Taciturn Tuesday: Social Story for a Medical Test

image via: http://www.oneplaceforspecialneeds.com/main/library_blood_test.html

Blood Draw Test Social Story Link

Using Google Docs Slide Show: Social Stories

We have had a rash of destructive events in our household recently. I have been trying to convey to Sensi how hard it makes it for all of us when she destroys things.

I went to Google Docs intending to explore how to make a Halloween costume social story when it occurred to me that I could use the slide show to make a social story for Sensi's destructive impulses too. 


Here is the basics:
Go to Google Docs, click on  the presentation icon. 
This will give you an example of what one looks like. Click on get started. 
If you already have Google docs then go to My Drive.

image via: http://macdonaldtechforteachers.wikispaces.com/Google+Docs+-+Students

  Click on the Create icon
Then choose Presentation

image via: http://support.google.com/docs/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1705254

 A new window will open for you to choose your theme 
(this can be changed later.)
Write out your title page

image via: http://office.about.com/od/AltOfficeSuites/ss/Google-Docs-Image-Gallery_6.htm

Go to Insert if you want to add pictures or word art
When you are satisfied then click on Slide (next to the Insert drop down menu.)
Choose New Slide and that will be the next page in your social story. 
Repeat as needed.

This will give you a slide show. 
Now you just put the steps or message you want to convey to your child and add pictures if you would like.

When you are done, go to Files, you can send it as a pdf to teachers, print it out, or just save it to show your child from your computer.  I prefer to print mine, since I can then get Sensi's attention when we are reading them. Bring the story to her, in a way. That doesn't mean that she likes to read them, but at least I know I am giving her the message in something more than a verbal reprimand. 

The general details of a social story are: 
Use no more than one directive sentence and up to five or so descriptive sentences. Use positive language and refrain from using always, and use usually or sometimes instead. 
Have fun with your own social stories for your kids. 
Here is the one I made for Sensi: 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mRmiDo1seZRtxAZwI2r2kWtbB_zoTuDalItlcqYfY18/present#slide=id.p


Resources: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10AP_p_CLzMhzd_lBsOWSlOVZWTQSe1Avki1yviPY4GQ/edit?hl=en 
 

The Mom's iPad Info Meeting: Part One

image via:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAarOtIP_cchsbc8YWNcdycPKu4tQH6_s9rYC03oB11Y2Zw_EC1i6VarIHUXuLXEQCm7mdHzly8fzjK20TJWA25DqXCbgKmRDLmReJByq4g0iXRNTYBaewZTlRzg3y-v6hsORvh6LrpxQ/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG

Some moms from SensiGirl's class got together with her teacher to help with a grant the teacher was writing to get iPads for her classroom. We had lots of information about apps to share so here is part one of our findings.

For communication apps we had some new information, besides Proloquo2Go there are two more apps, they are all expensive, so choose carefully:

proloquo2Go
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/proloquo2go

Sono Flex
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sono-flex

Verbally
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/verbally-premium/id470081134?mt=8

image via: http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/106/Purple/4c/60/e9/mzl.fdwmycia.320x480-75.jpg

We also discussed social stories and came to the conclusion that you really need to make your own stories for some situations. Here are the apps:

Stories2Learn
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stories2learn

Potty Training Social Story
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/potty-training-social-story

Model Me Going Places
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/model-me-going-places

First Then Visual Schedule, great for making a social story yourself
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/first-then-visual-schedule

Pictello, also good for building social stories
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pictello

My Stories, I haven't tested this one:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-stories

image via: http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/048/Purple/33/72/5b/mzl.pdhrtqol.320x480-75.jpg

Language and Sequencing apps:

Sequencing with Milo
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speech-with-milo-sequencing

Cookie, Cake and Candy Doodle, they all have recipes to follow in a sequence
http://www.shoethegoose.com/

Speech with Milo: Verbs
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speech-with-milo-verbs

Question Builder
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/question-builder/id360577727?mt=8

Sentence Builder: This one is more difficult
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sentence-builder

Language Builder:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/languagebuilder-for-ipad

There are a few more "Builder" apps, I haven't checked them all yet.

image via: http://www.iphone-screenshots.com/appscreens/430608/ipad/1311678325/mzl.cyrrusrh.1024x1024-65.jpg 

Math and Money apps:
Coin Math
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coin-math

Make Change
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/makechange-money-counting/

Jungle Coins
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jungle-coins-learn-coin-math

AWEsum! Like Tetris with numbers
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/awesum!

