Writing Social Stories, Step by Step

Social Stories, first introduced by Carol Gray in 1991, are a valuable tool for speech therapists, especially when working with individuals on the autism spectrum or those with other social language challenges. These narratives are designed to describe social situations, decrease anxiety, and promote appropriate responses by describing what to expect and how to behave. This blog will dive into crafting effective Social Stories and how they can be incorporated into therapy.

Social Stories are short, structured narratives that break down complex social situations into understandable pieces. Each story is designed for an individual's needs, and focusing on components such as social cues, expected behaviors, and appropriate responses.

The Elements of a Social Story

To write an effective Social Story, Carol Gray outlined several essential elements and guidelines. These components ensure that the story is clear and supportive.

  1. Descriptive Sentences: Descriptive sentences give actual information about the social situation. They answer the "who," "what," "where," and "why" aspects of the context. For example, "At school, we have a fire drill to practice being safe in case of an emergency."
  2. Perspective Sentences: Perspective sentences show the thoughts, feelings, or opinions of others involved in the story. They help the client understand how others might perceive or react in the situation. An example might be, "The teacher feels happy when everyone listens quietly during the drill."
  3. Directive Sentences: These sentences guide the client towards appropriate behavior without being too directed. They can start with phrases like "I will try to" or "I can." For example, "I can wait quietly in line during the fire drill."
  4. Affirmative Sentences: Affirmative sentences showcase the importance of a concept or tell the individual more about the situation. They often reinforce the directive sentences and can include phrases like "This is important" or "This will help." An example is, "Staying calm during the fire drill is important for everyone's safety."
  5. Control Sentences: Control sentences are created by the client and suggest strategies for remembering or dealing with the situation. These might include, "I can take deep breaths to stay calm."

Writing Social Stories

  1. Identify the Target Situation: Start by determining the specific social situation or behavior that needs to be targeted. This could be anything from greeting a new person to adjusting to changes in routine.
  2. Gather Information: Understand the individual's perspective and gather details about the scenario. This includes the setting, people involved, and typical expectations.
  3. Write the Story: Using the four types of sentences (descriptive, perspective, directive, and affirmative), create the Social Story. Ensure that the language is clear and age-appropriate. The narrative should be no longer than necessary, with a focus on positive and achievable behaviors.
  4. Review and Personalize: Adjust the story to fit the individual's needs, preferences, and comprehension level. Involve them in the process if possible, especially when creating control sentences.
  5. Introduce and Reinforce: Read the Social Story with the individual several times before the target situation occurs. Reinforcement can be through repetition as well as integrating the story into their daily routine.

In practice, speech therapists can use social stories to prepare for changes in routine, teach appropriate responses in social situations, provide comfort and clear directions for certain scenarios, reinforce positive behavior and introduce coping strategies. Carol Gray's Social Stories are more than just narratives; they can help clients step into the social world. By breaking down complicated situations into parts, Social Stories empower individuals with the tools they need to walk through interactions with more confidence.

References:

Gray, C. (2010). The New Social Story Book. Future Horizons.

Carol Gray Social Stories. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.carolgraysocialstories.