Creating Social Scenarios

1. Creating Social Scenarios by Kathleen Walsh Robin Thompson Sherry Patrasek April Wold

2. What are Social Scenarios? A Social Scenario is a story written to address various situations, concepts, or social skills that a person with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) might have difficulty in comprehending. Social Scenarios are based on Social Stories™ developed by Carol Gray.

3. Who Makes Them? The author could be anyone associated with the individual with ASD, and should involve the person it’s being created for if possible. The Social Scenario should express both the point-of-view of the person with ASD, as well as others around them.

4. Steps to Achieving Goal • Identify the target behavior. • Create the Social Scenario. • Introduce the story. • Incorporate the story into the person’s schedule. • Adjust the content if progress isn’t being made. • Fade the story when the desired goal is maintained and reintroduce if needed. Goal

5. Autism Resource Web SitesTo access the following web sites, just point and click! http://www.polyxo.com/socialstories/ This web site is a wonderful tool for teaching social scenarios. http://www.autism.org/stories.html Informational site with more background on social stories, the four types and research info. http://www.thegraycenter.org/ The Gray Center is the official site for Social Stories™. http://www.autismnetwork.org/modules/ Use this site for incredible resources on assessments, characteristics, and interventions. -

6. Web Sites for Instructional Use http://www.autismteachingtools.com/Therapy procedures for autism, high functioning autism, PDD-NOS and aspergers. Includes teaching tips and educational videos.http://trainland.tripod.com/teaching.htmLargest resource for autism teaching methodologies information on the internet.

7. Social Skills Transitions Classroom Cafeteria Gym Routine Activities Special Activities Health and Hygiene Safety Expressing Feelings Aggressive Behaviors Special Problems Feelings Aggression Social Interactions Manners What are good Topics?

8. How do I Write it? • Identify the target behavior. • Write the story at the reading level of the person it’s being written for. • Use fewer pages for younger or less proficient readers. • For older or more proficient readers; you may want to create a script and outline the story all on one page. Tutorial Personalization

9. How Do I Make it? There are many different ways to make a Social Scenario. Look at the examples below to help select the format that would be best for you. Word Booklet Script PowerPoint Handwritten ToonDoo

10. Personalization • Try to include as many personal photos as possible that coincide with the story to make it more realistic. Take a digital photo of the issue taking place, if appropriate; like tapping or rocking when excited. • If you don’t have a digital camera, use Microsoft Office clipart images that relate to the dialog. • For computer stories, place a photo icon on desktop of the person to help instill ownership of the stories. • Have the person create their own cover for a booklet to facilitate involvement in the creation of the story.

11. Introducing the Story • Present the material by asking the person if they would like to read the story that they helped create or, “I wrote this for you, would you like to read it?” • Initially, the author should go over the story with the person it’s written for and check for understanding. • Reinforce the message of the text with positive facial expressions and gestures while reading.

12. Incorporating into Routine • Introduce the story in a relaxed setting; in other words, not while the event is occurring. • Also, do not use the story as punishment; rather set aside a special time for reading. • Incorporate the story into the daily routine prior to the event taking place. For example, if the person is nervous about going to see the Dentist, start the story several weeks prior to the visit taking place.

13. Adjusting for Progress • If the person is not responding to the story, you might need to adjust the content or visuals being used to resolve confusing wording or imagery. • It might be necessary to change the presentation of the story. For example; use PowerPoint on the computer instead of a handwritten booklet to present the story.

14. Fading • Once the person is confident with their goal, it might not be advisable to cut the story out entirely. There are several different ways to fade a story. • Space out the times between readings, so that instead of reading it daily, read the story only several times a week. • Rewrite or modify the story. However, changing the story might be upsetting and not beneficial depending on the person.

15. Handwritten • Use any paper available to create a booklet or write the story out on a single sheet of paper and either draw or paste in the images. • Cardboard and poster board are other good materials to use for the entire booklet or just the cover. • Laminating the pages might be a good idea if you want to use the same story for an extended period of time.

16. Scripts • Scripts are Social Scenario stories without pictures. You can use a script just as it is for older students or change it into another format and add pictures.

17. PowerPoint • Use PowerPoint to create Social Scenario slideshows. • Either read the story on the computer or print-off the presentation and read it as a handout. Below are PowerPoint Cartoons which continue on the next page. Indoor Recess

18. Social Scenario Cartoons • PowerPoint is a great tool for creating Social Scenario cartoons, booklets and handouts.

19. Word Booklet • Create a booklet using Microsoft Office Word, and save it to your computer to reprint or copy pictures into other booklets. • Open Word and drop down the File menu. Select page set-up, then select 2 pages per sheet on the margin tab. The pages won’t look any different on the screen, but they will print-out correctly. Fold the pages with the fold facing the outside edge so that the pages will have double thickness. • Use cardstock or poster board to create a book cover that can be personalized by the person it’s written for. • A good way to get started is to use Social Scenario scripts that have already been written online and then import pictures that are relevant to the reader alongside the text. Indoor Recess Going to Camp Day Away from School

20. ToonDoo is a free, online comic-creating tool. After registering to use this service, you can create Social Scenario cartoons and save them to your computer or print them off to read. You need Adobe 8.1 to view the following story (you can download it for free online). Crabby’s Misadventure is a story created using Toondoo and Avatar software. To properly view the story, click-on the view tab. Scroll down to page display, and then go over to the two-up layout so that the story will look like an open book. ToonDoo

21. Avatar Software • Avatar software is somewhat expensive but it is a great tool for conveying a story using animation. Facial features and voice are imported into the program so that the avatar will talk to the reader. The avatar could read the story verbatim or it could say something else that goes along with the storyline. • Click-on the puzzle icon to initiate the animation with the avatar. Crabby’s Misadventure