This social story helps teach what a gift is, what it means, and the steps that are expected when getting a gift. It also teaches about the emotions involved with gift getting. You can download a pdf version here.
Tag Archives: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Counseling People on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Manual
Counseling People on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Manual by Katherine Paxton and Irene A. Estay
(XOT Paoxto 2007)
The characteristics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present unique challenges, not only to people themselves affected, but also to counselling professionals. This manual provides counselling techniques that work not only for professionals, but also for individuals either coping with being on the spectrum themselves, or living with someone who has an ASD. Regardless of intellectual and linguistic ability, people on the autism spectrum often have significant impairments in emotional expression, regulation, and recognition, and they are known to have higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general population. This comprehensive book shows how to develop the tools necessary to help people on the spectrum cope with their emotions, anxieties, and confusion about the often overwhelming world that surrounds them. Illustrated with useful case studies, it covers a range situations where counselling may be helpful for individuals with ASD, both children and adults, families where a member is on the spectrum, and couples where a partner has ASD. It also addresses specific issues, including depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, social skills, and stress, with effective strategies for dealing with each issue. As well as being indispensable for counsellors, this book provides valuable information and advice for anyone working with people and families affected by ASDs.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Rosie King: How autism freed me to be myself
This girl is just amazing. What an advocate. You can listen to a little of her story here.
Second Shelter
Second Shelter by Rebecca Haid, M.Ed. and Elizabeth W. Donnelly, Ms
(XFM Haid 2013)
Second Shelter gives a comprehensive overview of therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment facilities in a format that is readable and accessible for counselors, educators, and parents alike. The book examines which adolescents are best served in these environments as well as the different therapeutic approaches provided.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Research Participants Wanted for Impact of Dog Ownership on Autism
Adult parents, whose family has children living with autism, with or without dogs, are sought for a 30-60 minutes interview about impact of dog ownership on physical activity in families. This study will examine the effect of dog ownership on the physical activity levels of family living with autism.Barriers and facilitators of owning a dog in family will also be studied. If you are interested in this study or have any questions regarding of the research,please contact one of the researchers at:
Hai Yan (haiyan2@illinois.edu, 217-333-2461
Yan Yang yanyang5@illinois.edu, 217-607-6667
Zezhao Chen zchen106@illinois.edu, 217-974-0749
TIPS: Teaching Important Parenting Strategies
TIPS: Teaching Important Parenting Strategies 
by Megan Ahlers, MS and Colleen Hannigan Zillich, MS CCC-SLP
(XFM Ahler 2014)
This book can be used as a reference for finding practical, user-friendly solutions to common universal challenges encountered by parents and caregivers, including communication, behavior, technology, community outings, and sensory needs. All answers follow best practice and evidence-based strategies.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Learning the Hidden Curriculum
Learning the Hidden Curriculum 
by Judy Endow MSW
(XAD Endow 2012)
The framework presented in this book enables readers to learn to create their own social rules and, as a result, live freer, more successful lives. The fact that the book is written by an autistic person who has learned by trial and error makes it all the more valuable.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Cure Your Child With Food
Cure Your Child With Food 
by Kelly Dorfman, MS, LND
(XOT Dorfm 2011)
Ms. Dorfman, a nutritionist whose typical family arrives at her practice after seeing three or more specialists, gives parents the tools they need to become nutrition detectives; to recalibrate their children’s diets through the easy E.A.T. program; and, finally, to get their children off drugs—antibiotics, laxatives, Prozac, Ritalin—and back to a natural state of well-being.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Teach Me With Pictures
Teach Me With Pictures by Simone Griffin, Ruth Harris, and Linda Hodgdon
(XED Griff 2013)
This book provides fun and practical ideas to help motivate and extend communication and play skills in children with autism with the support of pictures. The book describes how picture scripts can help facilitate play and learning and provides 40 photocopiable scripts across a range of different activities such as drawing, cooking, using construction toys, imaginative play, arts and crafts, and social games.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Navigating College A Handbook on Self Advocacy
Navigating College A Handbook on Self Advocacy by Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
(XAT Asan 2013)
Navigating College is an introduction to the college experience from those of us who’ve been there. The writers and contributors are Autistic adults, and we’re giving you the advice that we wish someone could have given us when we headed off to college.
