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How to Write a Social Story or Social Narrative
(Post updated 15th February 2025)
Social Stories were developed by Carol Gray in the early 1990s as an evidence-based strategy to help autistic learners and individuals with social communication differences understand what to expect in a wide range of situations.
The term “social narrative” is a broader category that includes Social Stories and other simplified stories that visually and verbally explain social situations and behaviours.
Social Stories and narratives are widely used in autism education. However, many well-meaning individuals write them without fully understanding the philosophy and criteria necessary for effectiveness. This has led to the widespread use of stories that are ineffective or, in some cases, even harmful. To ensure safety and effectiveness, Social Stories should only be written by those with training in story writing.
Below, I will outline the key features of effective Social Stories and narratives, followed by information on training and tools to support their creation.
Key Features of Effective Social Stories and Narratives
A well-written story ensures the emotional well-being and self-esteem of the individual while providing clear and meaningful information. Here are some essential characteristics:
1. Descriptive and Informative
- The story should provide meaningful information that helps the autistic person understand the situation and what to expect.
2. Socially Humble and Respectful
- The story should explain the situation without telling the individual what to think or feel.
- It should reflect an autistic person’s unique and equally valid perspective rather than assuming that the neurotypical viewpoint is always correct.
3. Supportive, Patient, and Reassuring
- The tone should be positive and encouraging, providing gentle coaching to help the individual understand the situation.
- Where appropriate, the story should reference past successes to build confidence.
- Example:
- ✅ “Last year, I learned how to walk in line with my class. It was tricky at first, but I got better with practice. This year, I am learning to put my hand up when I want to speak. I can practise this and get good at it too!”
- Example:
4. Non-Judgemental
- A Social Story should not highlight “wrong” behaviours in a way that shames or isolates the individual.
- Avoid using first-person statements for undesirable behaviours. Instead of saying:
- ❌ “I often hit other children.”
- ✅ Say: “Everyone feels safe when we keep our hands to ourselves.”
- Avoid using the word “should” as it can sound too directive. Instead of:
- ❌ “I should put my hand up when I want to speak.”
- ✅ Say: “The class rule is that students put their hand up when they want to speak.”
5. Personalised
- The story should use first-person perspective (e.g., “My name is Mark, and I am in First Class.”).
- Use relevant photos or graphics to make the story more engaging.
- If the child has a special interest, incorporating it into the story can improve engagement.
6. Physically, Socially, and Emotionally Safe
- The story should protect the child’s self-esteem.
- ❌ “Other children won’t like me if I hit on the yard.”
- ✅ Instead: “We all like to feel safe when playing. We feel safe when others are gentle and respect personal space. I am learning to have safe hands.”
- The story should never replace supervision. For example, teaching a child about road safety through a Social Story does not replace the need for adult supervision near roads.
Social Stories vs Social Narratives
To be considered an official Social Story™, it must follow Carol Gray’s 10.4 criteria (available here).
Stories that do not fully meet these criteria can still be effective when following the principles outlined above. However, they are best described as social narratives rather than Social Stories™.
Tips for Using Social Stories & Narratives Effectively
✅ Involve Parents – Share drafts with parents for feedback and provide a copy so they can reinforce learning at home.
✅ Collaborate with School Staff – The SET, class teacher, and SNAs should all be involved to ensure consistency in supporting the child.
✅ Revisit and Update the Story – Once the child has mastered the skill, the story can be read less frequently and eventually phased out. However, it can be reintroduced or updated if needed.
✅ Tailor to Age and Attention Span – For younger children or those with language difficulties, use more pictures and fewer words.
Where to Access Training
In Ireland, training is available through:
1️⃣ NCSE (National Council for Special Education)
- The Teacher Professional Learning programme offers a Social Narrative Writing course.
- Substitution cover is provided for mainstream and autism class teachers.
2️⃣ Local Education Centres
- Search for “Social Stories” courses on the ESCI website.
- Carol Gray occasionally offers her extremely comprehensive Social Story training through the education centre network. I have done this training twice. It requires some commitment, taking place over 5 weeks for between 1.5 and 2hours per session, but it is useful for teachers who write Social Stories frequently.
3️⃣ My Free Introductory Webinar
- I offer a free one-hour introductory webinar on Social Story & Narrative writing through education centres.
- Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for updates, check out my list of upcoming webinars here, or email me at claire@teachingplans.ie for information about upcoming sessions.
Best Tools for Writing Social Stories and Narratives
📌 Microsoft Word or PowerPoint – Simple and effective for creating text-based stories.
📌 Canva – A free graphic design tool for teachers, offering a wide range of fonts, backgrounds, and images to create visually appealing narratives.
📌 ChatGPT – AI can generate sample social stories, helping you get ideas for what to include.
⚠️ However, stories generated by AI are generic and must be personalised for the individual child. AI also does not include graphics, so you will need to add them manually.
Where to Find Sample Social Stories and Narratives
📍 TeachingPlans.ie – I regularly add editable social stories and narratives, with a mix of free and paid resources.
📍 The Watson Institute – Offers a large collection of free sample social stories.
📍 Carol’s Club – Carol Gray’s website includes official Social Stories (free account required).
Final Thoughts
There is much more to Social Story writing than can be covered in a single post, but I hope this guide has provided a strong starting point.
If you want to learn more, I highly recommend joining one of my free upcoming webinars on Social Story writing. Follow me on social media, or check out my list of upcoming webinars here, for updates.
References:
- Gray, C. (2023). What is a Social Story? Available here
- Timmins, S. (2023). What is a Social Story™? Available here
