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