| In his book, Social Skills Training for Children and | | | | someone's game or toy).f) Using a public restroom (for |
| Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and | | | | example, not using the urinal right next to another |
| Social-Communication Problems, (2003), Dr. Jed E. | | | | person if there are others available further away).. |
| Baker provides a helpful exercise called, "Don't Be a | | | | 2. Give the student incentives to practice the skill. Tell |
| Space Invader." | | | | the student you are going to test his/her ability to stay |
| The concept itself is pretty easy to teach. Draw a | | | | at least an arm's length away. Then, at random times, |
| picture of two stick figures. The rule is, "Stand at least | | | | get too close to him/her at different times, and see if s |
| an arm's length away." | | | | he catches on. |
| The second statement is, "Don't Get Too Close." | | | | 3. Correct inappropriate distance when it happens. Tell |
| Here are some suggested activities to help teach this | | | | the student, "Don't be a space invader because it will |
| activity: | | | | make others uncomfortable, and then they won't want |
| 1. Role-play with the student a situation in which s/he | | | | to play with you. Keep an arm's length away." |
| must change her/his personal space. You may want | | | | 4. Provide rewards for when the children get it right, |
| to enlist the help of another student or a sibling as an | | | | keeping appropriate distance:a) Give verbal praise for |
| outside observer. The observer's task is to say when | | | | correct or partially correct distance.b) Consider giving |
| the two actors (yourself and the child with aspergers) | | | | tokens, pennies, or points for times during the day in |
| get too close, and when they are the right distance | | | | which the child maintained an appropriate distance |
| from each other. | | | | from others. When the child builds up a certain number |
| People can switch roles. Here are some other | | | | of points (5 tokens, for example), give a special |
| situations to role play the proper personal space | | | | reward, such as snack, stickers, or privileges to play a |
| distance:a) Greeting others the first time you see them, | | | | special game. |
| and saying goodbye when you leave.b) Standing in line | | | | A child with Aspergers can be given 'homework' of |
| at school or in public (for example, at a movie, or at a | | | | maintaining appropriate distance. Here are some good |
| store).c) Interrupting someone to ask a question about | | | | homework questions: |
| what was said, or to ask permission to do | | | | Who will I try this with? |
| something.d) Riding public transportation (for example, | | | | When? |
| not sitting too or standing too close to others)e) | | | | What happened? |
| Requesting something from someone (asking for a | | | | How did I do? |
| snack someone else is holding, or asking to play with | | | | |