minds in autism is missing. When looking at Autism spectrum and mind reading we need to first understand the deficits associated with those individuals with autism. These deficits with autism are social, communication, imagination and interaction deficits and are present in varying degrees in all individuals with autism.

Individuals with autism have social skills deficits in non verbal communication or mind reading. They lack the ability to read faces and body language; this autism social skills deficits can however be helped through the use of autism social skills stories for teaching those individuals with autism social skills deficits.

Autism social skills stories are used by experts and parents to teach social skills to children with autism spectrum disorder and adults such as Autism spectrum and mind reading. Written by experts in autism, autism social skills stories use appropriate language and images to teach social skills and behaviors like: happiness is a good feeling and when other children are upset.

Autism social skills stories teach children with autism spectrum disorder how to act in social situations, what to expect and suggest appropriate actions, reactions and behaviors as well as explain visually what to expect from others and what others expect of them.

Endorsed by experts download autism social skills stories for autism from

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

A social skills story is written to help an individual with ASD address social skills deficits and pave the way for a positive social interaction or behaviour.

Children on the autism spectrum do not naturally acquire social and communication skills and lack he ability to interact with others effectively, this is due to social skills deficits. Social skills need to be taught directly through deliberate treatments and intervention strategies.

Teaching children with ASD social skills using intervention strategies

Probably the most significant of the various intervention strategies are autism social skills stories. Autism social skills stories can be easily implemented and used to teach the social and communication skills and behaviours that the child with an ASD is struggling with.

Having social impairments is much like being dropped in a foreign country with no idea where or how to get home or communicate. Children on the autism spectrum will need intervention strategies to acquire functional and age-appropriate social skills, make friendships, and learn communication skills.

We know that the vast majority of children with ASD are visual thinkers and learners, meaning they think in pictures, therefore visual intervention strategies are excellent.

Visual intervention strategies

Social stories ARE visual intervention strategies. Written in first person text and using visual images and pictures to describe the situation or skill in detail, a social skills story breaks the skill into appropriate social cues, following a set formula the social skills story is much like a comic strip conversation for the person with an ASD to follow.

Autism social skills stories provide concrete information on what people in a given situation are doing, thinking or feeling. The social skills story is like a visual plan showing the steps or sequence of events, identifying the significant social cues and their meaning, answering the important “wh” questions – who, what, where, when and why

For a child with an ASD social stories should describe social situations, contexts, and the likely behaviours of others and provide an appropriate behavioural response cue that the child with an ASD can understand.

Therefore teaching children with ASD social skills using intervention strategies LIKE social stories is beneficial.

For children with ASD autism social skills stories act as a VISUAL PLAN OR FRAMEWORK that helps children with autism to understand skills and behaviours that they struggle with.

To learn more about children with ASD and social stories visit:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsoicalstories.com/behavior

Many children with an ASD can be genuinely bewildered and overwhelmed in social situations. This is due to social skills deficits which are a common characteristic of autism and are always present in varying degrees.

There is no cure for autism but there are various treatments of autism which can help children with an ASD overcome and deal with their individual social skills deficits such as picture communication cards, visual social story cards and autism social skills stories.

The common characteristics of autism are also displayed in the ASD child by repetitive and stereotypical behaviour patterns which can cause isolation and at times even bullying. For example many kids with autism display rigid behaviours and can become distressed and anxious when a routing is altered or changed.

For many kids with repetitive and stereotypical behaviour patterns can be helped and eased using visual intervention strategies like social skills stories, for example visiting Grandma, transitions, moving, shopping trips and so on.

The autism social story is a short descriptive story which focuses on a skill or behaviour that the child with autism is struggling to understand or cope with.

The autism social story breaks the skill or situation up into smaller easier to understand sections and uses visual images to show the child with autism what to expect and also what is expected of them.

Typically autism social skills stories should answer the “wh” questions – who, what, why, when and where as well as “how” and should aim on giving the child with autism an insight into the thoughts, feeling s and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most kids with autism.

