a generic social story to increase social understanding of the concept of "change"

1. Change Happens
a story about the unexpected
by Kim Singleton, MS, CCC-SLP

2. Often, people like to have
routines or schedules.
• They might have a routine or schedule for waking up.
• They might have a routine or schedule at school.
• They might have an afternoon routine or schedule.
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3. I am a person so I might have routines.
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4. Often, people like things to stay the same.
• They might like the pattern of
things.
• They might like knowing what to
expect.
• Routines and schedules might
help people feel comfortable.
Do I feel comfortable when I know
what to expect?
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5. Sometimes things change.
• A change is when something is
new or different. (Change is also
coins or money.)
• New and different changes always
happen.
• People cannot stop change.
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6. People feel differently about change.
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7. Sometimes a change might feel exciting.
• A vacation is sometimes an exciting change.
• A birthday is often an exciting change.
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8. Sometimes a change might feel annoying.
• Clean-up time is sometimes an annoying change.
• Bedtime might be an annoying change.
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9. Sometimes a change might feel
uncomfortable.
• A new or different food
might be an
uncomfortable change.
• Even a surprise might
be an uncomfortable
change.
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10. Sometimes a change might feel terrible.
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11. People cannot stop change.
• Changes always happen.
This page changed
- it looks different.
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12. People can learn to “catch changes”
and be flexible.
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This page changed
- what looks different?

13. How can I catch change?
1. Be alert and look for change.
2. When a change happens, say
“I got a change!”
3. Try to act relaxed and calm.
Try to be flexible and accept the change.
4. Maybe move a penny (the other kind of
change) to a pocket or a special place.
5. See how many changes I can catch.
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This page changed
- what looks different?

14. Lots of people catch
change and are flexible.
• I am a smart person and I am learning this too.
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The End