1. Visual Strategies Work!
Donna Line, M.S.
Courage to Risk Conference
Saturday, January 26, 2008

2. Communication
Choices

3. Choices

4. Choices

5. Communication
Requests

6. Requests

7. Communication
Picture symbols

8. Picture symbols

9. Communication
Express feelings

10. Express Feelings
Source: Boardmaker

11. Social Skills Greetings Conversations starters
Flow of conversation/on topic comments
Cues to change topic
Ask a friend to play
Turn taking

12. Flow of Conversation Follow-Up questions Who What Where When Why How
SOCIAL SKILLS
Flow of Conversation
Follow-Up questions
Who
What
Where
When
Why
How
What else
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

13. Sentence Strips Provide sentence strips (written prompts)
SOCIAL SKILLS
Sentence Strips
Provide sentence strips (written prompts)
Implement sentence strips that help students discriminate
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

14. Sentence strips

15. Social Scripts Identify target skill Identify a relevant activity
SOCIAL SKILLS
Social Scripts
Identify target skill
Identify a relevant activity
(past or upcoming)
Develop written instructions
(statements or questions)
Use prompts and prompt fading
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

16. SOCIAL SKILLS
Social StoriesTM
Story that is written about a social situation in which the student is having difficulty
Target broad issues such as dealing with anger, waiting appropriately, tolerating mistakes
Target specific issues such as increasing tolerance, special events, etc.
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

17. SOCIAL SKILLS
Social StoriesTM
Tailor the social story to reflect the student’s language and experience, provide alternative verbal and/or behavioral responses, build in social recognition of their changes (“Everyone will be so proud of me when I stay calm and ask for help.”)
Story can be read to the student or the student can read the story, then discuss and review the alternative behaviors
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

18. Social StoriesTM Story is typically read proactively
Story may need to be read immediately before the situation
Or, story can be presented at the time of the event, if more effective

19. Social StoriesTM Describe social situation Include individuals
Include circumstances

20. Guideline for Social StoriesTM
SOCIAL SKILLS
Guideline for Social StoriesTM
Made for the individual
Use “I” statements
Specific information
Use skill appropriate vocabulary and print
Write in present or future tense
For program changes, change one component at a time
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

22. I am going to a birthday party.
SOCIAL SKILLS
I am going to a birthday party.
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

23. There will be friends! SOCIAL SKILLS
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

24. When I play games with my friends, I will take turns.
SOCIAL SKILLS
When I play games with my friends, I will take turns.
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

25. We will sing Happy Birthday
SOCIAL SKILLS
We will sing Happy Birthday
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

26. blow out candles and make a wish.
SOCIAL SKILLS
My friend will
blow out candles and make a wish.
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

27. My friend will open presents.
SOCIAL SKILLS
My friend will open presents.
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

28. When the party is over, I will come home.
SOCIAL SKILLS
When the party is over, I will come home.
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

29. SOCIAL SKILLS
I had fun.
East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

30. Social Story

31. Contact Information
Donna Line (303)