| It is not possible to tell by just looking at an | | | | skills deficits displayed by children with autism |
| individual if that person is autistic or not. Normally | | | | spectrum disorder. Normally social skills stories are |
| the first indication that a person is autistic will be | | | | written by professionals and will follow a pre set |
| when he or she begins to talk or communicate. | | | | formula which was first introduced almost twenty |
| Generally all children with autism spectrum | | | | years ago by therapist Gray to help her |
| disorder will have communication difficulties and | | | | communicate with the autistic children she was |
| lack appropriate social skills. This is common with | | | | working with at the time. |
| autism spectrum disorder and often referred to | | | | The social story is a framework for a skill or |
| as social skills deficits, the physical characteristics | | | | situation that the child with autism is struggling |
| of children with autism. | | | | with. The social story breaks the skill down into |
| For some parents of children with autism | | | | small pieces and uses visual image much like a |
| spectrum disorder their child's lack of social | | | | comic strip that can help the child with autism |
| interaction and responses, such as smiling, laughing, | | | | spectrum disorder understand easier. The social |
| and making eye contact can be very stressful. | | | | story aims to answer the "wh" questions (who, |
| The physical characteristics of children with autism | | | | where, why, when and what) as well as suggest |
| such as communication difficulties and social skills | | | | some possible responses they may expect and |
| deficits can be addressed using visual strategies | | | | what others will expect from them, the reactions. |
| such as social stories and visual communication | | | | Using social cues the social story will explain and |
| cards. | | | | help the child with autism feel more comfortable, |
| There are many sites offering social skills stories | | | | reducing stress and negative behaviours, thus |
| for autistic children. | | | | encouraging positive behaviours. |
| Social skills stories are used to treat the social | | | | |