| Autism is a disorder of the brain that is biological in | | | | autism is the inability to interact normally in a social |
| function. It causes anywhere from mild to severe | | | | situation, social stories can be utilized in a variety of |
| social impairment and an inability to function normally | | | | different ways in order to model appropriate |
| in society. However, there are ways to treat many | | | | behavior. Autism education pioneer Carol Gray |
| of the cases of autism. Autistic children can learn and | | | | developed this approach in 1991. By using engaging |
| excel and if certain teaching methods are used, their | | | | stories, children with autism can learn appropriate and |
| progress can be nothing short of fantastic. | | | | inappropriate responses to situations. The level of |
| One of the most important things to realize in making | | | | fun, of course, is up to the way social stories are |
| learning fun for autistic children is the fact that they | | | | used. Usually, the stories are tailored to the child. By |
| learn in different ways than children without autism. | | | | modeling situations familiar to an autistic child, they |
| Autistic children generally have a disability in social | | | | can be better prepared to react in a socially |
| skills. Sometimes this difficulty in communication | | | | appropriate to those same situations in the future. |
| involves language skills. However, there are a number | | | | Social stories usually have three distinct ways of |
| of ways to make learning these important skills more | | | | addressing a particular situation. The first describes |
| than just a chore. By injecting fun into learning, it has | | | | who, what, where and why in relation to the |
| been shown that autistic children learn at a faster | | | | situation. The second is a perspective sentence that |
| pace. Actually, fun and learning work well for all types | | | | illuminates how others react to the situation being |
| of children, but autistic children are special and require | | | | discussed. Finally, the third sentence tries to model an |
| more tailored methods. | | | | appropriate response. Sometimes the use of social |
| Children with autism seem to learn best when the | | | | stories can be accompanied by music and pictures. In |
| instructional material is presented in visual form. In this | | | | terms of making the process a bit more fun rewards |
| case it might be worthwhile to try different | | | | can be used when a situation is properly addressed. |
| educational programs via a computer. Using a | | | | Children with autism require special education needs |
| computer is a fun way to learn. The majority of | | | | to address their social difficulties. It is really important |
| educational programs are highly visual. Many of the | | | | to make these activities as much fun as possible so |
| games available involve storylines, plots, and realistic | | | | the student will stay motivated. It is not easy for an |
| human behaviors. Some of the skills autistic children | | | | autistic child to change his or her response to various |
| can learn from carefully selected video games are | | | | situations, so it is imperative that the activities be |
| language skills, reading and math skills, and social skills. | | | | non-threatening and highly interesting. It has been |
| Visual learning devices are highly effective and can be | | | | demonstrated that over time the use of visual aids |
| accompanied by various rewards to reinforce what is | | | | and social stories are two of the most effective |
| being learned. For instance, food and extended leisure | | | | ways to help autistic children overcome social |
| activities can be used as rewards that will encourage | | | | situations they feel are threatening. To most of us, |
| the child to want to learn. In addition, the use of | | | | these situations are normal, everyday occurrences, |
| positive reinforcement will help develop a bond | | | | but to children with autism they can sometimes be |
| between student and teacher, and create a sense of | | | | terrifying moments that they do not have the skills |
| trust that will help strengthen the learning | | | | to deal with. These teaching methods, while |
| environment. | | | | entertaining and fun, can help children adapt and |
| Social stories are another way to make learning fun | | | | manage their perceptions of social interactions. |
| for children with autism. Since one of the aspects of | | | | |