This document outlines a session script for teaching personal space to children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents. The session aims to help children understand what constitutes an invasion of personal space and why maintaining appropriate boundaries is important socially. Parents are taught to determine the function of their child's invasive behaviors using functional analysis techniques to establish alternative behaviors. Children learn about personal space through visual representations and exercises. Together, parents and children work to encourage behavior change through reinforcement mechanisms like rule setting and planned ignoring of unwanted behaviors. The overall goal is for children to understand personal space and replace invasive behaviors with appropriate alternatives.

1. Personal
Space
Session
Script
PERSONAL SPACE
Goals:
1. What is considered personal space? What is an invasion of personal space?
For Parents:
1. Understand the four functions of behavior.
2. Collect data to determine and assess the function of the child’s invasion of personal space.
For Child:
1. Have a better understanding of what personal space is and be able to determine when you are
respecting or invading personal space of another person.
2. Understand why maintaining personal space is important in a social context.
Together:
1. Determine alternative behaviors to fulfill the same function of the invasion of personal space
invasion.
Overview: This parent training session is designed to educate parents of children with ASD about
personal space invasion. With an aim at determining the function of the child’s invasion of others’
personal space we will be able to determine a specific intervention plan to reduce this invasive behavior.
Materials:
1. Trainer script
2. Parent Handout of Session Topics
3. Session Handout and Activity Exercises
4. Session Videotape and blank ABC data sheet
5. Blank ABC data sheet(s) (for homework)
6. Two Blank Self-Monitoring Chart (one for
homework)
7. Behavior Regulation Worksheet
8. Behavior Reinforcement Worksheet
Objectives:
Working with the Parent: Functional Analysis
1. Identify when your child violates personal space.
2. Understand and be able to distinguish the four functions of behaviors.
3. Collect data in order to determine the function of a personal space invasion using an ABC data
sheet.
Working with the Child: Awareness and Behavior Change
1. Understand the concept of personal space and learn to keep track of personal space related
behaviors through visual representations and exercises.
2. Understand why personal space is important through Social Stories and Role Playing.
Together: Encouraging Behavior Changing through Reinforcement Mechanisms
1. Brainstorm ways to promote good behavior: rule setting, planned ignoring, token systems

2. Personal
Space
Session
Script
There are multiple ways to assess a personal space invasion behavior
in children with ASD. Functional Analysis Technique can be used to
determine function and establish an alternative behavior to fulfill the same function.
Self-Awareness technique used to teach children how to gage and adjust their behavior
around personal space through monitoring, regulation, and evaluation. When used in
tandem, a child will replace the unwanted invasion of personal space with a alternate
behavior and become more self aware of his or her own personal space violations,
allowing a feeling of volition.
Thank you all for your involvement in this program. The purpose
of this session is to establish a standard understanding of what
personal space is, and what constitutes a violation. This is an important topic for our
program because many children with ASD have difficulty maintaining appropriate
personal space between themselves and others. First, we must understand what personal
space is. In general terms, the personal space of a person is defined as being an arms
length away from other individuals.
And so, a violation of personal space is when an individual steps into another’s
arms length surrounding radius. Violations in personal space can be physical or verbal.
Physical violations of personal space include unwanted touching of an individual, such as
excessive hugging, caressing, poking. Verbal violations of personal space include
talking, yelling, or any verbal activity in close proximity to another individual.
Activity Sheet 1 asks prompts you to consider what a personal space violation for
each scenario would look like, let’s work through this sheet.
Introduction
Clinician Script
& [Instructions]
Goal 1: What is considered personal space? What is an invasion of personal
space?

3. Personal
Space
Session
Script
Functional Analysis is a technique used to determine the function of
a child’s behavior. By determining the function of your child’s
personal space violation behavior we are able to consider why the child is acting with
these particular behaviors. By determining the why behind the behavior through an
identification of its function we are able to devise a specific intervention plan to stop the
problem behavior and promote an alternate behavior.
Behaviors are typically performed to satisfy four functions. If you think back to
our first session, Behavioral Principles, you’ll remember the four functions include
behavior to (1) gain attention, (2) experience a sensory stimulus, (3) escape or avoid a
situation, or (4) to gain a tangible reward. Most often with personal space violations, the
behaviors are done for the first two functions, to gain attention or experience a sensory
stimulus.
Below are some ABC sheets to show how the behaviors can play out. Each ABC
sheet shows an antecedent (preceding event), a behavior, and a consequence (what
happens as a result of the behavior). Take a look at the table below and then try to
complete Activity Sheet 2, matching a scenario to a specific behavior function.
Goal 1: Educate parents on the four functions of behaviors.
Clinician Script
& [Instructions]
Working with the Parent – Functional Analysis

