Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOriginDefinitionElementsExamplesHow They’re UsedMisuseResearch
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Origin
Definition
Elements
Examples
How They’re Used
Misuse
Research
Social stories forautistic kidscan help prepare them for a new or complex situation.Autistic children typicallydon’t learn through imitationas other kids do. They get easily overwhelmed in new situations because they have troublegeneralizing—in other words, a single experience won’t help them understand how future or similar experiences are likely to play out.
It’s easy to see why anautistic child may have a “meltdown"when asked to manage the social expectations of a birthday party, a Halloween parade at school, or even a trip to the dentist.
Social stories can help autistic kids prepare for new situations with a few steps:
Creating social stories takes planning, thought, and insight to do well. This article goes over how social stories are used for autistic kids and how to create them.
Autism
The Origin of the Social Story
Since 1990, other researchers have explored the efficacy of social stories, and the results have been mixed. Research suggests that social stories can only be useful when the audience is engaged, interested, and able to understand and act on the content.
The Definition of a Social Story
In a basic sense, a social story is a short story with realistic pictures intended to help an autistic child, teen, or adult better understand and/or navigate the world.
According to Carol Gray, the criteria for a good social story include:
Elements of a Typical Social Story
Here are the typical elements of a social story written for young autistic children:
Social stories can be in color or black and white, but accurate color is preferred because autistic people think literally and will expect, for example, that grass is green.
Social Story Examples
Verywell / Elise Degarmo
Relatively few social stories are written for autistic teens, and even fewer are written to help autistic adults better understand abstract concepts, laws, or subtle social cues.
Where to Find Social Stories
Over the years, Gray and others have experimented with other formats for Social Stories. Today, it’s possible to find high-quality pre-made social stories in comic strips, videos, and even virtual reality experiences.
Example of a Social Story
Here’s a sample social story format:
How Social Stories Are Used
Common Uses of Social StoriesTeach autistic children (or adults) to do simple tasks, such as removing a jacket and putting away a lunchboxHelp autistic people prepare for a complex or challenging situation, such as a social event or an outing that is likely to include social expectations and/or sensory triggersHelp autistic people understand and respond to body language, facial expressions, or vocal tonesProvide options for autistic kids in a social skills group or similar settingPrepare autistic people for unique events such as a wedding, job interview, or date
Common Uses of Social Stories
Teach autistic children (or adults) to do simple tasks, such as removing a jacket and putting away a lunchboxHelp autistic people prepare for a complex or challenging situation, such as a social event or an outing that is likely to include social expectations and/or sensory triggersHelp autistic people understand and respond to body language, facial expressions, or vocal tonesProvide options for autistic kids in a social skills group or similar settingPrepare autistic people for unique events such as a wedding, job interview, or date
Misuse of Social Stories
Social stories are simple, so it’s easy to misuse them or create stories that are ineffective. Social Stories are not narratives about children behaving “the right way,” nor are they directives for completing tasks or behaving appropriately.
When creating social stories, writers should avoid:
Another common error in creating social stories is the misuse of visuals. Images should be as realistic, accurate, and meaningful as possible. Many creators of social stories use clip art, emojis, and other items that “decorate” the story but convey no meaning to the person reading it.
Related Research
Research on social stories for autism is limited since the method is usually looked at as part of a broader treatment plan.
Studies are also looking at whether there are differences when social stories are physical (like a paper booklet) or digital (like on a computer screen or tablet). Some researchers are also exploring using robots, video games, and social stories to help autistic kids communicate.
Case studies suggest that some autistic kids do benefit from social stories, but they may not work well for all autistic children.
Summary
Social stories are meant to help autistic people manage emotions, behavior, and communication. While they are successful for some autistic children, others do not find social stories useful. Since they are alow-costand caregiver-friendly technique, social stories may be worth a try and can be used in different settings, like school and at home.
The Importance of Social Skills Therapy for Autism
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Autistic Society.Social stories and comic strip conversations.
Carol Gray Social Stories.The discovery of social stories (1990-1992).
Louis John Camilleri, Maras K, Brosnan M.Autism spectrum disorder and social story research: a scoping study of published, peer-reviewed literature reviews.Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2021;9(1):21-38. doi:10.1007/s40489-020-00235-6
Carol Gray Social Stories.What is a social story?
Carol Gray Social Stories.Social stories 10.3 criteria.
Indiana Resource Center for Autism.Behavioral issues and the use of social stories.
Nevin C, Newbutt NA.Investigating the effectiveness of paper-based and computer-presented Social Stories for children with autism spectrum conditions in an autism-specific special school.Virtual reality technologies for health and clinical applications. Published online January 1, 2023:129-146. doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-3371-7_6
Papadopoulos AN, Angeliki Tsapara, Panagiotis Plotas, Ioannis Tzortzakis, Dionysios Tafiadis, Vassiliki Siafaka.The effectiveness of social stories in an intervention program in late adolescence with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: A case study report.Neuroscience research notes. 2023;6(3). doi:/10.31117/neuroscirn.v6i3.239
Daneshvar SD, Charlop MH, Berry Malmberg D.A treatment comparison study of a photo activity schedule and Social Stories for teaching social skills to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: brief report.Dev Neurorehabil. 2019;22(3):209‐214. doi:10.1080/17518423.2018.1461947
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