Social Story
Also known as: social narrative
What does Social Story mean?
A social story — sometimes called a social narrative — is a short, supportive explanation written or illustrated for a specific child to help them understand a situation, routine, expectation, or social experience before it happens. Originally developed by educator Carol Gray, a well-written social story describes what to expect and why, in a calm and reassuring way, without judgment. They can cover anything from a first visit to the dentist to how to handle a fire drill at school.
Why this term matters
Social stories can be a gentle and effective way to prepare an autistic child for new or challenging situations, and sharing them with teachers, therapists, or other caregivers helps everyone support the child with a consistent approach.
Canadian context
Speech-language pathologists, behaviour consultants, and school resource teams across Canada often use social stories as part of a child's support plan — families may be able to request help creating them through school-based or community-funded services, depending on their province or territory.
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