Cartoons for Social and Communicative Behavior

Vera Bernard-Opitz is an American BCBA-D and German psychotherapist and behavior therapist, who has worked in Germany, Singapore, and the United States. She has assessed and treated more than 1000 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in autism research centers, rehabilitation centers, special needs schools, and homes. She studied Psychology at the University of Göttingen, conducting her Ph.D. research in Göttingen and the University of California Santa Barbara. For seven years she headed the Psychological Services unit at a rehabilitation center near Heidelberg, where she set up behavioral programs for individuals with ASD. Her research on computer-assisted instruction was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). For twelve years she was Associate Professor of Psychology at the National University of Singapore, mainly teaching Abnormal Psychology and Behavior Modification. During this period she initiated the first autism program in Singapore (STEP), where she coordinated training and research activities at the Behavior Intervention Center of the university. Here in Southern California, she has supervised home-programs for a private ABA-company. For the last eight years she has been an international consultant, spearheading tele-health for individuals with behavior challenges and varying levels of capabilities. She has written several books focusing on behavior intervention, curriculum development and social skills training. The fourth edition of her curriculum guide Children and Adolescents with ASD has recently been published by Kohlhammer Publishing. Her cartoon-book Teaching-goals: Communication and Social Behavior has just been published in German and is in manuscript in English by Future Horizon. She has edited the Autism Concrete Series with eight published books from internationally recognized authors. Vera Bernard-Opitz lives with her family most of the year in Irvine, California. She spends three to four months in her home in the nice city of Hildesheim from where she gives practice workshops throughout Germany.

• IntroductionMethod of the Social Cartoon CurriculumA) Examples for positive behavior in elementary schoolSTAR ProgramS = Safety FirstT = There and ReadyA = Act responsibleR = Respect self and othersS – Safety FirstWearing a helmetPaying attention at the swingsT – There and ReadyArriving on time to classNot interrupting in classA – Act responsibleHelping a classmate with nose bleedingHanding back a lost walletR – Respect self and othersNo burping Respecting classmates from different culturesB) Long-Time Goals (LTG) for social behaviorLTG 1 Being kind, popular and making friendsSTG 1 Following instructionsCleaning up your roomComing when calledSTG 2 Taking the perspectives of othersBeing careful on stairsComforting your neighborSTG 3 Helping and respecting othersLetting younger siblings winOffering a seat to someone on the busSTG 4 Being helpfulHelping a classmate with his homeworkHelping your dad with washing the carSTG 5 Being humbleNot bragging about your skillsNot bragging about your possessionsLTG 2 Being responsible and reliableSTG 1 Respecting instructionsRespecting school decisionsRespecting behavior rulesSTG 2 Doing what you promisedDoing your homeworkAnswering text messagesSTG 3 Doing what is expectedWriting an essayUnloading dishwasherSTG 4 Taking responsibility for others and the environmentBabysittingTaking a classmate in a wheelchair alongSTG 5 Time management and being on timeNot showering for too longArriving on time for an internshipLTG 3 Having good team skillsSTG 1 Setting team-goalsFollowing instructions during physical education classAccepting team decisionsSTG 2 Accepting criticismAccepting critical argumentsAccepting critique about behaviorSTG 3 Suggesting or accepting compromisesChoice of restaurantsChoice of moviesSTG 4 Being fairDividing tasks fairlyGiving everyone a chanceC) Goals for positive personality characteristicsLTG 4 Being optimisticSTG 1 Never give upPracticing swimmingKeep going when physical effort is neededSTG 2 Thinking positive about yourself and othersDon´t be enviousDon't take revengeSTG 3 Taking chances and giving others a chanceIncluding minoritiesIncluding younger siblingsLTG 5 Dealing with frustration and using coping strategiesSTG 1 Dealing with the fear of failingDealing with a rejection letterDealing with lack of popularitySTG 2 Dealing with losses and thinking positiveDivorce of parentsLoss of a school-friendLTG 6 Being loyal and trustworthySTG 1 Being loyalNot making fun of your parentsRespecting teachersSTG 2 Being real and self-confidentDon't join when peers instigate troubleDon't join dangerous activitiesSTG 3 Being honest even though you fear punishment or disadvantagesAdmitting when you damaged somethingAdmitting when you stole somethingLTG 7 Being self-controlledSTG 1 Being aware of yourself and othersNot annoying others by your monologuesNot everyone consider nail biting coolSTG 2 Dealing with stressUsing calming strategies during an examDon't be angry when bulliedD) Goals for communicative competenceLTG 8 Being a good conversational partnerSTG 1 Giving complimentsAbout someone's clothesAbout someone´s possessionSTG 2 Apologizing and making up for mistakesApologizing when hurting someoneApologizing when breaking somethingSTG 3 Clarifying misunderstandingsClarifying wrong assumptionsClarifying misunderstandingsSTG 4 "You talk" instead of "Me talk"Don't persevere about your favorite subjectDon't be a "show-off"STG 5 Showing interest towards others and paying attentionPaying attention when success is mentionedPaying attention when loss is mentionedSTG 6 Showing gratitudeFor a dinner invitationFor a trip