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?

Thanks again claw3 - helps me make abit more sense of it all, lol. Tis all new to me as he really has escalated massively in recent weeks. Can't believe to what extent to be hnest.

hula - what do you think has changed in the last few weeks (wrt his escalation - do you think there is something increasing his anxieties?)

simple layout definitely the key - one picture, one sentence - MUCH easier to process. try to keep pictures really focussed in on what is happening too - not too much backgound detail to get distracted by.

Hula, you are doing a great job, keep up the good work.

Yes - have been cropping pictures to the tenth degree to remove backgrounds, etc, lol.

Will get going on the actual layout of the books in a sec. Getting v hot sat here in the sun, so need to go and get more water supplies!

silverfrog - no idea what might have triggered the changes at all. Parents have been asked and agencies in, etc. but noone can pinpoint anything. Unless it is just beocming more obvious as we have moved tomwards more formal type learning tasks in class for more of the sessions, so he is having to comply a bit more - and I suppose the differences between the other children and him stand out more. I wish we knew really, but no iedea, just that the behaviours have certainly become more obvious and way more frequent.

it could easily be that his behaviours are standing out more now that the move towards more formal learning is happening.

have to agree - wish that any of dd1's helpers/teachers/nrsery assistants had been even half as motivated as oyu obviously are.

observing, and sorting out routines etc, is half the battle. you can never gather too much data (although obviously not to the detriment of interaction, etc) - it all helps build upa picture

Thanks; will keep going, lol.

My own Dd is at school rehearsals til 5 and then Brownies til 7:30, and Dh is working til then too - so have lots of time to sit here in the sun working. Mind, did promise one group of children I;d also finish off their powerpoint presentation tonight too - so I had best get busy, lol.

Hula I hope you stay around and post here now and then. It's good for us to see there are people like you.

If you do searches for Lingle and Moondog and language, you'll get a lot of fantastic communications stuff.

There is also a good book called 'Visual strategies for improving communication' by Linda A Hodgdon that you might be able to get your school/Senco to buy for you to borrow!? or order it from the library!?

Hanen is also good but for improving communcation and reducing frustration but it might be too child-led for school.

Thanks for the suggestions - will look them up.

Have to admit I am having a break for a bit this evening now. DD back home in a sec and I am starving.

sorry to jump on the bandwagon but lisa do you have any sample social stories you could send me? I've got the book but not really sure where to start. I'm sure dd would be best doing them with me as it does help to talk things through when she's calm would love to just look at some examples. Thanks. Nat

here ones we use for walking to school:

My name is T and I am 7 years old.

I live at home with my Mummy, Daddy and little sister, J.

I go to ...... Infants School and I love going there to do my writing and playing with my friends.

I walk to school with my Mummy and sometimes I feel really worried about going to school because I am not sure which teacher will be in my class each day.

When I feel worried my body goes all shivery, my tummy goes hot and I have funny thoughts rushing around my head. Sometimes I cry when I am worried.

All the grown ups tell me it?s okay to cry sometimes as everyone has times when they worry.

My Mummy and Daddy, and my teachers want me to feel happy coming to school and they help me by putting signs on the classroom door to tell me which teacher will be helping me each day.

I will try to remember to keep calm and get to school so that I can check who my teacher is for the day.

I can also ask the teacher at the end of every school day to tell me which teacher will be in class tomorrow.

I will then be happy because I know who my teacher is the next day and this should make me feel happier when I walk to school.

Everyone will be happy for me when I am relaxed and calm in school because I can focus on being the clever girl that I am!

thanks lisa that's great!