Everyday Situations

Start with everyday situations e.g. going to the local shop and buying a pint of milk or something that the teenager likes.

• Prepare the teenager with autism for the situation (going to the shop).
  • Use visual aids such as real life pictures to prepare the teenager for the visit to the shop. Include step by step pictures of what the teenager will see and suggest what the teenager will say in chronological order.
  • Practice what will be said using cue cards (these can also be used when attempting the actual visit to the shop)
  • Social narratives can help prepare the teenager for the visit and could be used to give different examples of encounters that may happen at the shop (e.g. the teenager may see a neighbour there, in which case the teenager will need to know what to say to the neighbour)
  • Videos can help illustrate appropriate behaviour
  • Practice different scenarios using role-play (It’s a good idea to practice scenarios with different people)
  • If the teenager communicates through PECS, make sure the student has the opportunity to practise using PECS in environments outside school and home. The student should be encouraged to use PECS in shops, cafes etc. to increase confidence in using this outside the usual home and school settings.

Remember to give the teenager with autism appropriate ways to excuse him or herself from a conversation. Here are some polite things a teenager could say when he or she does not have time or is not necessarily motivated to make “small talk:”

• “I’m a little busy now, but I would like to talk about this at lunch.”
• “Let me finish what I am doing, and then we can talk.”
• “Can I have a little time? I just need to focus on this.”
• “I want to chat more later.”
• “I have a lot of work right now.  Let’s talk about this later.”
• “Can we talk about this over lunch?”