Tools for Social Skills Management for Kids with Autism using intervention strategies like social stories, picture communication cards and visual social story cards can be found at: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

Here you will find other Tools for Social Skills Management for Kids with Autism such as visual schedules, behaviour plans, now and next boards, flash cards, activities booklets a parent page with craft ideas and much more

Visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

For the vast majority of autistic children social skills ARE either missing or NEED improving.

This is due to the triad of autistic impairments or social skills deficits, which ARE common to autism to varying degrees

The triad of autistic impairments or social skills deficits affect how the child on the spectrum acts, re-acts, thinks and behaves.

Methods for enhancing social skills in autistic children ARE generally visual. This is because most children on the spectrum ARE visual learners and thinkers and will tend to use language secondary.

Visual supports for autism such as: social skills stories, picture communication cards, visual schedules and flash cards etc ARE visual supports which can be introduced simply and need NO formal training to use.

Characteristically children on the spectrum find visual supports for autism beneficial. Social skills stories ARE short descriptive visual supports which describe a skill or situation in terms of the relevant social cues.

The social story looks much like a comic script, using images/pictures and short precise pieces of text. The social story is always from the point of view of the child on the spectrum, using first person text in short sentences.

The social story answers the “wh” questions: who, what, Why, where, and when as well as “HOW” and should also offer an insight wherever possible into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most autistic children.

Social skills stories CAN be used for a wide variety of situations or skills such as: asking questions, calming down, hygiene issues, self-help skills and so on…

For many children on the spectrum visual supports for autism ARE invaluable and can be treated like visual plans or frameworks to help them cope with and learn skills and behaviours which cause stress and anxiety.

To learn more about visual supports for autism like social skills stories, picture communication cards, visual schedules and flash cards as well as other visual supports visual http://www.autismsocialstories.com

Autism is a developmental disorder which has no known cure. That said THERE ARE plenty of excellent resources which can be used to help those diagnosed autistic.

Characteristically those diagnosed autistic WILL have social and communication difficulties, this is due to social skills deficits which ARE apparent in all people with autism but to varying degrees.

Typically people with autism WILL prefer visual information and teaching, it is therefore believed that resources and teaching styles should be more visual.

This is easily achieved through the use of visual resources for autism such as social skills stories, PECS, picture communication cards and so on…

Using visual resources for autism is beneficial, and typically will need no formal training to implement and use.

For example social skills stories ARE visual resources for autism which ARE used specifically for building autistic social skills and helping to overcome communication and social awareness difficulties.

Having social skills deficits can be challenging for many children on the autism spectrum and can at times even lead to extreme behaviours, even bullying.

So how does the social story work?

The social skills story is a short visual story much like a comic script which is used as a visual framework or step by step detailed plan of the skill or situation that the child on the autism spectrum is finding hard.

Many children on the autism spectrum struggle with the chaos of recess, by implementing a social skills story the child will have a concrete plan of recess. This plan WILL explain what is happening and why, which WILL help the child on the autism spectrum cope and feel more comfortable.

Social skills stories show the skill or situation from the child’s own point of view and use first person text. The social skills story describes the situation using images and short descriptive sentences or words.

The social story should answer the “wh” questions:-who, what, why, when and where. The social skills story should also answer “how” and provide an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most children on the autism spectrum.

To view and learn more about visual resources for autism like social skills stories for building autistic social skills and to access immediate downloads visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

It is common for those with autism to have deficits in social awareness sills and behaviours.  This is due to the Triad of Autistic Impairments or social skills deficits.

The Triad of Autistic Impairments or social skills deficits means the person’s social, communication and imagination skills are missing or not developed sufficiently.

This can cause many difficulties for those with autism, for example lacking social and communication skills can make it hard for them to make friends, ask questions and join in with play.

The majority of children on the autism spectrum ARE visual thinkers and learners which means that they think in pictures and find visual information easier to understand. It is therefore a good idea to use visual autistic supports with your child on the autism spectrum.

There are various visual autistic supports available like social skills stories, PECS, picture communication cards and so on…

Download and use autistic supports with your child on the autism spectrum from sites like:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com where you will find various supports for autism which can be used effectively and with no need for any formal training.

