What is a social story?
A social story is written for a person with social skills deficits. The social story follows a specific formula first introduced by therapist Carol Gray twenty years ago to aid and teach communication and social skills to the children with autism she was working with.
This example on the right is of a social story written for a child aged 6 years.
The social skills story is used to encourage positive social interactions or behaviors. Social stoires are normally written by therapists, teachers and parents of individuals with autism to attempt to prepare the individual for varied experiences, changes to routines as well as other skills or behaviors. Social stories can be as varied as puberty,graduation, menstruation, going away and fire drills.
Social Stories are generally a short description much like a comic strip conversation. Detailing a particular situation, event or activity. Showing the important social cues using visual images and text describing what the autistic individual can expect in that situation and why.
The social skills story will provide the autistic individual with some idea of how others might respond, their emotions, feelings and thoughts in a particular situation. By giving some suggestions of appropriate responses and actions the social story can help the individual with autism understand the "wh" questions (who, why, where, when and what) which will help them feel more comfortable with and in the situation, helping to encourage appropriate behaviours.