Coronavirus. Social distancing. Why we stay home. To explain it to my 7 year old with Down syndrome, I had to make a video.
And when I finished it, I wept.
So much has changed so quickly.
Every day was news of a place I loved being closed, people I love I’m unable to see, and COVID-19 infecting more and more around. I am figuring out how we’ll pay our bills. Everyday I redefine self-care. I am uncovering how to do community. I am donning the hat of full-time mom, teacher, therapist (Occupational, Physical, Speech, Behavioral), cook, cleaner, entertainer, and friend. And I’m still processing why.
So how could I explain it to my son?
I can’t talk to him about it. That doesn’t work with his auditory processing disorder.
I can’t show him a written story. He is not yet cognitively able to do so with his intellectual delays.
He can’t ask me questions. His apraxia makes speech very limited and he is still learning how to use the AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device that he uses to speak.
The best way my son learns is visually and by his peers. And with social distancing, that’s not okay right now.
But, in the past year, I discovered a powerful tool that now, more than ever, I could use to help him: a Social Story video.
These Social Stories are videos that guide step-by-step what someone can expect, what they need to do, and how to communicate their needs when there are challenges for them to do so. The latest research shows video-based modeling is a powerful tool for many types of people, especially children with disabilities such as Down syndrome or autism.
And this tool is more relevant than ever. Why? Because I can bring Knightly’s peers to him via video.
Moreover, I can bring the world to Knightly via video.
I contacted his friends and people around the globe; and, they answered.
The result?
A video that brings my son answers, community, and travel to faraway lands
And as I watched each family, I was reminded of what I very much needed to hear: I am not alone. We are all figuring this out. And we are all in this together.
Introducing my Mighty Knightly’s Social Story Coronavirus (COVID-19) video:
Let’s Stay Home
Watch more Social Story videos here!
Video Subtitles
For those who’d love Subtitles to the video above:
My state has quarantine which means
I have to stay at home
One of the things I can do at home is
On the first day of every year
I am courageous
Red and orange
Stay on PJs!
Hi! Hi!
Let’s stay home
Let’s stay home
Some people are getting very sick with the Coronavirus
And it spreads easily.
To help people stay healthy,
I’ll stay home with my family.
I’ll wash my hands a lot.
I wash all over and count to 20.
I may use soap
Or hand sanitizer
I will cover my mouth when I cough or sneeze.
When I see other people,
I will stay at least 6 feet away.
But I can wave, “Hi!”
I will have a new schedule.
I will do school work at home.
Help
Good!
Are you outside?
I will play at home
Babba-dee
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh
CRASH!
or outside.
Scootering is a fun thing you can do
When you’re stuck at home
But make sure to wear a helmet and shoes
So you can keep safe
If you ride a bike or a scooter,
There’s few safety rules. Rule #1:
Do not go in the street when a car is coming
Only if a parent says cross the street with them
Then you can cross the street
Rule #2: Always stick with someone
Because if you went over there
And nobody was watching you
There could be a tricky person that gets you
I may go to the doctor’s or the grocery store
Some people may wear masks or gloves.
I can’t go out to some of my favorite places
Like school or Disneyland
And I can’t visit people I love right now
But this helps keep everyone safe.
Sometimes, I may feel happy
HAHAHA
or scared or sad
So might my family.
But that’s okay.
I can say how I feel.
I feel sad.
I feel sad.
If I miss my friends or family,
I can make a phone call
Call Grandpa please
Call Grandpa please
Hey Grammy
I love you so much
Bye. Bye!
Or a video call.
Video call
Video call
If I’m upset, I can ask for a break.
Break
I can ask for a hug.
Hug
Eeeeh!
I can breathe in and out.
[breathing in and out]
I can pray.
God our Father
God our Father
Once again
Once again
We bow our heads and thank you
We bow our heads and thank you
Amen
Amen
I will do things that make me happy.
Like laughing
Haha!
Playing
Dancing
2-3-4-5-6-7
Exercising
And enjoying the beautiful sky
La la la!
And guess what? I’m not alone.
Other kids around the world are doing the same thing!
Red orange yellow green blue purple pink
It’s a rainbow
It’s a rainbow
The Itsy bitsy spider
Went up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
[Counting 1-30 in Russian]
Hahaha!
When it’s okay,
I will go to school and my favorite places again.
Until then, I get to be home with my family.
Thanks for watching!
What things are you doing at home that make you happy?
Leave a comment and let us know.
Thank you for watching!
Stay safe!
Bye! Bye!
Okay, gotta go, bye!
Subscribe so we can hang out again every week.
So you can get really buff like me!
Haha
Yahoo!
Leave a Reply