Blog 5

Today I reviewed the blog "Teaching Personal Space to Children with Disabilities."

The blog discussed how children with disabilities (especially Autism Spectrum Disorder) have a hard time understanding the concept of personal space. However, understanding that concept is important because as they get older, they need to be aware of the social and emotional boundaries that are set by the general public. Children with ASD are called "deep pressure" meaning, they seek as much sensory input as they can get. This means, they will throw their arms around the nearest person to achieve that sensory, or they will not at all. 
To help children with disabilities understand this concept, teach them a metaphor like a "Magic Bubble." Children with disabilities (or not) love bubbles! This metaphor will provide a better understanding bout the "Bubble" of personal Space. Modeling is another technique used. Modeling is the act of demonstrating the magic bubble game. Have the children put their arms out top the side and have them begin to spin. This concept helps the children to understand how big their personal bubble is. Have the children gently bump into each others' "Bubble" and give a polite introduction to one another. Another technique is called Explicit Instruction. This happens once the metaphor is explain and the "Magic Bubble" game begins. After the students introduce themselves, have them politely enter each others "Magic Bubble" and encourage the students to hug.
 Breaking down the concept into steps, introducing the game, and thoroughly explaining the idea, will help the students understand the concept of "personal space" and prepare them for the general public.