Social stories for ASD child

[Hulababy]

Originally posted in SN:Education but been advised to move to here for more "traffic" - hope that is ok.

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 whole 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?

everyones social stories are different.
DD1 tends to write with me, so she can explain the feelings that come along with the story.
So for example, a story about walking to school might say about how she feels in her tummy and what her worries are but then goes on to say how she can responde and who can help her with this. Shes 7 btw

Theres some really good books, but cant remember names other than one entitled My social stories.
HTH

Behaviourist approaches are also very good, using reinforcers and motivators. The most important thing to remember is to break things down and ensure the reward is something the child finds rewarding, not something you think the child 'should' find rewarding.

I don't know much about social stories yet but I'm sure someone will be around to help soon.

I think it was Carol Gray who invented Social Stories (they are not just social stories but Social Stories (TM), you know). She has a website with more information and has also written some books.

Thanks lisad - I actually logged on this morning before going to work to see whether it is worth trying to have the child do the stories with me - and you have answered my query already. I will give that a try. I am going to work this afternoon at school (I actually finish at lunch time but want to try and get something in place for him) to try and have a go at doing some - will take my camera to see if I can get him to do photos and also go through each routine with him and ask im about his feelings.

Star - we are trying lots and lots, and had already tries everything else suggested by the multi agency team. Trouble is at the moment each thing seems to work for a couple of days or so, and then not. So, it is a case of trying to find that combination that will help him.

I really think we need stuff in place than will help him in the transition to Y2.

DD1 school always do a social story for transitions now. New classes especially. If you need an example, please leave email address and i'll send you some.

Yes it was the Carol Gray book i was thinking of

lisa - that would be fantastic, as I never got chance to do my work today when I satyed behind at school as he had a meltdown and I went to support the teacher dealing with him, and then working with him afterwards. So, still need to have a go at them tomorrow. Need wine tonight, lol.

My email is claire.king13(at)btinternet.com

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.

thats fine but remember to think about all the stress he has before his entered the classroom. What if ceral is different to normal, what if someone else drops him at school, what if he had to come in car rather than walk?? These things need looking at too.

Also its great to say he doesnt like it, but where does he feel it? how does he know he doesnt like it? butterflies in tummy, red colour, hands sweating ect.

HTH

Hula have you tried seeking professional support for him?

LOL Claw It took all these posts before someone suggested that.

Shows how disillusioned we all are with the 'professional support' and how we all know with certainty that a TA who puts in her own unpaid time to resource solutions to a child's needs makes for a very luky child indeed and is quite frankly the best bet a child has.

(not saying don't seek professional support btw)

Star, i was thinking more along the lines of a statement, bringing it to everyones attention that he is struggling!

Totally agree Hula, sounds like a brill TA to have, showing an interest and recognising that he is struggling.

lisad - was going to have pre school routine and walk to school as different pages/chapters; thought might be best to break the whole thing down into small chunks

claw - yes, school have seeked professional advice. This is in process. He does appear to have ADHD and is on ASD sectrum but more tests required beforethat. TBH though I got the impression that even with a dx the support will not be much - and will probably mainly still be down to the TA anyway. The agnecy (is it CAMMS?) sent an email of simple ideas but we had already tried everything on their list more than once - so school have recontacted.

I kind of want to try an get as much in place as possible pre handover to Y2 and then pass everything on and they can amend things easier for him to fit in with the Y2 routines.

Spoke to classteacher about the marble jar idea today too and she liked the idea of that, so again something to try.

lisad - great idea about the feelings bit. I talked to him a bit about that this morning. I managed to get him to cooperate with sme photo taking. We had a really good morning on the whole actually, was lovely.

Hula, where abouts in the country are you? Would you consider private work?

Am in Sheffield. Lol, I am certainly learning lots this year what with this boy and my two IEP children with their comm and lang difficulties and EAL combined! Havealso found out a ,ot about abput how much the suport given varie massively.

Just tying everything together now ready for Y2 transition, and then see who is coming up from foundation stage ready for next year.

Have to say that I have enjoyed learning all this and working with the children, even if challenging at times.

Don't want to deprive those children of you, but you do know that you're a rare breed don't you? You could probably top up your earnings quite nicely as a private ABA tutor, or other ASD therapy.

Hula, yes CAMHS, in my area they also have a sub division of CAMHS called TAMHS (targetting action at mental health in schools) who come into school to support.

Also ASD Outreach, you dont need a diagnosis of autism, just to have social communication difficulties identified and they will come into school.

Think you are doing a great job, just trying to think of ways of getting you more support. A TA who wants to help, is worth their weight in gold

I am having a go:

Page 1 - Coming into school in a morning

When I get to school we can go into our classroom with our grown up.

The classroom can be very noisy. I don?t always like it when it is noisy. It makes my head hurt and feels like the noises are banging inside my head. It is ok to feel cross. But I know what my jobs are and I can ignore the noise by getting on with these. If it is very noisy I sometimes prefer to cover my ears with my hands for a while.

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. When my drawer doesn?t shut properly it makes me feel cross in my tummy. But I don?t like to have y work screwed up and torn. I have to be careful when I shut the drawer so I can?t bang it.

My grown up will go home now.

