Safe Phrases for Conversations

These phrases are some examples that you can use. Generally, people will not react negatively
to these. However, remember that your tone and body language can change the meaning of a
phrase.

Add any more that you like.

Greetings

 Hello, how are you?

 Hello, how is your day/night going?
 Hi, my name is _________. What is your name?
 Hope your day/evening is going well.

Follow-up questions or comments: These phrases help keep a conversation going, allow you to
express interest in the other person, and help you identify common interests.

 It is nice to meet you!

 I like that show/movie/ song/ food/ place too!
 Who is your favourite character in the book/movie/show?
 What part of the show / movie did you like?
 What is your favourite ________?
 Do you like ____________?
 I also do not like ____________ .
 I thought that was funny/interesting too!
 What other activities do you like to do?

Goodbye

 Bye! Nice to see you.

 Goodbye
 See you on __________
 See you next time!
 Take care!
 Have a great rest of your day/afternoon/evening/night!
 Have a great weekend!
 Let’s hang out again!

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
 Tips for Asking Someone to Hang Out

It is important to identify a common interest: Find somewhere where both you and the other
person would like to go, or something that you both would like to do. If they are busy, try and
find an alternative date or time that works for both of you. Remember that the person you are
asking to hang out with might say no. This may be because they are busy or uninterested in
doing the activity that you want to do.

In group, we learned about how the 5 W’s can help us think about what we need to consider or
plan for when asking someone to hang out:

What

 What will you do?

 What do you need to bring to do it? (Example: money, tickets, etc.)

Where

 Where do you want to go?

 Where will you meet each other?
 Does the place you are going to meet your accessibility needs?

Who

 Who are you going with?

 Who else needs to know you are going out?

When

 When will you meet? (Date and Time)

 What time is the scheduled activity / movie / restaurant reservation?
 What time will you need to leave? (Allow enough travel time)

Why

 Why are you going?

How

 How will you communicate with each other if plans change?

 How will you get there? (Example: TTC, car, walk, etc.)

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
 Speech-to-Text Apps

Speech-to-Text apps convert whatever you say into text. We have made a list of a few speech-
to-text apps for Apple or Android devices but there are many other options available. Always
read reviews and do some research on each app to ensure that the app is right for you.

Some phones already come with a built-in speech-to-text feature. Before you purchase any
apps, check to see if your phone comes with this feature and if it works for you. For instructions
on how to turn on and use this feature on your phone, turn the pages until you reach the end of
the table of apps below:

Apple or App or Software Features & Requirements Cost

Android
Apple Speech Recognizer A speech-to-text app that can
also translate text into more than $11.99
26 languages. The app also
allows you to post directly to
Twitter, Facebook, send texts via
email or copy and paste your
transcribed messages in other
apps.
Dictate- Speech to A speech-to-text app with no
Text dictation time limits. Dictated Free 3-day trial.
messages can be sent to Twitter,
Facebook, WhatsApp, Email, or $5.99/month for
whatever other app is capable of unlimited usage.
coping with text messages.

Transcribe – Speech to A speech-to-text app that

Text transcribes any voice memo or Free
video to text. The transcribed
note can be shared with others
via text message, email,
Facebook, and other app that
accepts plain text.

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
Android ListNote Speech-to- A speech-to-text app that allows
Text you to index any dictated notes Free
users have made. Dictated notes
can be shared with text message,
email, Twitter and any other app
that accepts plain text.

Android Speechkeys Smart A speech-to-text app with no

Voice Typing dictation time limits and Free trial
numerous voice commands (i.e.
smiley face, sad face). Messages $1.39 - 8.99 for
dictated onto the app’s notepad certain in-app
can be shared via text message purchases.
and email.

Speech to Text A speech to text apps that allows

you to create long or short text Free
notes, emails text messages by
speech recognition.

Both Google Keyboard A downloadable keyboard for

(“Gboard”) your phone with a speech-to-text Free
feature. Just press and hold on
the spacebar to dictate text into
any app.

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
 Instructions to Turn on Phone’s Dictation Feature

iPhone/iPad

1. To get started, open your Settings app and tap

General.

2. In General settings, scroll down and tap

Keyboard.

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
 3. On the Keyboard screen, scroll to the bottom
of the list and turn on the “Enable Dictation”
setting.

4. This image of a mic should now appear on your keyboard. To use, tap on the mic and
speak. Your words will be dictated into text. When you are finished speaking, tap on the
screen again to stop recording.