You can download the book here.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Superflex Superdecks- Card Games to Promote Superflexible Social Thinking
Superflex Superdecks- Card Games to Promote Superflexible Social Thinking by Social Thinking.
(Learning Aid)
Superflex Superdecks are card games created to invoke your own superflexible thinking as you teach students to be more superflexible social thinkers. It’s all about superflexibility! The game pack is a companion teaching tool to the popular Superflex Curriculum, which helps parents and professionals teach children ages 8 – 11 about social thinking, social regulation, and social problem solving.
We’ve included a game to play with each deck (and more games are available online), but the product was really created to be super-uper flexible, with uses limited only by your imagination and your own superflexible thinking. For instance:
- Create games such as “Go Fish” with the cards to use with your students
- Use the Thinkables cards to say “good job” when an Unthinkable has been defeated
- Use an Unthinkable card as a visual reminder for a student to use his/her strategies when the clever, sneaky character is invading a student’s brain
- Pick an Unthinkable or Thinkable and have students use their Social Detective skills to play a version of “I Spy…” and look for that character showing up in themselves or others in the group, the classroom, or the school
The Superdecks are not an introduction to Superflex, and should only be used with students who are already familiar with the concept of being a Social Detective (introduced in the book, You Are a Social Detective), and are either working through or have completed the Superflex Curriculum. The games and activities provided prompt players to think about the powers of the characters, brainstorm which Unthinkable might appear in a situation, match strategies to characters, or Thinkables and Unthinkables, and use their social thinking in other superflexible ways.
Ages: 8-11
Players: 2+
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students
The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students by Jessica Minahan & Nancy Rappaport, MD.
(XBM Minah 2012)
Based on a collaboration dating back nearly a decade, the authors a behavioral analyst and a child psychiatrist reveal their systematic approach for deciphering causes and patterns of difficult behaviors and how to match them with proven strategies for getting students back on track to learn. The Behavior Code includes user-friendly worksheets and other helpful resources.
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
Thinkables & Unthinkables Double Deck
Thinkables & Unthinkables Double Deck by Think Social Publishing Inc.
(Learning Aid)
The Thinkables & Unthinkables Double Deck is the superflexible teaching tool you asked for to use with individuals who are learning about or have already been introduced to Superflex, the 14 original Unthinkables, and the newer characters, the Thinkables. You take the lead in using the cards — they’re a blank canvas of possibilities!
- Create games such as “Go Fish” with the cards
- Use the Thinkables cards to say “good job” when a child or student has mostly put an Unthinkable to rest
- Use an Unthinkable card as a visual tool to remind a student to use his/her strategies when one of those clever, sneaky characters is invading the student’s brain
- Pick an Unthinkable or Thinkable and play “I Spy…” where students use their Social Detective skills to look for that character showing up in themselves or others in the group, the classroom, or the school.
The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination and your own superflexible thinking!
If available, item can be checked out from the resource room at no cost.
What Comes Next?
What comes NEXT? is a game that teaches correct sequencing with different scenarios that have multiple steps. The individual will need to choose the picture that is missing in the sequence. This kit includes several scenarios to work with.
What Happens at the Doctor?
“What Happens at the Doctor?” is an awesome visual support for parents or healthcare professionals to use with any child who has anxiety about going to the doctor. This visual support can be adapted to fit any type of doctor or hospital visit. It can also be made into a ring, which allows for portability and making changes to events that will occur.
Ready to Count
This “Ready to Count” book helps teach your child how to count! You and your child can work through this book together to count how many items of each picture there are, and choose the correct corresponding number from the previous page.
TAP @ UIUC 