| There are many reasons a parent of a child with | | | | can be used in a variety of ways. It can be use |
| autism will need and want to teach sequential | | | | to teach new skills or even to help control |
| steps. Even a small child can and will find this | | | | behavior. So let's take the concept into the give |
| useful now and later. Sequential steps are useful in | | | | and take of everyday life. |
| cause and effect, in making choices, and in the | | | | Children with Autism can be taught steps. They |
| give and take of everyday life. | | | | can be taught a sequence of steps. They can be |
| When our children flip on the light switch the light | | | | taught a sequence of steps and that they will get |
| comes on. They very quickly can learn that | | | | a result. Many social skills start out with a series |
| concept. If I do this, then that happens. This | | | | of steps. |
| cause and effect is important to teaching our | | | | There are steps to saying I am sorry. There are |
| children to use technology such as computers. | | | | steps to joining into a conversation. There are |
| It is also important in teaching some children to | | | | steps to asking someone to be a friend. There |
| use a communication device. Essentially some | | | | are even more complicated steps to problem |
| children with Autism learn that if I push this button | | | | solving |
| then this word, phrase, or sentence will come out. | | | | Children with Autism can and will learn these steps |
| They also can learn that if I have a lot of buttons | | | | if parents go about it in a thoughtful way. Parents |
| I can 'say' a lot of words, phrases, or sentences. | | | | can buy books breaking down those social skills |
| Children using another piece of technology can | | | | we seemed to learn automatically. We can also |
| learn that if I press these buttons this will happen. | | | | provide a safe place in the family to start |
| So if I am using a computer or a label maker, if I | | | | practicing those steps. Those sequential steps are |
| press the right sequence of buttons I will get to | | | | really helpful helping a child with Autism make |
| see a game or label. | | | | sense of social situations. |
| This is very soothing to children with Autism and | | | | |