Behaviour Challenges
  • Noncompliance 
  • Aggression 
  • Hyperactivity 
  • Trouble controlling impulses 
  • Trouble managing frustration 
These challenging behaviours may result in: 
  • Self-injury or injury to others 
  • Destructing the physical environment around them
  • Interfering with learning new skills 
  • Socially isolating the student
Possible Reasons for Behaviour Challenges
  • May engage in challenging behaviour that is part of a behavioural phenotype characteristic to Down syndrome 
  • May be a form of communicating as they have difficulties with speech and language
  • Delayed cognitive (mental) development may result in difficulties in becoming socially competent and controlling or self-regulating their behaviour

Social Stories
What Is It?
Social stories involves the reading of a story that includes illustrations or pictures to teach the student appropriate behaviour for a variety of social situations.
This could include: 
  • Acceptable behaviour in public and touching 
  • Who to confide in if you are feeling sad or scared
  • Personal hygiene 
  • Going to the bathroom 
Down Syndrome Association of Qld Inc. Retrieved July 20, 2015 from, http://www.dsaq.org.au/Default.aspx?PageID=13536817&A=SearchResult&SearchID=638933&ObjectID=13536817&ObjectType=1
The Purpose & Benefits
  • Provides precise and detailed information that a student with Down syndrome may find confusing 
  • Many students with Down syndrome have difficulties with oral language, so a social story may be more effective than constant verbal reminders.  
  • Increases the students understanding of the social situation that is being described
How to Use It
  • The story that is chosen should begin by introducing the behaviour. 
  • Consider the students age, interests, attention span, and level of ability of understanding 
  • Consider information about the situation you have chosen: where does it occur, what people are involved
  • It should then outline the outcomes if the child performs the appropriate behaviour.  
  • Be accurate (use words like ‘usually’ or ‘probably’ if the outcome isn’t guaranteed)        

References

Buckley, S., Bird, G., & Sacks, B. (2002). Social development for individuals with Down syndrome - An overview. Down Syndrome Issues and Information.

Coe, D. A., Matson, J. L., Russell, D. W., Slifer, K. J., Capone, G. T., Baglio, C., & Stallings, S. (1999). Behavior problems of children with down syndrome and life events. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29(2), 149-156. doi:10.1023/A:1023044711293

  • Georgakopoulou, A. (2014). Stories in social organization. Journal of Comparative Research in Anthropology and Sociology, 5(1), 1-3.

    • Loveland, K. A. (1990). Narrative story telling in autism and down's syndrome. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 8(1), 9. 

    Loveland, K. A., & Tunali, B. (1991). Social scripts for conversational interactions in autism and down syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21(2), 177-186. doi:10.1007/BF02284758

    McCarthy, J. (2008). Behaviour problems and adults with down syndrome: Childhood risk factors. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(10), 877-882. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01104.x