| Good hygiene is an essential life skill. But for an autistic | | | | Social stories shows individuals on the spectrum why |
| individual it is often a neglected skill. | | | | and how to perform certain hygiene skills. A social |
| An autistic individual may not recognise the need to up | | | | story acts as a role model for the individual on the |
| hygiene skills around puberty, the need for regular | | | | spectrum to follow; the social story will show visually |
| dental checks or tooth brushing etc. The individual with | | | | as well as answer the "wh" questions – who, |
| autism may not perceive their appearance or the | | | | where, why, when and what. It will also giving the |
| social implications of neglecting their own personal | | | | autistic person an insight into the thoughts, feelings and |
| hygiene. | | | | emotions of others. |
| Addressing poor hygiene in an autistic individual can be | | | | Social skills stories are normally written by experts in |
| aided using visual supports, patience and understanding. | | | | autism will follow a set pattern of sentence types, use |
| For many parents, teachers and other professionals | | | | first person language and are visually rich, can be |
| knowing how to support an individual with autism can | | | | edited, personalized and printed. |
| be difficult and at time stressful. However this need not | | | | For parents, teachers or care givers needing help with |
| be the case, with visual supports for autism parents, | | | | addressing poor hygiene in an autistic individual using |
| teachers and others working with individuals on the | | | | social skills stories for hygiene will be beneficial. |
| spectrum can be aided. | | | | Social skills stories can be used for a vast majority of |
| It is understood individuals on the spectrum are | | | | situations and sills the autistic person may be struggling |
| generally visual thinkers and learners therefore making | | | | with like making friends, having a conversation, |
| use of visual supports for autism is beneficial. One | | | | shopping, getting a haircut, visiting the dentist, hospital |
| such autistic support is social skills stories. | | | | etc. |