We love our members!
Recently, a few of our members have been requesting some
unusual and specific pictures: chinning, hugging too tight, request a hug, head
butting, etc. But as I think about it, these pictures simply communicate preferred
and non-preferred specific behaviors. As a teacher of children with special
needs, including a high number of children with Autism, I can see how these
pictures can be used in social stories and as picture cues.
With a heartfelt thank you to our members, we now have a new
category, “social skills”, with more new pictures coming soon. In addition we
will have a couple of new materials such as little books for social stories (or
any other small stories based on simple pictures), do / do not cards, and ask /
then cards – coming soon.
The “ask / then” cards come from an idea from one of our
users from Australia. It will show two cards. The first shows a child requesting an item and
the second card shows the item. This can be used in the same way as “first/then”
boards, with “first ask and then you may receive”. This can be helpful in dealing with personal space and impulsive behaviors.
Social Skills is an area that seems to be growing in need
for direct instruction. Even “typical” children often begin school without
knowing appropriate social skills and manners such as asking nicely, waiting,
sitting, walk inside, use a tissue (not pick nose), inside voice level, clean
your own mess, shut the door to the bathroom, and how to get someone’s
attention. (Come to think of it, they may help my teenager as well!)
Whether for a class or your own child, we can help our next
generation better communicate (verbal and nonverbal) and become better
citizens regardless of their challenges. So, please feel free to keep the requests
coming and be as specific as you’d like- it may help someone else. I can’t promise all, but we will do our best.
To request pictures: click "help!" in top right corner, send a facebook comment, or e-mail. Thank you!
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