What We Learned in Sibu. Part 2.

Hello! As promised, we are back with more updates from our participation in the National Early Childhood Intervention Conference. The following is an abstract of the poster presentation prepared by Yu Ying and I. In the poster, we identified three strategies to help our children cope with change. This is the first strategy.

Increasing Predictability and Preparing for Changes in Routine are Important for Children with Autism

Predictability represents a significant challenge for children with Autism. Their lack of coping skills to deal with changes often cause them stress and frustration, which may result in difficult behaviours. These behaviours have direct impact on the quality of life of our children and family. This poster presentation review three common strategies to increase predictability, prepare our children for change, and learn coping strategies.

Strategy: Social Stories (Developed by Carol Gray)

What: Helps children understand social cues and expected responses to situations

How:

-       Use simple or child’s language

-       Use clear and real pictures (drawing works too)

-       Social Story Layout

o   Description – Describe where situation occurs, who is involved, what they are doing and why

o   Perspective – Describe and explain if necessary the reactions and feelings of others in the given situation

o   Directive – State what the child is expected to do or say

o   Control (coping skills) – strategies to help child to remember what to do or how to understand the situation

-       

     Focus on teaching one specific skill per story

-       Do what works for your child

When:

-       Explaining and relieving anxiety about a situation (death, new sibling, relocation, different eating utensils, detours, etc.)

-       Explaining a routine (shower, toileting, going out, paying at the counter, haircut, etc.)

-       Teaching social skills/social language (birthday parties, greetings, conversation, handling rejections, proximity, etc.)

-       Desensitisation of fears (dentist visits, blender, new food, making mistakes, losing, etc.)

Implementation:

-       Read  Social Story together with the child

-       Role play specific skills and coping strategies (focus on one skill at a time)

-       Reinforce child for participation

-       Repetition is important

Stay tuned for the second and third strategy! 

Written by 

Huey Sien

Senior Consultant, EAP Malaysia