What is a Comic Strip Conversation?
- A conversation between two or more people through simple drawings
- They explore what people say and do and emphasize what people may be thinking
- Are a useful tool for visual learns to work through a problem or situation to identify solutions
- Can be used to show that each person may have different thoughts and feelings about the same situation
What is it based on?
- Visual supports are a useful tool in helping children with autism learn
- Pictures represent social skills which are often difficult for individuals with autism to understand
How do you start using a Comic Strip Conversation?
- Useful to practice with someone else prior to introducing approach to a child
- Follow the child’s lead
- Encourage the child to do the writing/drawing/talking
- Gather information about the situation to help to complete the picture and guide your child’s drawings. Some example questions are:
- Where were you?
- Who else is here?
- What are you doing?
- What happened? What did others do?
- What did you say?
- What did others say?
- What did you think when you said that?
- What did others think when they said/did that?
What does a Comic Strip Conversation look like?
How do you pull everything together?
Tom called me a kid because he didn’t know my name but wanted to play with me.
The next time Tom or someone calls me “kid”, I’ll tell them my name and that I don’t like being called kid.
I’ll apologise to Tom and tell him my name is Alex. I will also tell him I do not like being called “kid” and to please not call me that again.
To learn more it’s recommended you read ‘Comic strip conversations: colourful, illustrated interactions with students with autism and related disorders’ by Carol Gray.