social story

[sphil]

I've just written a social story for DS1 to try to help him at break time at school. He does OK and has a group of friends he plays with, but some of the 'rules' of playground interaction pass him by and he comes home a bit bewildered by things that have happened.

Am quite pleased with the story (if I say so myself!)but it needs illustrations. Has anyone any ideas about where I can find some - will probably have to import from net. Or there might be a resource bank somewhere??? Can't draw people to save my life!
Thanks

[springgreens]

Hello Sphil

I really like the idea of social stories and am hoping that I will be able to use them with my ds at some point in the future. He has ASD is 3 (from your posts sounds a bit like your ds1) and is a VERY visual learner.

I too find it difficult to find imagery to use. Googleimages is usually OK for finding common objects to label, but I'm not sure how useful that would be for your story? Aside from that, I've been told about Flashpro but haven't checked it out for myself yet.

I'd say have a go at drawing something (whether you're good at art or not)- I'm sure your son would appreciate something that you've made for him, however bad it looks to you? Could you involve him in terms of the pictures that you decide to draw? Maybe you could just add a few pictures of objects/people to represent different chunks of the story? COuld your represent friendships through imagery from his own favourite books about friends or would that be confusing?

Sorry, this isn't much help. Would be interested to hear where other mums go to find imagery for this kind of thing. Keep us posted on how it goes.

Springgreens :)

p.s. are you going to the 2-day PECS training in Brighton in June? I'm going to be there, so would be great to meet if you're up for it.

[coppertop]

For ds1's social stories I use a mixture of photographs and symbols. The SALT gave me the symbols though so probably not much help there unless you or someone you know has access to Widget (sp?). Would the teacher let you take a photo of the actual playground? It would probably have to be empty though because of child protection issues.

[sphil]

Thanks both of you. I could involve DS1 - if I read him the text I'm sure he'd have ideas about what I should draw. I'm just not sure that I could do his ideas justice artwise! Funnily enough we've just been talking to the SALT today about buying/getting access to Boardmaker or Widget for DS2 - so could use symbols to illustrate the story. I've also just remembered that a friend gave me a book for Christmas last year called 'How To Draw Almost Anything'(or something like that) - maybe it'll include instructions on how to draw groups of children playing various games!

Springgreens - I am going to the PECS training in Brighton (with DH) and it would be great to meet up. How will I recognise you? (I'll be the one wearing a fetching pair of bags under my eyes...)

[sphil]

Thanks both of you. I could involve DS1 - if I read him the text I'm sure he'd have ideas about what I should draw. I'm just not sure that I could do his ideas justice artwise! Funnily enough we've just been talking to the SALT today about buying/getting access to Boardmaker or Widget for DS2 - so could use symbols to illustrate the story. I've also just remembered that a friend gave me a book for Christmas last year called 'How To Draw Almost Anything'(or something like that) - maybe it'll include instructions on how to draw groups of children playing various games!

Springgreens - I am going to the PECS training in Brighton (with DH) and it would be great to meet up. How will I recognise you? (I'll be the one wearing a fetching pair of bags under my eyes...)

[sphil]

Oops-sorry!

[springgreens]

Sphil, I will be there on my own. I will be wearing red sandals and bags under the eyes! Hope to see you there

[sphil]

It will also not be too hard to work out who I am from my nickname on here

[Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads]

Use photos of him if you can, if not, photos rather than drawings.

[LizLocket]

The social stories DS's preschool teacher made used PECS symbols probably from Boardmaker. You can get some online at Do2learn or childrenwith specialneeds.com. She also made him one about school and the reception teacher supplied her with photos she had for the introductory talk to parents so might be worthwhile asking at school if they have any or seeing it they would let you take your digital camera in!

Lx

[sphil]

I did wonder about getting him and a few friends to act out some of the scenarios! Probably get a lot of falling about and gurning though...
Haven't even typed the story up yet. Have a bug-hunting birthday party to organise for Sunday. DS1 is 5 today!!!

In fact, the events of the past few days have made me wonder if I'm over-exaggerating his social difficulties. We've been to two birthday parties and he's been happy and integrated in both of them. Today his best friend came to the park with us and then back for tea and I honestly didn't observe anything unusual in his behaviour at all - quite the opposite tbh. (Well, not unless you count cavorting round the park yelling 'Power Rangers - SPD Emergency!' at the top of your voice about 500 times as unusual...)Think I'm so attuned to the whole ASD thing that I see signs everywhere. This doesn't mean that I don't think he has some traits, because I'm certain he has - but if they're not holding him back, then I'm much less worried.

Will still keep watching him though - and I'll do the story. Told the Mum of DS1's best friend (def NT) about it and she asked if she could have a copy!

[Davros]

I've only ever seen social stories with photos (not that I've seen many!). Could you use real photos and some cut out of mags? (playground etc).