Monkey Math School Sunshine
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monkey-math-school-sunshine

Park Math
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/park-math-by-duck-duck-moose

Motion Math: Hungry Fish
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/motion-math-hungry-fish

image via: http://techgenie.com/wp-content/uploads/AppShopper.jpg

AppShopper has a price drop button to check periodically as well as all things apps.
http://appshopper.com/

We agreed that Talking Ben and Talking Tom are not good apps for our children with language learning delays. We had to delete those apps. Our children just ended up screaming at it to hear themselves scream.


A special thanks to SensiGirl's teacher and Ms. Liz and Ms. Marjorie for all the great info.

Transitions and Temperament

image from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hgbedJRc_8/ToUmRS-ttFI/
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I posted earlier about social stories and how they help with trying something new. They are also helpful with transitions. Almost everyone has some extra anxiety or energy about transitioning from one state to the next. Getting up in the morning and going from bed at home to the bus to school and learning how to brush your teeth can be seen as transitions, from place to place and dependence to independence.

The trick once you have prepared your child for a transition with a calendar or social story is to prepare the adults involved.  When transitioning SensiGirl from preschool to kindergarten, I helped arrange the appropriate placement for her and then it was time to prepare her new teacher for her. I wrote the Getting to Know letters to her new teacher, I also e-mailed and called ahead of time to talk with her.
When transitioning myself from home with the kids to an evening meeting, Grandma and Grandpa are prepared and are sure to know how to keep SensiGirl occupied or to distract her until I get home.

How well we adapt to transitions has to do with temperament. I am a slow to transition person. When someone suggests something new, I usually say no right away. I then think about it and if I like the idea after weighing it, I will agree to the plan.  I think that kids who have trouble with transitions are a bit like me, it is hard to say yes and be open to change right away without thinking on it and envisioning what will happen.
Random Guy is always asks me in the morning "What are we doing today?" He usually knows since week to week things are pretty similar, but he checks to see if there is a change in plans so he knows ahead of time.  He is a "no" person like me and he has found a way to be open to yes by checking to see if there is a change in plans.  "No" people also like routines, it makes things manageable. If you know what you are going to have for breakfast each day then it makes choosing clothes easier. If you wear a uniform, then maybe you want to have a little variety in your breakfast.  Less choice isn't always bad; lots of people like to have a routine or two to make sure things run smoothly.

If you can prepare for the change then your "No" child might just roll with things when you don't expect it.  Our trip to the library has several steps; we have refined the visit to limit unexpected upsets. We get our reserved library materials from the shelf, check out our things and exit through the coffee shop. There we can get a treat if all goes well. SensiGirl likes to see what is there before she chooses her treat; Random Guy always is hoping there will be a yogurt parfait waiting for him. One time a book wouldn't clear the self check out and we had to wait while the librarian put a new scan sticker in the book. Since we all knew that the coffee shop was next, the wait was manageable.

image from: http://www.salesproductivityinsider.com/files/
wp/2010/08/no-yes.JPG

Even though Random Guy seems to handle transitions better, he is less likely to be a happy camper when the unexpected happens. If you ask him to do something new and different he will say "No." He might say yes in an hour or maybe next week. I try to ask him way ahead of time if I want him to try something new. SensiGirl can sometimes roll with it when things change, as long as she has had things go smoothly up to that point.  If she is prepared  for the next step after the change, all the better.  Routines and the unexpected are part of life, recognize what kind of temperament you have, and your kids have and work with it. You may find that the transitions happen more easily as the routines are established in your calendar.When you are ready, throw a little surprise in from time to time. It helps make those no moments turn to yeses more easily.

The Basics of Social Stories

image from: http://blog.friendshipcircle.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/
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Social stories are a sequence of pictures and word that explain the order of events in an activity. At the most primary level they start with first/then stories. These are very helpful to kids who have autism. They can see what is going to happen next.