Autistic supports such as social skills stories are designed to help you teach and re-enforce skills and behaviours that the child with autism is struggling with.

The social story WILL ACT like a visual plan or framework of the skill by answering the “wh” questions – who, what, why, when and where as well as “HOW” and will offer an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in those with autism.

The social story should be written from the child’s own perspective, in first person text and in a manner the child with autism can understand. It should be use images or pictures to show visually what is happening and why, this is important.

Generally social skills stories are written in word format to make editing easy, none of us typically use the same terminology and no two children are ever going to be the same, so the ability to edit is important.

Download and use autistic supports with your child on the spectrum such as social skills stories by visiting:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com where you will also find picture communication cards and other supports for autism which can be used to help your child on the spectrum cope with and feel more comfortable in situations that he/she is finding stressful or confusing.

Children with autism have a variety of deficits which ARE common to autism. However the main deficits associated with the disorder are often referred to social skills deficits.

Characteristically social skills deficits affect three main areas of development: social, communication and imagination skills and behaviours.

 Unlike typically developing kids a child with ASD WILL NOT learn social skills through observation, peers, family and the environment and WILL NEED direct teaching to overcome social skills deficits.

There ARE numerous supports for autism which can be used to teach social skills to kids with autism such as social stories, picture communication cards, flash cards and so on..

These supports for autism ARE commonly referred to Visual Intervention Strategies and by large ARE used to support and teach social, communication and imagination skills and behaviours amongst other uses such as help with hygiene skills, puberty, activities and events the child with ASD may find confusing or stressful.

Many parents and teachers ARE able to teach social skills to kids with autism using Visual Intervention Strategies as they need NO FORMAL training to use and implement and are readily available online from experts like http://www.autismsocialstories.com

A social skills story is a short descriptive almost comic like in appearance story which shows a child with ASD what is happening and why. This WILL help to reduce unwanted stress, anxiety and confusion, which in turn WILL HELP the child with ASD feel more comfortable with and in the situation.

The social skills story WILL ANSWER the “wh” question – who, what, why, when and where as well as “HOW” and WILL ALSO offer an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most children with autism.

Characteristically children with autism ARE VISUAL thinkers and learners, which makes social skills stories ideal. The social story should focus on one particular skill or behaviour that the child on the spectrum is struggling with and visually show and explain how and what is required of them and in return what they can expect from others.

A social skills story USES visual images/pictures a long with first person text and will always be written from the point of view of the child on the spectrum.

Children with autism fins social interactions difficult, the social skills story can act like a visual framework or plan which the child on the spectrum can follow and refer to in times of difficulty.

Social skills stories ARE USED in many situations for example: asking questions, joining in play, making friends, recess, getting a haircut, visiting a dentist, going to a birthday party and so on…

Teach social skills to kids with autism using social skills stories by visiting sites like http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/preschool

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/hygiene

Typically students on the autism spectrum WILL HAVE social and communication deficits.

These deficits ARE common to autism and affect how the child processes information, thinks, acts, re-acts, interacts, communicates and behaves; this is known as social skills deficits.

No two students on the autism spectrum will ever be the same and thus will display differing social skills deficits.

However although there is no known cure for autism spectrum there are various treatments and supports for autism which can are excellent for helping students with autism learn to overcome their social skills deficits and reach their full potential.

Helping students with autism integrate in to the classroom can be achieved using treatments and supports for autism like picture communication cards, flash cards, PECS, visual social story cards and social skills stories.

All of these can be implemented easily and need no formal training to use. Typically teachers and parents CAN USE supports such as social skills stories and picture communication cards equally as well in the home and the classroom/school.

Social skills stories were developed around twenty years ago to aid communication in children with autism, today they are used for much wider issues and behaviour difficulties.

For example a social story can be used to help with situations like visiting a dentist, what to do at recess, asking questions, joining in play, calming down and so on…

The social story answers the “wh” questions – who, what, why, when and where as well as “HOW” and will offer an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most autistic individuals.

Social skills stories ARE always written in first person text and from the point of view of the autistic student and WILL be in a manner that the autistic student can understand.