4. Personal
Space
Session
Script
Function Antecedent Behavior Consequence
Attention Parent is not attentive to
child (cooking, phone
call).
Child constantly poking and
hugging parent.
Parent discontinues activity
and becomes attentive to
nagging child.
Sensory
Stimulus
Child sitting quietly. Child caresses mother’s hair
because of its softness.
Sensory stimulation as child
feels smooth and soft hair.
Escape /
Avoidance
Child does not want to
clean his or her room.
Child violates personal space
of parent and screams in
parent’s face.
Parent want to discontinue
behavior and tells the child he
or she doesn’t need to clean.
Tangible
Reward
Parent refuses to buy
child a toy.
Child violates personal space
of parent and screams in
parent’s face.
Parent wants to discontinue
behavior and buys child the
toy.
When trying to change a behavior like personal space invasion, it’s important to
consider the details of the child’s behavior. Activity Sheet 3 asks you to brainstorm
about your child’s personal space invasions – whose space is you child typically
invading? Where and when do these space invasive behaviors happen? And what does
this behavior entail, what type of behavior is it? Take a look at Activity Sheet 4 and use
it to reflect on your child’s behaviors.
Hopefully now you have a better understanding of the past personal space
invasive behaviors you’re child has participated in. Now we must focus on the current
behaviors. Activity Sheet 5 is an ABC Data Collection Sheet. During the next few
weeks take note of your child’s behaviors and complete Activity Sheet 4. This
information will allow us to identify the preceding event to the behavior, the behavior
itself, and the consequences of it. Then we can assume the function of the behaviors,
allowing us to have a better understanding of why your child acted the way he or she did.
Goal 2: Collect data to determine and assess the function of the child’s
invasion of personal space.

5. Personal
Space
Session
Script
It is important to establish a “standard measurement” of personal space for your
child. A typical measure of personal space is an arm’s length away from another person.
Activity Sheet 5A is a visual example to share with children, showing the boundaries
between oneself and others. It first identifies intimate space as being about half an arm’s
length from someone. This space is reserved for close interactions, like hugging or
comforting parents, close friends or family members. We next identify personal space as
an arm’s length away from another person. Personal space is the typical conversing
space between two people. Social space is the next interpersonal distance that is shown,
which is about 4 feet from another person, or the distance you would stand from new
acquaintances or strangers. Then, public space is any measurement greater than 8 feet –
for example speeches, lectures, or performances. Take a look at this worksheet and walk
through the different space zones with your child, identifying where certain interactions
might occur. Following Activity Sheet 5 there are two sheets, each containing boxes for
each type of interaction. Depending on which design your child prefers, cut the boxes
out and keep them together and readily available. When experiencing different social
situations, draw your child’s attention to which “circle area” he or she is entering, and
explain the appropriate personal space behaviors with these areas.
Goal 1: Have a better understanding of what personal space is and be able to
determine when you are respecting or invading personal space of another
person.
Working with the Child – Self-Awareness

6. Personal
Space
Session
Script
When it comes to self-awareness, it is also important for your child to know what
is okay to touch and what is not okay on other people. Activity Sheet 6 provides visuals
for the parts of the human body which are public, meaning they are okay to touch with
permission of the person, vs. private, meaning they are not okay to touch. Often times
children with ASD touch body parts of others (i.e. breasts) for sensory stimulation – they
are squishy and movable – this is when personal space violations can become a serious
issue. Walk through this Activity Sheets 6A (male body) and 6B (female body) with
your child and place the smiley faces on places of the body that are okay to touch in
public, and the X’s on the private parts of the body that are not okay to touch in public.
A good way to talk about this with your child is to use “The Bathing Suit” rule – parts
that are private and not okay to touch in public are the parts of a person’s body that are
covered when he or she is in a bathing suit. I have included a blank social story after this
activity that you can complete with a specific example of relevant and problematic sexual
behavior.
Activity Sheet 7 is a “Red, Yellow, Green” Scale of personal space. This scale
allows an increased awareness of personal space behaviors and violations as well as a
way to monitor the behavior. Work with your child to familiarize him or her with the
scale and what each color represents in regards to personal space. Consider personal
examples of personal space invasion behavior and identify them in terms of red, meaning
“stop”, yellow meaning “slow down”, or green meaning “go”.

7. Personal
Space
Session
Script
It is important that children understand why they must follow the rules of personal
space and respect others’ boundaries. Providing a rationale is key to behavior change and
general understanding of personal space behavior. Activities 8A and 8B are Social
Stories aimed at showing your child why respecting the personal space of others is
critical in social settings. The job of a social story is to play out a specific scenario, with
its preceding events (antecedent), the behavior itself, and the consequence of the
behavior. First, Activity 8A (Social Story) is a social story to help your child gain a
general understanding of personal space and why it is important in social situations. In
this case, a child is violating the personal space of his friend and his friend get angry with
him. This example teaches that with a personal space violation comes unhappiness of
others. At the end of the social story there is a suggestion offered of an alternate way to
behave in order to avoid a negative consequence. Activity Sheet 8B is a Social Story that
targets a child’s behavior function. In this case, a child is violating personal space to gain
the attention of others. Talk through these Activity Sheets with your child, and together
work on Activity Sheet 8C to create your own social story based on the experiences your
child has had with personal space.
Goal 2: Understand why maintaining personal space is important in a social
context.

