Making a WDW Social story- Itinerary- hints, tips, advice?

[Abharmagic]

Hello-

I have just begun working on a social story/ itinerary for my DS for our upcoming trip to WDW. I am using Shutterfly and filling it with lots of pictures from WDW, but also pictures of the airline/airplane we'll be using, pictures of Disney's Magical Express, our resort, room style, restaurants, shows, etc. I am also using lots of text boxes. It's going to read a bit like a story. DS is a pretty strong reader at 5 (reads on a 2nd grade level) and I figure it will interest him to read about the parks, our resort, and what I have planned. I am using a 2 page spread for each day and am planning on including stock photos of what we are going to do each day, where we will eat, rides that are in the park, etc.

Anyone ever make one? Any good sites for stock photos? I have run into a lot that end up low resolution and have to search around a lot. I am excited to do the project and plan on having 2 made- one for DS and one for DD (who is not special needs, but will want one too).

 

[SueM in MN]

for examples, if you look in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, post 3 has some links that may be helpful. Scroll down to the alphabetized list of conditions and concerns and you should find links to threads about Communication and PECs, which have some hints for finding pictures and one about a Social Story scrapbook a DIS scrapbooker made for her son.

For high quality pictures:
- you can do a google search and only include large files
- you can use Disney website photo albums, like those on
wdwinfo.com: http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/
passporter: http://www.passporter.com/photos/ (be aware all the photos there have a Passporter logo on them, which your child may not like)

if you register and log in, you can do searches to find photos.

Allearsnet.com has some good photo galleries, but doesn’t have photo albums like wdwinfo and Passporter.

Also, there are some links in the air travel post in the disABILITIES FAQs thread that might be helpful (I think it is post 15).

And, if you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you may want to look into an app called Pictello, which is for making stories or social stories on the device.

 

[Abharmagic]

AWESOME- so helpful- thanks so much. DS is one of those kids who really needs to know what's going on and when. Your advice, links, etc are super helpful- thanks so much. When I am done, if I can, I will link to it on here if anyone wants to take a look. It's a lot of work, but i am enjoying it b/c I love WDW and trip planning too, so it's fun for me to make.

 

[Heluvsme]

Social stories are a great idea!

One other idea I'd like to share for once you've returned home after your trip, buy one of the photo souvenir books. My son relived our trip over and over through those books, and every time we return we buy a new one. I even added our own family photos to the books because their text really interests my son and any scrapbook I could make would pale in comparison.

Also, prior to your trip watch the vacation planning DVD, my son picked up a lot from that!

Have a great time!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

In post 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is also a link to a YouTube video which is actually a walk thru the parks. It includes intactive parts where you can choose to 'go on' an attraction or skip it. One very nice thing is that it shows the waiting line so you can see what the line is like, how to board an attraction, etc.

2 cautions though:
1) it was made before Mickey's Toontown Fair was demolished to make room for the New Fantasyland expansion. So, it does show some attractions in Toontown that are no longer there.

2) some of the lines have been changed to add interactive elements - Winnie the Pooh, Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan.

 

[Beemitchcowski]

This site is AWESOME! I too did a social story for my son...but I'll admit..I just used the ones from the site...I just kept it simple! But they also have all kinds of stock photos to use if you want to create your own!

Also..check Youtube for videos of rides. Somewhere on this board someone suggested a set of youtube videos where a man "walks through the parks" and records himself entering/going through the line/riding the rides. It was really neat because its a way of your child to get a feel for what the ride will be like!

Also, get a GAC (Guest Assistance Card). We used one last fall and was very glad we did...
Also, bring things like noise reducing headphones and flashlights.

Hope that helps!

http://www.wdwautism.com/?q=node/191

 

[SueM in MN]

This site is AWESOME! I too did a social story for my son...but I'll admit..I just used the ones from the site...I just kept it simple! But they also have all kinds of stock photos to use if you want to create your own!

Also..check Youtube for videos of rides. Somewhere on this board someone suggested a set of youtube videos where a man "walks through the parks" and records himself entering/going through the line/riding the rides. It was really neat because its a way of your child to get a feel for what the ride will be like!

There is a link to that video in post 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Also, get a GAC (Guest Assistance Card). We used one last fall and was very glad we did...
Also, bring things like noise reducing headphones and flashlights.

Hope that helps!

http://www.wdwautism.com/?q=node/191

link to more information about GACs in post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.