Typically most students with autism WILL be visual learners; which means that teaching styles which allow for this WILL be better understood. For example USE images, pictures, graphs and so on TO SHOW the autistic student what it is you are trying to get across.

Helping students with autism integrate in to the class is no easy task but with forward thinking and the use of visual information such as picture communication cards to highlight areas, tasks, rules and so on and social skills stories to teach social interaction and communication skills your task WILL BE a whole lot easier.

For example: picture communication cards can highlight the coat peg, pencil draw, bathroom, snack time and so on. They are also used as a means of communication – a card can be exchanged for a reward, behaviour etc…

To learn more about social skills stories and picture communication cards visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school

Alternatively you can learn more about autism social stories and picture communication cards from http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/preschool

Commonly children with autism HAVE difficulties with social interaction and awareness skills and behaviours.

This is mainly due to “social skills deficits” or “The theory of mind” put simply deficits in three main areas of development can be expected:

Social skills

Communication skills

And Imagination skills

The theory of mind – social skills deficits WILL affect each individual differently no two people WILL ever be identical.

There is NO CURE for autism but there are various treatments of autism which help children with autism learn social skills. For example social skills stories, visual social story cards, PECS, flash cards and so on…

In order to help children with autism learn social skills parents and teachers should first observe the child to determine which skills/behaviours that the child with ASD is finding difficult or stressful.

Developed around twenty years ago visual intervention strategies like social stories ARE implemented to teach and re-enforce already learnt skills and behaviours.

A social story is a short descriptive story written to help teach a social skill, for example joining in play, asking questions, sharing and so on…

Typically intervention strategies like social stories need NO formal training to use and can be implemented quite easily.

Commonly social skills stories answer the “wh” questions – who, what, why, when and where as well as “HOW” and WILL offer the chid with ASD an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most children with autism spectrum disorder.

The social story acts like a VISUAL PLAN OR FRAMEWORK of the skill/behaviour and looks much like a comic script.

All social stories ARE typically written in first person language and in a manner that the ASD child will understand.

The social story will help children with autism learn social skills by showing visually what they can expect and what others will expect of them.

Typically children with autism spectrum disorder ARE visual thinkers and learners which means that they think in images/pictures and will use speech/language as secondary, which makes visual intervention strategies like social skills stories ideal.

To learn more about social stories and how they can benefit your ASD child visit:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

Or any of the following sites where you will be able to get downloads of social skills stories:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/preschool

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/hygiene

Probably one of the most significant difficulties for children with autism spectrum is a lack of social awareness skills and behaviours, which is referred to as social skills deficits

These deficits ARE made worse due to deficits with communication both verbal and non-verbal. However there are various treatments of autism that CAN help a child on the spectrum OVERCOME many of their own social skills deficits.

Typically developing children WILL learn social awareness skills through observation, peers, family and their environment. This is NOT TRUE for a child on the spectrum this is due to the “theory of mind” a child with autism WILL NOT be able to read another person’s facial expression or body language.

This lack of the theory of mind WILL mean that the child with autism WILL have difficulties determining what is happening the” hidden social rules” which CAN lead to social mistakes and at times even isolation.

There is no cure for autism but the various treatments of autism CAN and WILL help OVERCOME many of the skills your child is struggling with.

Probably one of the most significant treatments of autism is autistic social skills stories which ARE used to help children with autism spectrum understand and learn skills and behaviours that ARE causing them stress or confusion, like for example self-help skills, asking questions, making friends and so on…

Typically autistic social skills stories ARE short descriptive pieces of text that ARE written in first person text and ALWAYS from the autistic individual’s point of view.

Commonly children with autism spectrum ARE VISUAL thinkers and learners this means that they find VISUAL information much easier to use and UNDERSTAND.

Autistic social skills stories ARE VISUAL, the social story USES images /pictures to detail the skill or behaviour in terms of the relevant social cues.

The social story acts like a VISUAL FRAMEWORK OR PLAN of the skill or situation helping to make the child on the spectrum feel more comfortable with and in the situation.

