Modifying Inappropriate Behaviors in Autistic Children Using Social Stories: Three Case Studies
By Brian McGovern
Autism is a mental disorder that impairs the mental and social development of children on their way to adulthood. Not everyone with autism has the same severity of symptoms and therefore researchers refer to the variance of the disorder as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In recent years, there has been an increase in children diagnosed with autism (Groom, 2009). Reasons for such a peak in diagnoses range from a vaccine link to simply just more accurate methods of testing (Downs, 2009). No matter the cause, children with ASDs need assistance in progressing as individuals throughout life. . . The topic of autism is very personal to me. Due to the fact that my brother has autism, I have always been intrigued by the progress he has made with behavioral intervention. I want to help others with ASDs communicate and express their feelings just like any regular person has the luxury of doing. By increasing positive behavior in children with autism, they would gain the ability to socialize with normal peers and enjoy the same experiences a normal functioning child goes through. Numerous types of interventions have been implemented to aid kids with autism. These interventions span various settings and conditions, which creates a sense of spontaneity that these kids would otherwise lack. Decreasing bad behavior in kids with autism during school hours allows teachers to maximize the children’s potential . . . There is a great demand for successful interventions in the realm of behavioral intervention for children with autism. Much attention has been paid to behavioral interventions such as applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and the Lovaas method, but such a strict, rigorous method can be very hard on the parents. The treatment in this experiment is known as a social story technique, and it can be a lot less time-intensive and therefore a very useful tool for parents if it is effective.