| Social Stories are visual tools used to teach social | | | | might be a social story for example to help a child |
| skills to autistic children. They provide the child | | | | with ASD make choices, learn how to share, |
| with ASD with explanations about situations that | | | | respect personal space and cope with changes to |
| he or she may find difficult or confusing. | | | | routines or transitions. |
| Research suggests that Social Stories are | | | | Many children with autism have communication |
| successful in reducing inappropriate behaviours. | | | | difficulties and trouble with social interactions which |
| The social story improves social skills and | | | | can cause them stress and anxiety. For these |
| communication difficulties as well as social | | | | children social stories can help them feel more |
| interactions. | | | | comfortable and included. A social story should be |
| Social stories were first used with children with | | | | visual and focus on the key points that the |
| autism and aspergers to improve communication | | | | person with ASD struggles with; like for example |
| skills. Today Social Stories are one of the | | | | respecting personal space. |
| significant visual tools used in autism and have | | | | A social story for respecting personal space will |
| wide and varied uses, not only for improving | | | | focus on the key cues and explain the "wh" |
| communication difficulties. | | | | questions (who, where, when, why and what) as |
| Social Stories can be introduced to not only | | | | well as showing visually what the child with ASD |
| autistic children but also children with related | | | | may expect from others and what they will be |
| conditions. | | | | expecting of them. |
| Some suggested social stories for autistic children | | | | |