It should also answer the ever important “wh” questions – who, what, why, where and when as well as “HOW” and should offer an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most children with autism spectrum.

To learn more about autistic social skills stories visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

Typically children with autism ARE visual thinkers and learners which means that they think in pictures and that speech/language is secondary.

It is therefore believed that for children with autism information and teaching that is VISUAL WILL be far easier for them to understand.

 Using visual supports for autism is therefore beneficial. There ARE various supports for autism, but probably the most significant ARE social stories, PECS, communication picture cards, visual timetables and so on…

Using visual supports for autism WILL help you to teach social skills and address communication difficulties as well as helping to OVERCOME many of the difficulties the child with autism is struggling with.

Social skills stories ARE an important visual intervention strategy which was first introduced around twenty years ago by therapist Carol Gray to help OVERCOME communication difficulties for children with autism.

Since then the social story has developed and is now probably the most significant support for autism. The social skills story WILL help address the child’s social skills deficits.

All children with autism HAVE social skills deficits these ARE common to autism, but will vary between individuals. Social skills deficits affect how the child with autism processes information, acts, re-acts, behaves and thinks as well processes sensory stimuli and sensation.

The social skills story is a short descriptive piece of text that can act like a visual plan or framework of the skill detailing visually what is happening and what the child with autism CAN expect.

A social skills story WILL always be written from the child’s own perspective and WILL normally always be written in first person text. The social skills story should break the skill into smaller sections much like a comic script and answer the “wh” questions  - who, what, where, why and when as well as “HOW” and provide the child with autism an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most kids with ASD.

Typically social stories are written in word format which WILL make them easier to personalize and edit, no two children are ever going to be the same and we all USE different terminology with our kids, therefore the need for editing is important.

For kids with ASD social awareness skills ARE difficult to master but by using visual supports for autism this can be addressed quite simply, which CAN help the child on the spectrum feel more comfortable with and in situations that they would once struggle with.

To learn more about how kids with ASD can cope with social awareness skills using supports for autism such as social stories and communication picture cards visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

http://www.autismsocalstories.com/school

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

To understand what causes autistic behaviour issues it is important to have an understanding of autism.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects how individuals with autism processes information, thinks, acts, re-acts, behaves and processes sensory input or stimuli. The main symptoms of autism ARE social skills deficits in social awareness skills, communication and imagination skills and behaviours.

It is these social skills deficits that ARE the significant factor in what causes autistic behaviour issues. Typically children on the autism spectrum have communication difficulties and may lack the ability to ask or respond to things which their typically developing peers WILL treat as “normal”

For example recess a typically developing child WILL probably enjoy the freedom of recess but for children on the autism spectrum recess may be uncomfortable, stressful and confusing! This may lead to inappropriate behaviour around recess.

For a child with autism the sheer chaos of recess is upsetting, a child with autism WILL prefer sameness, order and routine and recess is none of these things. Children with autism have difficulties in understanding that not everyone shares their interest or feels that same way they do fully.

By taking a look into what causes autistic behaviour issues we can begin to unravel what it is that our own child with autism may be getting upset or confused by. Careful observation of a child with autism CAN help you to determine exactly what is troubling your child.

There are various supports for autism that WILL help a child on the spectrum OVERCOME many of their social skills deficits. Probably one of the most significant of these supports for autism is social skills stories.

These ARE short descriptive pieces of text that describe a situation or skill in terms of the relevant social cues. We know that the vast majority of individuals with autism ARE VISUAL thinkers and learners which means that they think in pictures and language is used as secondary.

It is important therefore to USE supports for autism which ARE VISUAL like social stories. Social stories for autistic behaviour difficulties focus on a skill, situation or behaviour that the child on the spectrum is struggling with and breaks it down into small easy to understand sections using images/pictures and first person text.

The social skills story CAN act much like a visual plan or framework of the skill allowing the child on the spectrum a chance to rehearse the skill. So going back to our recess example earlier, introducing a social story for recess WILL HELP the child with autism prepare for and understand recess. The social skills story can be looked at each day before recess, helping the child with autism feel more comfortable once recess arrives.

