Here's One I Made Earlier (Winter 2008)

heres One I made earlier
Heres one I made earlier...

Save your cracker jokes
Most cracker jokes are based on puns and idioms - forms of ambiguity that are sometimes difficult for people on the Autism Spectrum to understand. I have found it possible to dismantle these simple jokes, explain them step-by-step, and then put them back together again, thereby making them accessible and enjoyable for all. Many youngsters with Aspergers Syndrome are motivated by this activity. Its best not to introduce this though until some preparation has taken place through work on visual ambiguity and idiom. The idea is that as you examine more and more pun-type jokes the clients will begin to understand the system, and start to enjoy them on their own. The additional benefits are that a) they should then have a few jokes up their sleeves for social occasions, b) be more open to understanding other peoples puns that crop up in conversation and c) may also have widened their vocabulary and knowledge of idiom. But beware: the most groan-making jokes are the ones that seem to be most easily remembered, and will be re-quoted at you long afterwards!
MATERIALS As many cracker jokes as you can possibly get. Within a brand of cracker they tend to repeat the same jokes, so it is a good idea to ask all your acquaintances to save theirs so you have the best chance of acquiring many different jokes. IN PRACTICE (I) Carefully pick out the jokes you are going to work with; you are looking for the ones with obvious puns and idioms. Stick the jokes, well spacedout, on pieces of A4, and make photocopies for each group member. The core of the work is to find the word or idiomatic phrase that means two things, the double entendre, for example: Patient: Doctor, Doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains. Doctor: Well pull yourself together then! The key words are pull yourself together. You will have to explain the idiomatic meaning as take control of your behaviour, recap the literal meaning, and then retell the joke. With this other old joke, the pun on smell is an easier one to explain as no idioms are involved, just two meanings of the one word: Boy: My dogs got no nose. Girl: How does he smell then? Boy: Terrible! Once you have explained the procedure about finding the pun word using a few of the jokes, you can ask one of the other group members to pick out the next pun in the same way. IN PRACTICE (II) This work was so popular with our group that they decided to collate their favourites into a little book (just six folded A4 sheets), which we photocopied and sold at our Christmas market in aid of our local branch of the National Autistic Society, the Stroud Autistic Support Group. They sent us a lovely thank-you letter which in turn raised the self-esteem of the group members.
Alison Roberts brings a Christmas theme to these low cost, flexible therapy suggestions suitable for a variety of client groups.
Interaction paper chains for Christmas

This is a simple and festive idea to recap on work done in the pre-Christmas period, and a way to link all your various clients and groups together. You are aiming to create festive decorations on which the clients have written down ways in which communication benefits us, or prerequisites for achieving good communication. Friendship and social skills, and conversation tips, can be included as well.
MATERIALS Packs of coloured paper strips sold for Christmas decorations (already glued at one end) Pens IN PRACTICE 1. Each client writes one aspect of communication on a strip. Ideally the aspect they would choose would be something on their personal target list for the term. 2. Curl one strip round, and stick it to itself to form a paper circle, then loop another through it, and so on until you have a long chain which can be added to, by other groups or individuals. Dont hang it too high, because you need to be able to see the words written on the loops. 3. Ask everyone how they feel about the chain, and which targets belonging to other clients might also apply to them.
Gift list
This is an awareness-of-others game particularly suitable for group or individual sessions leading up to Christmas. It can be done as a group exercise, or as an individual task. It is a useful exercise for learning to appreciate other peoples interests and preferences, and helps with friendship building.
MATERIALS Semi-official looking forms which you will have made (see below) Pens PREPARATION You need to make a form, in a list style, and head it with the words A gift for Then put these person types down one side (you will probably think of many more). Leave space for two price ranges; one is a small gift, costing a little pocket money, and the other is a more expensive gift, pretending you are very rich: an elderly granny or grandpa who like gardening and going for short country walks a friend who is the same age as you, and has similar interests a baby a six year old girl a ten year old boy a teenage girl who loves clothes a friend who is keen on art a business man who is stressed out a friend who is keen on sport IN PRACTICE No matter what the ability level of your group, it would be wise to begin by discussing the list and filling in one set of ideas together. Next, the clients might like to work in pairs, which will offer an opportunity to discuss and try to agree on ideas. If they prefer to work individually they can share the ideas after they have finished.
SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY IN PRACTICE WINTER 2008
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heres One I made earlier

Heres one I made earlier...

Interaction paper chains for Christmas

SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY IN PRACTICE WINTER 2008

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