You can look on You Tube or check out Teacher Tube for video social stories to show your child when you are going to do something new or are teaching social expectations. We used Teacher Tube for the going to the movies social story.
http://www.teachertube.com/googleSearch.socialstory

image from: http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/7528667-fire-drill 

You can also find social stories in book form like Fire Drill: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7528667-fire-drill



Of course there is an app or two for that:

image from http://a5.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/024/
Purple/e1/03/2f/mzl.rizctbkc.320x480-75.jpg

http://www.modelmekids.com/ Model Me Kids has several useful scenarios, getting a haircut, shopping at the mall, going to the doctor and more.

image from http://www.look2learn.com/files/
stories2learn-icon-transp-2.gif

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stories2learn/id348576875?mt=8
We have the old version of Social Stories from Look2Learn, so I am not sure about any updates.  Look2Learn.com has several apps that are helpful with scheduling and social learning.

When it comes down to it, if all you have is a piece of paper and a pencil you can write a social story that will be helpful in letting your child know what is going to happen when you do something new. This helps prevent meltdowns since you are making the sequence of events known and you are setting the expectations for the behavior while doing the activity.  Most kids like to know what is going to happen.  Here is a great example; even if it is in French you get the idea:

image from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qerOqlTbYI4/S-V1KEBu-iI/
AAAAAAAAAMM/q2DX712xmJM/s1600/social+story+1.JPG

Here are a couple of great blog posts from the above social story writer about traveling with a kid who has autism:  http://paris-ankara.blogspot.com/2011/05/social-story-for-travelling-by-plane.html

Social stories have been very helpful for our family. We don't use them nearly enough, but when we do it reminds me how powerful they can be.

Latest from the Bedside Book Stack

image from : http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u894/stack-of-books.jpg

Here are the latest from my book stack. My top recommendation of autism in fiction is With the Light. It is a Manga/Graphic novel type of  book and it takes a little bit to get used to reading a book from the back cover forward, but once you get hooked into the story you don't even notice. It does a good job of portraying the frustrations, fears and hopes in discovering your child is different. You may need to keep some tissues handy, not only because it is sad at times, but because it is hopeful too.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2111326.With_the_Light

image from:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2111326.With_the_Light

Another favorite is The Einstein Syndrome.

image from: http://ia700808.us.archive.org/zipview.php?zip=/21/items/olcovers29/olcovers29-L.zip&file=299149-L.jpg

This one is good if you have a kid who has language delays, and atypical development with splinter skills. The author is a little hard on some speech therapists, but a good speech  language pathologist (SLP) will tell you that some of what he says is true. It is important to get one who has a good reputation, (not just experience,) for working with kids with ASD or whatever deficit your child has specifically.

The Autism Mom's Survival Guide (for Dads, Too!)  leaves you feeling pretty good. The author encourages you to take care of the rest of your life: your marriage, your time for yourself, and your other kids. 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7132925-the-autism-mom-s-survival-guide-for-dads-too

image from: http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/7132925-the-autism-mom-s-survival-guide-for-dads-too

The geek scientist in me made me pick up this book:

image from:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9691004-the-panic-virus

 The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science and Fear.  It investigates the fear our culture has acquired towards vaccines. The author interviews the players in this drama, and investigates the mystery of how we came to question vaccines and their safety.  Who decides what is true? Is it science, the media, celebrities, or popular opinion?  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9691004-the-panic-virus

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7528667-fire-drill
Fire Drill was a lifesaver for us. It is a basic social story in book form. I know SensiGirl has trouble with fire drills. During the first one at preschool, SensiGirl was so overwhelmed they had to put her in the wagon and roll her out.  I knew transitioning to Kindergarten was going to be tough and that a fire drill would be one more thing to put her off of school.  We read this book every night for three weeks before school started. She still had trouble, but she  walked out on her own rather than having to be carried or rolled out. Progress is progress, even if it isn't always pretty.

I like to garden, but SensiGirl still puts inedible things in her mouth. This is called pica. Last summer I discovered this gem: Wicked Plants. An interesting read from a gardening and historical point of view, and good stuff to know when you have kids that still don't know the poisonous plants from the good ones.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6106482-wicked-plants

image from:  http://www.amystewart.com/images/wickedplants.jpg

I am always looking for good books to read, so if you have recommendations please share and we can get the word out to others about informative and helpful books.