The social skills story CAN BE USED for a wide variety of difficulties, such as self-help skills, communication deficits, hygiene skills, behaviours and many more, in-fact almost anything the child with autism is finding hard.

Typically social stories answer the ever important “wh” question – who, what, why, where and when as well as “HOW” and WILL offer an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most individuals with autism.

To learn more about social stories for autistic behaviour difficulties visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

Or

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

Probably one of the most significant difficulties that parents with an autistic child report is their child’s behaviour issues.

It is important to remember that unlike typically developing children a child on the autism spectrum is far less likely to misbehave “just because” and that most if not ALL autistic behaviour WILL happen for a reason an internal or external factor.

Typically children with autism HAVE social skills deficits in three main areas of development: social awareness, communication – both verbal and non-verbal and imagination skills, as well as sensory processing issues.

It is these social skills deficits and sensory processing issues which WILL contribute to the majority of behaviour issues in autism.

Managing autistic behaviour issues can BE ACHIEVED through the use of Intervention Strategies.

Intervention Strategies ARE put in place to help the autistic child manage their behaviours and find coping methods for skills and behaviours that they are struggling with.

Intervention Strategies like social skills stories and visual social story cards ARE probably the most significant of the Intervention Strategies for helping with managing autistic behaviour issues.

Social skills stories ARE short descriptive stories written to help children with autism overcome social skills deficits. A social skills story CAN act like a visual plan or framework of the skill or situation the autistic child is struggling with.

A social skills story WILL use appropriate first person text and be from the child’s won perspective. It should be written in word format to allow for editing and personalization as this is important for children with autism and we all use different terminology with our children.

Social stories for autism behaviour difficulties USE visual images/pictures to help show the child on the spectrum visually what is happening making them feel more comfortable with and in the situation.

Typically children with autism ARE visual thinkers and learners this means that they think in pictures and find visual information easier to understand.

Social stories for autism behaviour difficulties answer the “wh” questions – who, what, why, when and where as well as “HOW” and offer the child on the spectrum an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most children with autism.

To learn more about managing autistic behaviour issues using Intervention Strategies like social skills stories visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

Or http://www.autismsocialstories.com where you will find downloads of approx. 100 social stories.

Typically ASD students have social skills deficits: this means that they WILL struggle with social awareness, communication and imagination skills. They may also display sensory processing and obsessive behaviours.

The characteristics of social skills deficits ARE common to autism spectrum disorder. Therefore teaching strategies for ASD students should be geared to help the ASD student overcome these difficulties.

Social skills ARE important especially in the classroom or school environment. Teaching social skills to ASD students CAN be achieved using Intervention Strategies.

Intervention Strategies should be visual, research shows us that the majority of those with autism spectrum disorder ARE visual thinkers and learners, this means that they think in pictures and use speech/language as a secondary language.

So using Visual Intervention Strategies is beneficial. There is a wide variety of Visual Intervention Strategies that CAN be used for teaching social skills to ASD students, such as autism social skills stories, communication picture cards, PECS and so on…

Visual Intervention Strategies like autism social skills stories are good teaching strategies for ASD students and CAN be implemented easily and will need NO formal training to use. They ARE simple short descriptive stories normally written to help teach a social, communication, imagination or behaviour.

For example a social story CAN be used to help the student with ASD to develop friendships, ask questions, stay on task, follow school rules, deal with recess and so on.

A social story will follow a set pattern of sentence type and WILL always be written from the ASD students own perspective. It should be Visual and written in word format to allow editing and personalization we all use different terminology and each story should allow for this.

Typically autism social skills stories answer the “wh” questions – who, what, why, where and when as well as HOW and should offer an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in those with autism spectrum disorder.

Therefore teaching social skills to ASD students using social stories is beneficial. Communication picture cards ARE used in a similar manner. They are excellent for promoting communication skills. For example communication picture cards ARE useful at snack time and CAN be used as an exchange by the student with ASD: a card showing a picture CAN be given to the teacher as an exchange for what is on the card, for example an apple and so on..

