Using Technology To Enhance Social Scripts

1. Using Technology To Enhance Social Scripts Staten Island Technology Summit October 2011 Vanessa Lombardo, M Ed., ATP AT Specialist/ Special Education Teacher

2. Who are we????Advancing Opportunities • 20 + Years experience in AT • Mobile assistive technology services • Serves individuals with all disabilities • Diversity of staff • Technology Lending Center • Work with state agencies – DVR, DDD, CBVI, VA, TBI Fund

3. Who am I???? • Special Education Teacher • Work with school districts in southern NJ • Worked in AT for 5 years • Coordinator for CBVI Contract • Ongoing support

4. Who are you? • Teachers • Administrators • Case Mangers • Parents • OT/PT/SLP • BCBA

5. Quick Housekeeping Ask questions Share your experiences This is your presentation; I am the facilitator Handout

6. Why are we here? • "That's the real problem with kids who struggle with learning ... Some kids feel like they're stupid. I want them to know that they're not. They just learn differently. Once they understand that and have the tools to learn in their individual way, then they can feel good about themselves." -- Charles Schwab

7. Why are we here? Comfort level with Technology • Don’t talk to me about technology. I don’t need to use it. It’s a fad. • Sure I use technology, when I have to. • I want to learn more about technology. If someone shows me how to use it, I can catch on. • I am tech support for my colleagues/friends at school/home.

8. What are we doing today? • Create social stories using MS office software (specifically PPT), free internet software (www.xtranormal.com) and( www.tarheelreader.org) and an inexpensive software program (Story Builder – Judy Lynn, www.judylynn.com). • Create video social stories using cell phones or smart phone. • Finding video social scripts on TeacherTube • Create social story in various Ipad/ Iphone/ Ipod apps • Learn how to create a homepage for students’ using Wikispaces (www.wikispaces.com).

9. Learning Objectives • From today you will be able to: • Create static social stories or social scripts in a variety of software • Create video social stories using cell phones or smart phone. • Create social stories in various apps • Learn how to create a homepage for student’s using Wikispaces.

10. Let’s Get To It!

11. What are social stories/social scripts? • A social story is a simple description of an everyday social situation, written from a child's perspective. Social stories can be used in different situations. For example, social stories can help a child prepare for upcoming changes in routine, or learn appropriate social interactions for situations that they encounter. Gray, C.A., and J.D. Garand. 1993. “Social Stories: Improving Responses of Students with Autism with Accurate Social Information.” Focus on Autistic Behavior 8(1): 1-10.

12. Empirical Evidence • Social Stories are helpful in teaching individuals along the Autism Spectrum new social skills. • Implementation is key • R 4 : Reading them, reading them in context, revisiting them, referring to them. Articles referenced on next page

13. Empirical Evidence Resources: • Delano, M., & Snell, M. E. (2006). The effects of social stories on the social engagement of children with autism. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 8(1), 29-42. • Gray, C.A., and J.D. Garand. 1993. "Social Stories: Improving Responses of Students with Autism with Accurate Social Information." Focus on Autistic Behavior 8(1):1-10. • Reynhout, G., & Carter, M. (2006). Social Stories for children with disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 445-469. • Scattone, D., Tingstrom, D. H., & Wilczynski, S. M. (2006) Increasing appropriate social interactions of children with autism spectrum disorders using social stories.Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21(4), 211-222.

14. What makes a good social story? • Descriptive sentences (De) give who, what, where, and why details about the situation so the child can recognize when that situation actually occurs. • Directive sentences (Di) tell the child the appropriate social responses in that situation. • Perspective sentences(P) describe one of the child's possible feelings or responses.

15. What makes a good social story? (cont) • Affirmative sentences (A) often refer to a law or a rule or are a commonly shared opinion. • Cooperative sentences (Co) describe how other people will help out in a given situation. • Control sentences (Cn) are created by the child, to help remember strategies that work for him or her.

16. Example of Social Story“Personal Space” When I talk to people I need to give them their space. (De) I need to stay away from their faces. (Di)When people come too close it makes other people uncomfortable. (P)Everybody needs space. (A)When I make people uncomfortable, they want to get away from me. (P) When I give people enough space, I get to play with and talk to people, I make friends and have fun. (A) (C) (Cn)

17. Why use technology for social stories? Audience Participation

18. What are some of the boundaries for using technology for social stories?

19. Static Social Scripts:Free and cheap software • Microsoft Power Point • Xtranormal.com • Tarheelreader.com • Story Builder – Judy Lynn Software

20. MS Power PointWho is currently using PPT in this way? Winning and Losing

21. Xtranormal.com Check out this video

22. Tarheel Reader Taking Turns Watch this video for Power Talk

23. Story Builder Judy Lynn Software

24. Talk with your neighbor • Which of these three resources do you currently implement? • Which of these three resources would you consider implementing and why? 3 minutes on the clock

25. Social Stories on the iPad or iPod or iPhone • Story Kit • Story Robe • Pictello • Stories to Learn • Model Me Kids Going places

26. ? Questions?

27. Video Social Scripts:Cell or Smart Phones

28. Connect your device and synch • Make sure that you save your pictures and/or videos so that you can find it. • Synch your device to your computer • Once photos or videos are saved to your computer, use PPT to create social story.

29. Teacher Tube • Who is familiar with Teacher Tube? • What do you use it for?

30. Questions

31. Talk with your neighbor • Do you use videos/video social scripts in your classroom? How? • If not, would you consider using videos/video social scripts in your classroom? Why or why not?

32. Wikis!!!! • Gesundheit! • What is a Wiki? • A wiki (WIK-ee) is a website that allows for the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages using a simplified text editor. • Who has used a wiki before? • Who has created a wiki? • Wiki for this presentation

33. Discussion:“We just don’t talk anymore” • Implementing these tools into classroom activities • Ideas for generalizing social stories • Questions, comments, statements

34. Thanks for your attention today! Thanks for your attention today! Questions? Comments? See you on ????? For Part 2 of this training! Assistive Technology Services (888) 322-1918 www.cpofnj.org

35. Contact Information Visit our NEW website @ www.assistivetechnologycenter.org Visit our NEW Blog @ http://assistivetechnj.blogspot.com/ Vanessa Lombardo, M Ed. Assistive Technology Specialist/ Special Ed Teacher Advancing Opportunities vlombardo@advopps.org (609) 218-1232