Situation:A behavior story is a simple description of an everyday social situation, written from a child’s perspective. The situation is described in detail and focuses on the important social cues, events, expectations and ways for the child to react in the situation. Behavior stories are intended to be used with a child prior to an event. It is rehearsed with an adult so that when the event actually occurs, the child can use the story as a guide for behavior. Visual supports are tools that support a child’s understanding of events throughout their day and to assist in decreasing anxiety. Visual supports may include pictures, words, objects, arrangement of the environment, visual cues within the environment, schedules, timelines, and scripts.
A mini-schedule is a visual schedule or the visual sequencing of events for a short period of time. It is NOT a day schedule. It can be in picture, object, word or numeral format. A mini-schedule can give a sense of time and when an activity will end. Knowing what and when things happen can prevent many behavioral issues.
A comfort object (or transitional object) is an item used to provide psychological comfort, especially in unusual or unique situations. These objects may take the form of a blanket, a stuffed animal, or a favorite toy.
A structured choice option is an intervention that gives a child a sense of control over a situation by providing choices. Structured choice interventions are used to prevent or de-escalate interfering behaviors and to increase appropriate behaviors.
What would be the best way to help an 8 year old boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder to adjust to moving to another home? He seems to do fine until it is time to go to bed and then he gets terribly upset, crying and hitting himself. This behavior does not occur when he is able to sleep in his old bedroom. His grandmother lives in his previous home so he has access to his old room.