Communication picture cards ARE also used effectively on Visual timetables, choices boards and around the classroom showing for example where the coat hooks are the bathroom, sink, pencil tray and so on…

To learn more about teaching social skills to ASD students using social stories and communication picture cards visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

Generally kids with autism find social situations confusing due to social skills deficits, all autistic individuals will have social difficulties this is common to autism and due mainly to EACH INDIVIDUALS  own individual social skills deficits.

For the majority of parents with an autistic child, helping their autistic child to develop social skills is a primary focus.

Consequently, many treatments of autism have been researched and developed to help parents teach social skills to their child on the spectrum. 

Teaching social skills to kids with autism can lead to an increase in positive behaviors and self-confidence.

There is a variety of treatments of autism that may be suitable for your child on the spectrum, your G.P. will point you in the right direction and offer advice. For many parents and teachers of autistic kids strategies such as social skills stories help them in teaching and increasing social skills in kids with autism.

An autism social story is a short descriptive story that acts like a visual plan or framework of the situation or skill being developed or taught, the social skills story is almost like a comic script.

The goal of an autism social story is to focus on the key points or social cues of the situation or skill. The social skills story uses first person text and visual images to describe the skill or situation by answering the “wh” questions - who, where, why, when and what as well as “HOW” and will give an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others.

Social stories are used for a wide variety of situations and skills that the child may be finding difficult to master or is causing stresses, for example: A shopping trip; meeting new people; recess; school dinner; assembly even a trip to the dentist. Any of these situations can be dealt with using a simple autism social story.

The autism social story can be used to help practice skills and behaviors, manage negative behaviors, explain changes to routines and make confusing or stressful events and situations understandable by allowing the child with autism a chance to rehearse the skill or situation in advance.

Typically kids with autism are visual thinkers; this means that they will have more successes using visual information rather than written or spoken direction and information.

Increasing social skills in kids with autism is effective using direct teaching such as: autism visual supports like social skills stories. A social skills story can make an otherwise confusing or stressful skill or situation more routine.

For a child with autism having a step by step action plan in the form of a simple autism social story; that they can read and understand that is visually rich and easy to follow, can be a tremendous benefit and reduce their fears and sensitivities.

Increasing social skills goals for kids with autism such as tooth brushing, hygiene, asking questions and calming down can all be tackled using social stories as a strategy.

To learn more about using social stories as a strategy and how they are used to benefit a child with autism visit:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

Other sites that offer social skills stories can be found at:

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/school_resources

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/preschool

A diagnosis of autism spectrum can be upsetting for many parents all of a sudden your world is upside down. However a diagnosis of autism spectrum need not be met with fear. Autism spectrum is more common than you probably thought with 1 in every 150 babies born being given a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

As with typically developing children, all children with autism will also develop at varying rates, with no two kids on the spectrum having the same autism characteristics.

Some children with Low functioning autism may have other problems such as little or no speech, seizures and will normally have educational difficulties.

Those children with autism characteristics such as asperger syndrome will have average or above intelligence, however their speech may still develop slowly but will develop. This set of individuals are often referred to as the little professor or geeks!

However typical to all children with autism ARE “The Triad of Autistic Impairments” or social skills deficits.

Each individual’s deficits will vary, some kids on the spectrum may display severe social deficits whilst others may display less severe social deficits and be able to function quite well socially.

There is no cure for autism spectrum but there are various treatments for autism that will help teach social and communication skills to children with autism

Significantly many treatments for autism use visual information, this is because typically kids on the spectrum ARE visual thinkers and learners, meaning they think in pictures and language/speech is secondary.

Typically most kids on the spectrum find treatments for autism like social skills stories, visual social story cards and flash cards beneficial.

Probably one the major concerns for many parents of children with autism spectrum is their child’s difficulty with social development skills and behaviors for example making friends, asking questions, respecting personal space and so on.

A social skills story acts like a visual framework or plan of the skill or behavior that the child with ASD is struggling with. So for example id the child with ASD is struggling to approach and make friends with their peers the social story can outline the appropriate social cues and help guide the child with ASD to make friends.

