This is a topic that often depends on the context and the age/environment of the learner.

The best way to teach it is with a social story and/or video modelling combined with role play. Model Me Kids has a topic on “personal space.” Or you can easily create your own short video model.

Use the social story or video model to “teach” the concept and then have the student role play. You can then take data on the role play (eg: rating scale data) and on generalization of the skill.

This website has a compilation of free downloadable social stories that aim to teach personal space.

“Cool/Not Cool” program uses a combination of pictures and role play to receptively and expressively identify the appropriate and inappropriate behaviours and then act out both the appropriate and inappropriate ways. Click here for a video and more information from Autism Partnership.

Here is a research article from Autism Partnership on Cool/Not Cool and here is an interesting comparison on Social Stories vs. Cool Not Cool.