Page 2 ? My Quiet Activity

When my grown up has gone 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. This can make me feel very angry inside my tummy and it sometimes makes me want to bang my hands on the table and computer, or stamp my feet. It is fine to feel cross but I might break the computer, so I have to sit quietly whilst I wait. I can use any of the desktop programs until the teacher calls us for register.

Page 3 ? Register

The teacher stands up and asks the children to ?Stop, Look and Listen.? I have to stop using the computer now and put my hands away from the keys and the mouse. I don?t always want to do this, especially if I am in the middle of a game. It sometimes makes me feel angry. My tummy feels funny and jiggly when I feel angry and I feel like I can?t keep still. It is ok to feel this, but I do have to stay still and listen.

We then have to walk to the carpet. We have to walk carefully so we don?t bump into each other and don?t stand on each other.
We all have our own spaces on the carpet. I sit on the back row, right in the middle. I sit between Ebony and Daisy. I like to sit here because I can see everything better.

The teacher says our names out loud and we say ?Good morning? back to her. Even when I am feeling cross or sad I still like to answer to my own name. We have to listen carefully and not make any noises. It is important to know who is at school.

Next we do the lunch register. We have to say what we want for dinner. Sometimes I have packed lunch. This is my favourite and I like to have my own lunch. This makes me feel happy. Some other times I stay for school dinners. I don?t always like what is on the menu and this makes me feel cross and upset. My tummy hurts when I feel cross and I feel like I want to cry or shout. My teacher knows that I have ?school dinners meat? so she will write that down for me anyway. I can talk to my teacher or TA after register if I feel sad about lunchtime.

Page 4 ? Phonics
Page 5 ? Assembly
Page 6 ? Home time
Page 7 ? Play time
Page 8 ? Lunch time
Page 9 - ?.

would love to do more work in this kind of field Star and have started to look a little into some more training. I aready have the teaching qualifications and experience, plus now TA experience - so some training in the field would be good. have also worked closely with the Speech and language teams this year which has been great experience nd source of information.

Thanks claw - I will check with the class teacher who have been accessed.

Hula, have you tried visual sequencing charts and timetables, timers etc?

Ds has a social story and it reads (might help to give you some ideas)

Everybody needs to go to the toilet

I need to go to the toilet as well

When i go to the toilet that makes me feel happy

But sometimes i might not have time to do that

This can happen at home or in school

and it makes me feel upset

Sometimes it is difficult to tell my teacher that i have pooed in my trousers

but that is ok

when this happens i will try and tell my teacher

because it smells bad, it is good to tell my teacher as soon as i can

she will be happy to help me

then we will all feel clean and happy

Well round our way, ABA tutors with your level of experience get £13.50 per hour (South East). After a year or two ABA experience more like £15.

BUT, hope you're not tempted away completely from the classroom. Those kids probably need someone like you more.

Hula - sounds as though you have made a great start.

I would suggest splitting it up inot several books, though, rather than a page per topic.

that way you can lay it all out nicely for each topic - good spacing is key to not going into overload, and work on each bit/illustrate each bit well.

also, if you find that one bit (eg the quiet activity and stopping ot listen to teacher) is proving to be a bigger issue than other parts, then you can read through just that bit again.

dd1 would not tolerate skipping through a book to find the relevant part (well, she would tolerate it, but the stress caused would impact on her ability ot listen/pay attention to the relevant bit!) but would happily sort through a stack of books tofind the right one, even though it is sort of 6 of one, half a dozen of the other, iyswim?

Page 2 ? My Quiet Activity

After i have done x i can go to my quiet activity.

I like to go on the computer.

Sometimes the computer is not turned on.

I can turn it on at the switch and log on using the Y1 password

It can take a long time for the computer to work.

Sometimes i feel very angry inside my tummy when this happens and it makes me want to bang my hands on the table and computer, or stamp my feet.

It is ok to feel angry.

When i feel angry i will do X (strategy ie count to 10, think happy thoughts or whatever)and wait quietly until the computer comes on.

I can use any of the desktop programs.

My teacher will set the timer for 5 minutes, when the bell rings i have to sit on the carpet for register.

Thanks claw - that is a good example for me.

No, I won't leave the classroom, at least no time soon. I am really enjoying this side of things, the side you don't get as much chance to be as heaviliy involved in when the teacher.

Yes, was thinking that several books to access might be better. Have been looking at nice layouts with lots of photos too. Can finally get some use out of my ICT skills again lol.

Have been doing a visual timetable to go along side some of it right now. Just been doing one for his first thing in morning routine as got soe pics from his earlier. Have kept it simple - one narrowish strip - 4 pictures (water bottle, packed lunch, book bag and computer - all him doing it) with one sentenc below.

We do use a visual timetable in class anyway as we use that for them all, using the makaton symbols. They do that mst mornings together as a class.

And we have some individual ones tht can be changes that I made esp for some of our children who have difficulty choosing. So that is a square laminated card that can be worn round neck or clipped to their top. Has 4 velcro bits on and we put on the taks for them to do within a specified time - i.e. read with teacher, do writing work and then they get two choices such as computer, role play, bricks, etc. And when they have completed each task they remove the velcroed picture, until all done. Not sure if this would work in this boy's situation though.

Having read the rest, seems getting angry is the problem.

You could just write a social story of what he is supposed to do when he gets angry, giving more appropriate responses to anger.