The Short List Social Story: How to Write a Better Social Story

image via: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Euo1dwNuPwuT_gz1gxI1QdrrSrt1ZIRraaBHWPriwM_RMHYcbPbYvlYna5FRHl81JnULA9xmzq2zOTx_m7n0JI_dpkRJfCb7KI-tpk_WsLUeJqtR75qU4EkY0ksaFJfXu-l96aLHXhGt/s1600/photo(5).JPG

We have had to use several social stories for various activities with Sensi. The scariest for me was this emergency situation.
Recently we had to do a blood draw and needed a social story. The first time we went in it was a failure. We had just finished up with our well checkup and the doctor needed Sensi to give some blood to check her levels for iron and vitamin D. 

image via: http://www.bestalliedhealthprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/phlebotomist-job-description.jpg

We went down to the lab, signed in, drank some water and waited. I explained to the phlebotomists that day that Sensi has autism and they need to explain everything to her so she understands what they are doing so she doesn't feel afraid.  They had trouble finding a vein to use and then after prodding and tapping her arms for about 5 minutes they called in another technician. The new tech was irritated that Sensi had taken off the rubber band while we waited for her. She also instructed yet another technician to hold Sensi's other arm. She put the needle in without any warning aside from all the instructions to the other techs, and Sensi pulled away from the pain. She said very irately "She backed off the needle!" I just replied that we are done for the day and we'll come back another time, and asked if Sensi could get her lolly. They were surprised and I think a little relieved to not have to hold down a kid to get a blood draw. We left before there were any bad situations to undo and gave it another try another day.

image via: http://inspirably.com/uploads/user/27189-another-day-another-try.png

 I googled social story blood draw and came up with this: oneplaceforspecialneeds.com/main/library_blood_test It has lots of information about the environment and interesting pictures. 

image via; http://www.oneplaceforspecialneeds.com/images/content/blood_draw3_med.jpg

But upon discussing it with Sensi's speech therapist we decided that there were too many steps and too much information to address the issue at hand. She reduced the process down to 8 short steps, and practiced with her the day before the next try. We practiced again that night, and I reminded her and showed her the steps before we went into the clinic.

image via: http://brandimpact.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/id-10043426.jpg?w=250&h=250

Blood Draw Short List Social Story 

1.Sit in chair with hot pack on arm
2.Rubber band will squeeze around my arm
3.Put arm flat
4.The Nurse will tap,tap,tap, flick, poke.
5.They will stick the needle in, hold still. It will hurt a little bit.
6.(Pop sound effect) they will pull the syringe out
7.(Pop sound effect) they will pull the needle out
8.(Smack sound effect) Put a band-aid on. 

The nurse has the blood, I am all done helping the doctor.

image via: http://www.learnblooddraw.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Phlebotomist-At-Work-199x300.jpg

The most important thing I learned this time around is to be prepared with a social story for the medical staff. When we arrived I showed the short list social story to the phlebotomists, and explained that Sensi has autism and we worked out a story with her teachers. They all read the list and followed the script closely. I saw they made sure to check it a couple of times. 
Since Sensi knew the steps and the medical staff knew the script everyone was comfortable with what was going on and it made everything go smoothly and quickly. I was relieved it went so well, and I think everyone else was too.

Resources: 

Sarah H, SPL 

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

Sensory Saturdays:Cinema and Theater

image from: http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00862/sensations06lfA
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Sensory friendly films at AMC!  SensiGirl saw her first movie there. It was a bit difficult for her, but once we got past the wait in the atrium and got her headphones on she was engrossed with the film! We haven't gone back since the summer. But there haven't been any titles that are up her alley lately. If you want to share the fun of the movies with your kids, (and not be stuck at home with DVDs or Netflix,) and be a part of the social experience of going to see a show together, these shows are the way to start. We showed SensiGirl a social story about going to the movies before we went:
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Going_to_the_Movies___A_Video_Social_Story&video_id=70684

 At a sensory friendly film it is lighter and quieter than how they regularly play the movies. The audience is all families who have experience with sensory issues, so they are as understanding of your child as you are of theirs. Know the audience will not be quiet. See if an upcoming movie is in your future. http://www.amctheatres.com/SFF/

image from:http://www.amctheatres.com/uploadedImages/Program
and_Offers/Featured_Pods/sff_342x143.jpg?n=5475

Here are some sensory tips we found helpful: bring ear protection, make sure you have told/shown a social story to your child a few days or weeks ahead of time. Bring extra adults if you can and if you are going as a family, take separate cars, so your other children won't miss out on the fun if your sensitive child can't handle it the first time. Go try it out, the thing about having a child with challenges is you have to push a bit all the time. Sometimes the push and the carrot are one in the same.

photo by: Dan Norman

Children's theaters around the country are also good for this kind of experience. We haven't gone with SensiGirl yet, but Random Guy has been with school for a field trip.  This article from the Seattle Repertory Theater about a child at the Children's Theater performance of Harold and the Purple Crayon made me so happy. I posted the note below but it may be easier to read if you follow the link.

http://www.sharetheatre.org/tag/harold-and-the-purple-crayon/

image from:http://files.campus.edublogs.org/blogs.belhaven.edu/dist/0/27/files/2012/02/421978
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So try something new, if you take little steps, your child can experience some of the wonder of the theater and cinema. You just might have a good time too!


image resource: http://thesensoryspectrumblog.com/2012/01/26/spd-not-the-diagnosis-du-jour/