For parents of children with autism spectrum, caregivers, autistic educators and other professionals using social skills stories as a strategy that will help teach social and communication skills to children with autism can be a real help.

Using social skills stories as a strategy that will help teach social and communication skills to children with autism was first introduced almost twenty years ago and has since proven to be one of the major jumps forward in the treatment of autism.

Autism social skills stories are short, descriptive and visually rich. The social story will generally follow a set formula of sentence type and will always be from the perspective of the autistic child.

The social story will answer the “wh” questions – who, what, where, when and why as well as “HOW” and will offer the autistic child an insight into the thoughts feelings and emotions of others, which is an area of marked weakness in most ASD kids.

Autism social skills stories are an effective tool strategy that will help teach social and communication skills to children with autism. Typically written in word format to make personalization and editing simple the social story also needs to be portable for convenience

Giving key focus to the vital points the social cues autism social skills stories are much like a comic strip, showing a detailed visual step by step plan of the skill or behavior being taught or re-enforced.

For immediate download of autism social skills stories that will help teach and re-enforce social, communication, imagination and interaction skills to ASD kids visit one of the following sites where you will find autism social skills stories and visual support cards for children and young people with ASD

www.autismsocialstories.com

www.autismsocialstories.com/visual_aids

www.autismsocialstories.com/social_skills

Printed autism social stories are short descriptive visual stories which describe a situation or skill in terms of the relevant “social cues” by using images and text in a set formula or pattern.

Typically children on the spectrum have social skills deficits and are visual thinkers and learners which means that they think in images, this being their first language and speech/words being their second language.

The social story adopts this knowledge and uses visual images and first person text in a comic like fashion to show the child with autism the skill or situation from their own perspective.

Social stories ARE used to help the child with autism deal with social skills deficits

What are social skills deficits?

Social skills deficits ARE a common symptom of autism and affect how the child with autism thinks, interacts with others, processes information and communicates.

Printed autism social stories ARE used like a visual plan of a skill or situation and are effective in helping children on the spectrum deal with their social skills deficits.

The social story will answer the ever important “wh” questions – who, what, why, when and where as well as “HOW” and will give an insight into the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others which is an area of marked weakness in most children on the spectrum.

Social stories break the skill or situation down into small easier to understand sections then explain what is happening using first person text and visual images/pictures.

To learn more about printed autism social stories visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com

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For typically developing children Halloween can be an enormous amount of fun!

However for an autistic child Halloween CAN BE the exact opposite.

Most children on the spectrum have sensory processing issues which can make them sensitive to stimuli, for example sensory processing issues will affect:,

Touch

Taste

Smell

Feel

And Noise

Having social skills deficits is a common characteristic of autism; social skills deficits affect social awareness, communication and imagination skills and behaviours, which CAN make Halloween difficult for the autistic child to understand.

Halloween with your autistic child can now be a whole lot more fun

How?

There are ways to prepare for Halloween with an autistic child, many parents USE supports like visual social story cards and social skills stories for Halloween.

Social stories for Halloween: Are short descriptive stories which CAN explain a skill or situation through images and short descriptive sentences. The social skills story CAN HELP make Halloween less stressful and confusing.

For example: You could try to prepare for Halloween with an autistic child - Give your child with autism a social skills story to practise the trick or treat conversation with.

Have another child or adult help you and practise using the social skills story - them ringing the bell, have somebody open the door and let your child with autism ask trick or treat. The social skills story will help give your autistic child gentle prompts of their own behaviour and what they will need to say and do while trick and treating.

You could try practicing for Halloween with your autistic child by using a story to help them practise taking the candy offered and saying thank you.

Halloween with your autistic child can now be a whole lot more fun, download social skills stories for your autistic child Halloween need not be too stressful this year!

Visit: http://www.autismsocialstories.com/Halloween  to download social stories for Halloween which CAN help with practicing for Halloween with your autistic child.

PLUS: GRAB YOUR FREE Pumpkin Pattern ebook

Patterns to Paint or Carve

Fun for Adults and Kids

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/Halloween

PLUS:

Grab Your Free Report Today

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

Download Your FREE Report NOW!

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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