Social Stories

WHAT ARE SOCIAL STORIES?

Social stories were created by Carol Gray in 1991. They are short descriptions of a particular situation, event or activity, which include specific information about what to expect in that situation and why.

WHAT ARE SOCIAL STORIES FOR?

Social stories can be used to:

• develop self-care skills (eg how to clean teeth, wash hands or get dressed), social skills (eg sharing, asking for help, saying thank you, interrupting) and academic abilities

• help someone to understand how others might behave or respond in a particular situation

• help others understand the perspective of an autistic person and why they may respond or behave in a particular way

• help a person to cope with changes to routine and unexpected or distressing events (eg absence of teacher, moving house, thunderstorms)

• provide positive feedback to a person about an area of strength or achievement in order to develop self-esteem

• as a behavioural strategy (eg what to do when angry, how to cope with obsessions).

HOW DO SOCIAL STORIES HELP?

Social stories present information in a literal, 'concrete' way, which may improve a person's understanding of a previously difficult or ambiguous situation or activity. The presentation and content can be adapted to meet different people's needs.

They can help with sequencing (what comes next in a series of activities) and 'executive functioning' (planning and organising).    

By providing information about what might happen in a particular situation, and some guidelines for behaviour, you can increase structure in a person's life and thereby reduce anxiety.

Creating or using a social story can help you to understand how the autistic person perceives different situations.

(For more information visit www.autism.org.uk )