To autistic children, social skills are unchartered territory. It seems that everyone else is carrying a map, but they haven't been given one. Knowing what;s expected of you in different social situations can be upsetting and confusing. The Social Story™ is a simple tool that can be easily overlooked, but if you were going somewhere new, you'd take a map. By creating Social Stories, you're doing the same for your child. AuKids co-editor Tori Houghton, a specialist speech and language therapist, shows you how...
1. What are Social Stories?
Social Stories™ were developed in 1991 by Carol Gray, Director of The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding in Michigan. They are written or visual explanations of social situations.
Take going to the dentist for the first time. Someone might explain to you how you would go up to reception, give your name, wait in the waiting room and your name would be called. Once with the dentist you would have to open your mouth and so on... You would be given a verbal explanation of what to expect.
Social Stories™ are based on a similar idea, but instead of talking about what is going to happen, the explanation is a written one, as visuals are so much easier to process for autistic childrenand can be revisited repeatedly.
2. When Do We Need Them?
Social Stories™ can act like a stitch in time. If you know that a small change, or a bigger one, is going to cause anxiety or stress, a Social Story™ is a good way of preparing your child for what’s going to happen in a very neutral way.
Social Stories™ are also good for preparing kids for what’s expected of them in totally new situations. But they’re also a great tool for daily challenges and can be used to explain what the ‘rules’ are for stuff like going to a public toilet or to a library, where a lack of knowledge may make them behave inappropriately or cause them distress.
Having a step by step explanation beforehand is far more effective than trying to tackle problems when you’re in the middle of them – for you and for them! As a parent, it does mean thinking about a situation before it occurs and then preparing a Social Story™ to nip any concerns in the bud.
3. Why Do We Write It Down?
We know that most autistic people generally respond better to visual information. It’s permanent, predictable and reassuring and can be consulted and re-read to ensure understanding.
4. Be Prepared!
When we plan a trip abroad what’s the first thing we do? Get a guide book! We read up on the kind of behaviour that can be expected in a different culture. Then we know what to expect. Overall, life is less stressful when you’re well prepared.
Think of the Social Story™ as a compass and map for your little scout, helping them to navigate through the confusing world of social situations. It explains what is expected and why.
5. I’m No Poet…
You don’t have to be. It’s as simple as writing a shopping list, just follow our step by step guide.
6. So What Does A Social Story ™ Look Like?
Main Types of sentences:
DESCRIPTIVE: Answers the “wh” questions and describes the situation from an objective perspective
CONTROL: Compares this situation with a more familiar one, providing personal meaning by using the child’s interests or previous experiences. You might well use the phrase: “This is just like when…..”
AFFIRMATIVE: A reassuring nod to the child’s anxieties - it enhances the meaning, ‘this is ok’. E.g. I might feel a little unsure about this at first. This is okay, I can take my time.
DIRECTIVE: Usually near the end of the story, this positively and flexibly offers a response usually in the form of “I will try to……” We use the word ‘try to’ to allow for errors and avoid rigidity.
Other hints
A title helps to orientate the reader straight away. Social Stories always use positive language. This is about positive reinforcement. It is written from the child's viewpoint and should contain twice as many descriptive sentences than directive ones. The format should be tailored to the person's level of language. Finally, only tackle one subject at a time. The point of the story and desired outcomes should be very clear.
Here's an example:
GOING TO THE SUPERMARKET
Sometimes I go to the supermarket with mum. (DESCRIPTIVE)
I like doing the shopping with her. (DESCRIPTIVE)
Sometimes if I walk away from mummy when she’s busy, she can’t see where I’ve got to. This makes her worried, like when Numberjack 5 lost Numberjack Zero when they were out and about. (CONTROL)
Staying close to mummy in the supermarket is really important because it keeps me safe and it stops me from getting lost. It also makes mummy feel really happy and proud of me. (AFFIRMATIVE)
I will try and stay close to mummy when we are in the supermarket. (DIRECTIVE)
7. What If My Autistic Child Doesn’t Read?
It’s important to tailor Social Stories™ to the right level of understanding for your child. You can read the story to your child or s/he can be shown through a picture version. Social Stories™ particularly work with children who have some understanding of language. For those who struggle, simple pictures or symbol strips are more effective.
8. What Makes It A Proper ‘Social Story™’?
Social Stories™ follow a particular format as identified by Carol Gray. The format is carefully balanced so that the child receives gentle, clear explanations and is steered in the right direction rather than dictated to. The Social Story is constructed to connect with a child on their level and to avoid applying any pressure. The way that they’re constructed means that autistic kids can readily take on board the information in them. Finally, to avoid confusion, they’re aimed at explaining ONE thing only, not several situations or responses at once.
9. How to introduce a Social Story™
Depending on your child’s level of understanding, it’s important that they understand that it’s their story. Personalise it, use examples of their interests in the story e.g. like when Numberjack 4 is late…, and enlist their help in making it colourful. Read the story well before the situation is going to happen and have it available for future reference.
Websites:
http://www.kansasasd.com has example social narratives that you can use and adapt to your child (click on ‘classroom materials’ under ‘explore more resources’).
Carol Gray’s website includes a video of her talking about Social Stories:
http://www.thegraycenter.org/social-stories/what-are-social-stories
10. Further Information
Book: Carol Gray – My Social Stories Book by Carol Gray and Abbie Leigh White, contains lots of example stories. There are many more by Carol Gray.
Factsheet: NAS –How to Write a Social Story. Look up www.autism.org.uk
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BUY THIS ISSUE: The full article on Social Stories appeared in Issue 15 of AuKids magazine.
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