Why We Do Social Stories and How We Use Them

By: Trey Brown

At BASICS, we use Social Stories™ to help our clients understand specific social situations, expectations, and functional ways to respond if a situation occurs. Social Stories were popularized by Carol Gray, who developed the approach to provide individuals with clear, supportive information about social situations. You can learn more about Social Stories and view examples through Carol Gray’s Social Story Sampler.

Social Stories can be beneficial when our clients are learning a new skill or preparing for a situation that may be difficult, unfamiliar, or unpredictable. They explain a situation in a simple, clear, and predictable way. Some examples that I’ve used personally are Social Stories explaining “accepting no,” police safety, and interacting with parents/guardians or peers.

When creating a Social Story, we first identify a situation or skill the individual needs help understanding. The story is then written using simple, supportive language and, when appropriate, pictures or other visual supports. While Social Stories can look different depending on the individual and situation, they generally provide information about what is happening, what the individual can do, and strategies that can help them respond successfully.

For example, a Social Story may begin by identifying something positive about the individual before briefly describing the situation or challenge. It can then explain what the individual can do, provide strategies to help them use that skill, and describe what may happen when they use the strategy. The story can end with a positive summary that reinforces the individual's strengths and ability to be successful.

When writing Social Stories, it is also important to make sure that the story follows the principles of the Social Story approach rather than simply being a set of instructions or a behavior-management tool. Carol Gray provides additional guidance on this distinction in her resource, “It’s Not a Social Story If…”.

Once the story is created, we read it during the session and review it before the situation could possibly occur. After reading and reviewing the story, we may practice through role-play or in the natural environment while providing reinforcement for functional responses. This gives the individual an opportunity to practice the skill and apply what they learned from the story.

At BASICS, we use Social Stories to help our clients understand what to expect, identify what they can do, and develop strategies for responding to different situations. Most importantly, Social Stories give us an opportunity to teach these skills in a supportive and individualized way while recognizing the strengths and abilities of each client.