Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations

What are Social Stories?

Social Stories were developed by Carol Gray in 1991 to assist individuals with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) to develop greater social understanding. A Social Story is a short description of a particular situation, event or activity, which includes specific information about what to expect in that situation and why. They can provide an individual with some idea of how others might respond in a particular situation and therefore provide a framework for appropriate behaviour. Social Stories also enable others to see things from the perspective of the individual with ASD and why the person may appear to respond or behave in a particular way.

Social Stories have a huge range of applications including:

• To develop self-care skills (e.g. how to clean teeth, wash hands or get dressed), social skills (e.g. sharing, asking for help, saying thank you, interrupting), and academic abilities.
• To assist an individual to cope with changes to routine, and unexpected or distressing events (e.g. absence of teacher, moving house, thunderstorms).
• To provide positive feedback to an individual regarding an area of strength or achievement in order to develop self esteem.
• As a behavioural strategy (e.g. what to do when angry, how to cope with obsessions).
  

The following is an example of a Social Story to assist a childs understanding of nightmares from Carol Grays "The New Social Stories Book" (1994):

"Nightmares.

"Sometimes I may have a nightmare when I am sleeping. Nightmares are the same as a dream, but more scary.

"Events in nightmares do not really happen. They are like pictures in my mind.

"It is all right if I am scared. I may try telling myself it is all in my mind. It is only a dream. Adults can help children with nightmares, too. It is okay to ask an adult for help with nightmares.

"When I wake up, I will see that I am all right." (p. 21)

How do Social Stories help individuals with ASD?

• Writing a Social Story requires detailed consideration of the persons perception of a particular situation, a process which can increase our understanding and empathy and may lead to a better response to the individual with ASD (Gray, 1994).
• Social Stories present information in a literal, concrete and accurate manner, which may improve the individuals understanding of a previously difficult or ambiguous situation or activity.
• The visual presentation of Social Stories utilises the preference for visual processing experienced by many individuals with ASD.
• By providing information about what to expect in a particular situation and some guidelines for the individuals own behaviour in a format that is meaningful and relevant, Social Stories can increase structure in the individuals life and thereby reduce anxiety.
• Assist with sequencing (i.e. what comes next in series of activities) and executive functioning (i.e. planning and organising) difficulties experienced by many individuals with ASD.
  
  

Who can benefit from Social Stories?

Originally designed for children at the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum, Social Stories can also be helpful for adolescents and adults (Gray, 1994). There is research to suggest that individuals with ASD who experience greater difficulties and associated learning disabilities may also benefit from the use of Social Stories (Swaggart, Gagnon, Jones Bock, Earles, Quinn, Smith Myles, & Simpson, 1995). The presentation and content of Social Stories can be adapted to meet the needs of the individual as discussed in the chapters below.

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