Android

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
 1. With your phone’s keyboard open, press and hold on the smiley face button. Several
extra buttons should pop up including a mic icon.

2. Tap on the mic icon to turn on the speech-to-

text feature and speak. Your words will be
dictated into text. When you are finished, tap
on the screen again to stop recording.

3.

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
 Managing Anxiety

When you start to feel anxious, find a quiet and comfortable spot where you can sit or lie down.
You can also do these exercises in a crowded or busy place like a train or bus if you cannot find
a quiet area. Here are some exercises that you can try to help you relax:

Box Breathing

1. Close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose while

counting to 4 seconds slowly. Feel the air enter your
lungs.
2. Hold your breath while slowly counting to 4.
3. Slowly exhale for 4 seconds.
4. Hold your breath and try not to inhale for 4 seconds.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 at least 3 times or until you start to
feel calm.

It is important that you feel calm and comfortable when

doing this breathing exercise. If you are finding it difficult to hold your breath for 4 seconds, you
can try holding your breath for 2 seconds instead. Alternatively, if you find that holding your
breath for 4 seconds is too short of a time for you, increase the number of seconds you hold
your breath for.

Counting to Relax

Counting is one easy way to help ease your anxiety because it gives
you something to focus on other than your anxiety.

Close your eyes and count to 10. If necessary, repeat, or count to a

higher number. It may take a while to work. Keep trying, stay calm
and be patient.

Attend to the Present

In this exercise, you will focus your five senses on your present environment. Similar to the
previous counting exercise, this activity will give you something to focus on other than your
anxiety about a past or future event. For this exercise, find:

- 5 things you can see

- 4 things you can hear
- 3 things you can touch
- 2 things you can smell

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
 - 1 thing you can taste

Visualization

Visualization involves imagining a scene in which you feel at peace, free to let go of all your
worries and anxieties. In this exercise, you will visualize whatever setting is most calming to
you: a quiet forest, a tropical beach, or a favourite childhood spot.

To start, close your eyes and picture your restful scene as vividly as you can. Ask yourself: What
do you see in your peaceful place? What can you hear? What scents do you smell? What do you
feel? What can you taste?

For example, if your peaceful place is a quiet dock on a

lake:

- See: the sun setting over the water

- Hear: gentle waves crashing against the dock
- Smell: the pine trees nearby
- Feel: a soft breeze against your skin
- Taste: the fresh air

Sometimes, you may lose track of where you are while

visualizing. That’s okay, this is normal. Visualization gets
easier with practise. When you find yourself getting
distracted, try finding your peaceful place again. When you
are ready, gently open your eyes and come back to the present.

Mindfulness Meditation Apps

Below are some apps that can help guide you through more meditation exercises and provide
you with mindfulness tools. We made a list of a few apps that are available on both Apple and
Android devices, but there are many other options available out there. Before you choose,
always read reviews and do your research on each app to ensure the app is right for you.

App Description Cost

Headspace This app provides meditation sessions on
everything from esteem and sleep to focus Free access to some
and anxiety. Sessions vary in length from 2 to meditation exercises.
20 minutes.
$12.99 USD/month for
Developed in USA full access to all
exercises.

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)
Breathr The app provides youth with simple
breathing practice, guided meditations, Free
everyday exercises and custom meditations.
Sessions vary in length from 1 to 20 minutes.

Developed at BC Children’s hospital with the

help of youth and experts.

Mindshift CBT This app provides tools based on Cognitive

Behavioural Therapy to help youth learn how Free
to relax and be mindful. Some examples of
tools include a ‘thought journal’ to track
anxious thoughts, guided relaxation and
meditation recordings, and tips to develop
healthy habits.

Developed by Anxiety Canada with the help

of youth with lived experience.
Smiling Mind This app provides free guided meditation
and mindfulness programs for children, Free
youth and adults.

Developed in Australia

Stop, Breathe, and This app allows users to check in with their
Think emotions and provides videos on yoga, Free access to selected
guided meditation and acupressure. exercises.

Developed in USA $9.99 USD/month for

full access.

Calm Calm is a meditation, sleep and relaxation

app that provides users with meditation Free access to selected
lessons, sleep music and sleep stories. exercises.

Developed in USA $14.99/month for full

access.

Social Communication Group Handout 2019

Developed by Annmarie Villanueva, student OT and Liz Cambridge, OT Reg. (ONT)