For learners with autism spectrum disorder, participating with others in a social setting can be stressful and overwhelming. A brainstorming activity prompts pupils to consider the expectations of a particular social occasion, including topics of conversation and ways to them to contribute.

Concepts

social development, autism, communication, peers, stressors, stress management

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Additional Tags

programs

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Instructional Ideas

• Have an aide work one on one with students to plan an upcoming social activity
• Use a book or short story with a specific setting to model social behavior

Classroom Considerations

• Comes with a topic tree graphic organizer, but any brainstorming form would work for the activity
• Be sure to acknowledge any specific stressors that may impede social skills for individual students
• Handout notes that participation is often required; the level of requirement may depend on the abilities of each learner

Pros

• Provides real-world suggestions for varying age groups
• Comes with a reference page about the expectations of various social settings

Cons

• None