Social stories for ASD child

[Hulababy]

I am currently working as a TA and one of our 6y boys has been identified as having ADHD and highly likely to be on the ASD spectrum - although further tests are required to know where he sits on this exactly.

He is having a great deal of dfficulty within school at present and finding the whol school thing hard. We have tried many approaches and some work for a day or two and then stop working. His behaviours are escalating a lot, esp over the last few months.

One of the things I remember reading about on here are that social stories can be of some benefit to some children.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of what kind of thing I could be doing, and what the social stories might look like - in terms of layout, images, etc.

I think Carol Gray is the name you need.

sorry, don't know much more as haven't used them loads with dd1, and when we have tend ot just wing it, iyswim?

loads of people over on SN know about them, though - maybe oyu should ask there?

Have posted in SN too, but thought I'd try for the wide audience here too to cover as much ground as possible.

Would like to get some things in place this term for the child, esp prior to the Y2 transition period which I think he may find very difficult.

as far as I know, there's a knack to them- get the gist of it, and social stories are your oyster

simplicity is the key, and a focus on positivity, iirc

Thanks

They are new to me, not had experience of usig them before.

Mind, have learnt lots of new stuff re SN this year. All vey interesting - but lots to take in!

had a quick look for your thread - if I were you, I'dpost it on SN children - tends ot be the busiest board - lots of traffic through!

Thanks silverfrog - will do that tomorrow; off to bed in a sec.

Thanks cat64 - that is great. Will have a look. We do use makaton symbols in class for visual timetables, etc. although for the student I am thinking of I am wondering if a different form of picture would be better,. Not sure he'd cooperate with photos.

He loves comics - maybe more like a comic strip style might work with him, do yu think?

Hulababy,

try "here www.polyxo.com/socialstories/"

it's American, but the social stories give you the general format. Keep it simple, use the child's name to personalise and keep the language open - ie. most of the time, sometimes, occasionally, etc. This way you don't paint yourself into a corner with 'always, every'

If the child is a good reader, i tend to let them read and ask any questions afterwards. We also tend to change/modify our stories to add bits that the child finds important - or that i forgot Pictures are great, i have used the child in question, or images that i can find.

Don't worry about getting it 'right' - if it helps the child to understand it is perfect.

Flip books/language jigs are really good too. Fold a piece of paper into 6 blocks and draw a sequence of events, ie. a trip to Church. My stick figures and dubious drawings are always a hit!

Good luck and have you tried the ASD Outreach team in your area?

Some good stuff here

Many years ago I went on a social stories workshop - they said with that kind of age group to try and keep it to no more than 5 sentences - say two descriptive; one perspective; one directive and then one control - usually developed by the child themselves- often related back to their current obsession if poss , and always upbeat.

So using Y2 transition as an example maybe something like

I am in year 1 but in September I will go to year 2 (descriptive).

My teacher will be [teachers name] and some of my friends will be in my class (descriptive).

Most people feel nervous when there is a change like this (perspective)

But this will be ok and hulababy will help me if I'm not sure what to do (affirmative).

Thats because comic book heros need to learn how to become heros (using the comic interest)

Hope thats some help

Thanks for the link and the examples.

Going to stay at school this afternoon after I finish to try and get some stuff started. Need to get things in place ready, as not much time now before end of term.

Pleasure - can I just say how lovely it is of you to take such time, effort and care to support the child you work with - I wish you were at our school Hula

Sadly I didn;t get any chance in school this afternoon. I did stay but the child in question had some issues shall we say so I actually ended up working with him most of the afternoon, and helping support the teacher during his meltdown.

Just home from INSET now - so going to try and do a bit tonight maybe - although need wine first, lol - else tomorrow afternoon.

the books socialy speaking it has clear guidlines of how to write a story, the order ect ...

A comic strip MIGHT be a problem for him, as he may not identify with the pictures as being people, if you see what I mean. My DS was given some stickers of the England squad in caricature form - he hadn't a clue who they were because they didn't look like what they did in real life!

Interestingly enough, as I am on the spectrum, as part of an investigation into the minds of people on the spectrum, I had to tell a social story based on a picture book specifically used for children (unfortunately, can't remember what it was called). I was really BAD at telling the story

Thanks MaryBS.

Which images do you reckon are best? We have considered photographs but he is not always cooperative with stuff like this, so actually getting the photos may be an issue - and those we do get may well have him scowling or upset - and not really the behaviours we would want him to be emulating after reading them.

Makaton? even though he doesn'treally need the MAKATOn? Or clipart type?

I definitely think it is worth looking at the social story books.

The other thing I would consider is does he have any interests? My DS was (and still is a bit) obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine. Train obsession is common with kids with an ASD. Anything with Thomas always got his attention. And of course, the trains have easy expressions to understand. Similarly Chuggington.

How about photographs of his family members?

I was going to say, I've no personal experience of Makaton. I'm not sure it would have helped in DS's case. To me, rightly or wrongly, I felt it was best he learned to deal with the world as it is, with allowances made and strategies in place for him to learn while young so he can cope when he is older.

Not sure family would be particularly cooperative re photos, but will suggest it.

I was thinking that normal pictures/drawing of a generic child, if we can;t get his photos.

Will sort some scoial books - will be tomorrow now before I get started on them.

Need wine tonight, lol.

First attempt: a bit too long though, need to see how I can shorten.

Coming into school in a morning

At 8:40am we can go into our classroom. Our grown ups can come in with us to help us get ready for the day at school.

The classroom can be very noisy. I don?t always like it when it is noisy. This is ok. I know what my jobs are and I can ignore the noise by getting on with these.

My first job is to put my water bottle into the tray near the sink.

Some days I have packed lunch and will have my lunch basket with me. I put this into the lunch trolley.

Next I need to put my book bag into my drawer. My drawer has my name written on it. It can be hard to fit everything in my drawer sometimes. I have to be careful when I shut the drawer.

After this I can go to my quiet activity. I like to go on the computer. Sometimes the computer is not turned on. I know how to turn it on at the switch and how to log on using the Y1 password. It can take a long time for the computer to work but I sit quietly whilst I wait. I can use any of the desktop programs until the teacher calls us for register.

I'm not sure thats a social story (but then as I said earlier, I'm not good at social stories), it sounds to me more like a list of things to do when "I" arrive at school. Social stories tend to be more about feelings and body language and facial expressions, I THINK.

For example a man is chasing after a dog, why would he be doing that? And you'd have to look at the facial expression, is he happy? Maybe he's having fun playing with the dog. Is he angry? Perhaps he's been bitten or the dog isn't supposed to be running away or perhaps he took something belonging to the man. The man catches the dog. What happens next, do you think?

Hula - thats great but as you said it may be a bit long - children with ASD need lots of information but the problem is that too much info becomes overload and then nothing goes in [voice of frustrated experience]

I would be tempted to cut that three ways - one - not a social story but as a visual schedule - 8.40 go to class / water bottle / lunch basket / book bag /quiet activity

then a social story to cover noise when going in leading to computer

and if the lunch bag variable is an issue a separate story for that

I am making him a visual timetable for the below as we speak.

MaryBS - it was after googling the names and inks that these kind of examples came up for social stories. I think this is the kind of thing we need for him at present, even if name not right.

The other type I will pass on to Y2 as won't have time to look at them this term prior to Y2. Priority has to be the routines andfeelings.

I need to add more about his feelings, after taking to him today. And I got him to do some photos with me too.

Need to break it all up bit more into "chapters" I think.