Many times, individuals with autism have difficulty talking about different topics, making engaging others in social interactions a real challenge for some of our kids. If this sounds like your child or student, this may be just the strategy for you!

These are conversation starters. (See picture below.) The activity is called, "Give them Something to Talk About!" First, the child would choose a topic from the conversation wheel. Topics may include (but not be limited to) the following: family, friends, animals, sports, favorite activities, etc. The questions for each topic are written out under each picture. The "key" is for each person to ask three questions (to anyone in the group, or the person they're talking to) about the topic they choose, before passing the turn to the next person.

Many of the pictures that you will need can be found online, but they may also be found on the following website: www.do2learn.com. Certainly, you can find almost any picture imaginable by using the program Boardmaker (www.mayer-johnson.com/Boardmaker), though keep in mind that this program is a little on the expensive end – around $400.00 or more. So, my recommendation to you is to try to locate the pictures you’ll need on the internet, first! If you have some artistic ability, you can even try drawing the pictures yourself!

Should you choose to try this strategy, I'd be anxious to hear how it went!

Good luck and have fun with it!

-Craig

Special thanks to Autism Specialist Kathy Fox from the Arc of Chester County (West Chester, PA) for sending along this terrific strategy!

Craig Gibson is the Editor of SensorySpot.com, sister site of the internationally acclaimed AutismSpot.com. He is also a Feature Writer for AutismSpot.com. Craig was diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of six, and spent the next twelve years in special education. He has since earned two degrees and has published on the local and national levels. Craig can be reached at craig.gibson6@verizon.net.