8. Personal
Space
Session
Script
Now that we have brainstormed about your child’s past personal space behaviors,
recording data as it corresponds to their current behavior, we will be able to determine the
function of your child’s behavior – that is, why is your child invading the personal space
of others. Lets remember that the four functions of behaviors include attention, sensory
or stimulus, escape or avoidance, and tangible reward. After thinking about the behaviors
your child does, considering to who, where and when, and what the behavior consists of,
what can we guess the function of the behavior is?
Depending on the function of the behavior, we can encourage the child to engage in a
different behavior that satisfies the same function. There are a few different ways to
promote positive behaviors and discourage negative personal space invasions. Activity
Sheet 9 walks through a few suggestions.
Goal 1: Determine alternative behaviors to fulfill the same function of the
invasion of personal space.
Working Together –
Encouraging Behavior Change through Reinforcement
Mechanisms

9. Personal
Space
Session
Script
Design Activity Sheets to teach about:
1. Rule setting / establishment
! Prevention
! Realize it isn’t that straight forward before things change
o General rule but give kids prompts in cases that can break it
o Limit on time of hugs
! Prompt child that “there is going to be a lot of kids and there’s a lot of personal
space and if u are too close I’m going to tell you you’re yellow”
o Go over social story, circle reminder, stop light before we go out
o Birthday party – stay in green zone
! BUT if u are playing tag its ok
! BUT if u want to hug someone its ok
2. Planned Ignoring – don’t tell them what not to do
! Remember you can ____ if you want my attention
! Shift attention – just ignore the behavior and redirect it
! No No’s – focus on what they should be doing instead
! Don’t touch, don’t talk, don’t engage
3. Rewarding
! Catch you being good – reinforcement program
o Catch your child being good when he/she is respecting PS, being
appropriate
! Comment on things when they are doing what you want them to do
o Want kids to be able to respond to praise
! If kids need more concrete reinforcements, then clinician can design a token
system / reward
Introduce section with Cultural implications:
! Other countries have different rules
! Sometimes its hard to figure out – this is what’s happening for kids with ASD
! Constantly in another country
! Perceptions
This session was developed by Natalie Santacesaria. Natalie is a Junior
Undergraduate student at the University of Rochester, studying
Psychology and Biology. She aspires to attend Nursing School in the Fall
of 2016, to eventually achieve her Masters in Mental Health Nursing.

10. Personal
Space
Session
Script
Citations:
Scientific Research: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25100326
Intervention Program Techniques:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/family_services_docs/sk/General_Strategies.pdf
Teaching Kids about Personal Space: http://amomwithalessonplan.com/mommy-fun-fact-
20a-teaching-respectful-boundaries/
Behavior Functions: http://www.educateautism.com/behavioural-principles/functions-of-
behaviour.html
Circle Program: http://visuals.autism.net/main.php?g2_itemId=221
Personal Space Social Story: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/316166836311188595/
Good and Bad Sexual Touching:
http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/healthybodies/files/HealthyBodiesAppendix-Boys.pdf

11. Personal
Space
Session
Script
General Outline for Intervention Program:
Objectives:
Working with the Parent: Functional Analysis
1. Identify when there is a violation of personal space.
2. Understand and be able to distinguish the four functions of behaviors
3. Parent will collect data in order to determine the function of a personal space invasion using an ABC data
sheet.
Working with the Child: Awareness and Behavior Change
1. Understand the concept of personal space and learn to keep track of personal space related behaviors through
visual representations and exercises.
2. Understand why personal space is important through Social Stories and Role Playing
3. Learn alternate ways of behaving to achieve a goal.
Objectives:
Working with the Parent: Functional Analysis
1. Identify when there is a violation of personal space.
a. Brainstorming Sheet 4 – who, where, when, what/how – Your child
b. Activity Sheet 1 – How would each situation become a violation?
2. Understand and be able to distinguish the four functions of behaviors.
a. Activity Sheet 3 – Matching function to behavior
3. Parent will collect data in order to determine the function of a personal space invasion using an ABC data
sheet.
a. Activity Sheet 5 – Big chart for daily data collection
Working with the Child: Awareness and Behavior Change
1. Understand the concept of personal space and learn to keep track of personal space related behaviors through
visual representations and exercises.
a. Circles – 2A, B. Activity Sheet 6A – Self monitoring 5 point scale
2. Understand why personal space is important through Social Stories and Role Playing
a. Activity Sheet 6B – Social Story
3. Learn alternate ways of behaving to achieve a goal.
a. What is ok to touch? What’s not ok to touch? If you need someone’s attention, here’s a way to do it.
Encouraging Behavior Changing: Reinforcement Mechanisms for Parents
1. Planned Ignoring
2. Token systems

12. Personal
Space
Session
Script
Parent Objectives:
1. Identify when there is a violation of personal space.
Functional Analysis:
1. Understand and be able to distinguish the four functions of behaviors
2. Parent will collect data in order to determine the function of a personal space invasion using an
ABC data sheet.
Self-Awareness:
1. Learn what it means to self-monitor behavior and how to keep track of all personal space related
behavior on a self-monitoring chart.
2. Determine what method is best to regulate or change individual child’s behavior once he or she is
aware and monitoring it.
3. Determine what method of reinforcement is best to evaluate an individual child’s behavior.