Key Points

  • A social story is a short, personalised narrative that describes a situation, skill, or event so a person knows what to expect and how to respond
  • The method was developed by Carol Gray in 1991 and follows specific guidelines: clear, positive, present-tense language written from the person’s own perspective, with mostly descriptive sentences and only a few gentle coaching sentences
  • Social stories are used most often with autistic children, but they help many people who benefit from predictable, easy-to-understand information
  • The NDIS does not fund social stories as a separate item; it funds the speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and behaviour support practitioners who create and teach them
  • Social stories work best when they are written for one specific situation, read regularly before that situation happens, and used consistently across home, school, and community
  • This is general information only and not clinical advice; a qualified therapist or behaviour support practitioner should guide how social stories are developed and used for an individual

What Is a Social Story?

A social story is a short, personalised narrative that describes a situation, skill, or event in a clear, reassuring way to help autistic people and others understand what to expect and how to respond. Developed by Carol Gray in 1991, social stories use simple language and are written from the person’s own perspective.

The idea behind a social story is to share accurate information rather than to correct behaviour. Many situations that feel routine to one person, such as a haircut, a fire drill, or a change of teacher, can be confusing or overwhelming for an autistic person who is unsure what will happen or why. A social story fills that gap by explaining the situation calmly and in advance.

According to the Australian Raising Children Network, social stories are typically used to prepare a person for a new or difficult experience, to teach a routine or skill, or to help someone understand how others might see a situation. Carol Gray’s own guidance, published through the Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding, stresses that a genuine social story should be patient, supportive, and never used to force a particular outcome.

It is worth knowing the language. The term “Social Stories” refers to stories written to Carol Gray’s specific criteria. “Social narrative” and “social script” are broader terms for similar tools, and they are often used loosely in everyday practice.

How to Write a Social Story

Carol Gray sets out a defined method, and the steps below follow her published guidance and the summaries provided by the Raising Children Network. A speech pathologist, occupational therapist, psychologist, or behaviour support practitioner can help you write one and tailor it to the person.

  1. Pick one specific situation. Choose a single event or skill, such as visiting the dentist or waiting for a turn. One story covers one topic.
  2. Gather the person’s perspective. Notice what they already understand, what worries them, and what they need to know. The story should reflect their point of view, not just an adult’s.
  3. Write in the first person and present tense. Use “I” and describe what usually happens, for example “Sometimes the school bell is loud. Most children keep walking to class.”
  4. Keep the language clear, positive, and literal. Avoid figures of speech, absolutes like “always” and “never” where they are not accurate, and anything that could read as blame.
  5. Balance describing and coaching. Gray’s guidance uses mostly descriptive sentences that explain the who, what, where, when, and why, and only a small number of gentle coaching sentences that suggest a response, such as “I can try to take a deep breath.” Describing should outweigh directing.
  6. Add pictures or photos. Real photos or simple drawings help the person connect the words to the actual situation.
  7. Read it together before the event. Share the story calmly and often in the days before the situation, not during a moment of stress. Review and update it as the person’s understanding grows.

Examples and Templates

Below are simplified illustrations of how a social story reads. These are generic examples to show the structure, not stories written for any real person. A story for an individual should always be built around their own needs and words.

Example: getting a haircut

Sometimes my hair gets long and needs a trim. When it is time, we go to the hairdresser. The hairdresser uses scissors and sometimes buzzy clippers. The clippers can feel ticklish on my neck. I can hold a fidget toy while I sit in the chair. When the haircut is finished, my hair is tidy. Most people feel proud of a fresh haircut.

Example: a fire drill at school

Sometimes my school practises what to do if there is ever a fire. This is called a fire drill. A loud alarm rings so everyone can hear it. The alarm is a signal to line up and walk outside with my class. My teacher walks with us. The drill keeps everyone safe. When the drill is over, we walk back inside and keep learning.

For ready-made structures and printable templates, the Raising Children Network offers free social story guidance, and the Gray Center publishes Carol Gray’s original criteria and worked examples. Many speech pathologists and behaviour support practitioners also keep template libraries they adapt for each person. The template itself matters less than writing for one specific situation and one specific person.

How Social Stories Help

Social stories help by making the invisible parts of a situation visible: what will happen, in what order, why, and how a person might choose to respond. For someone who finds unpredictable events stressful, that preparation can lower anxiety and make a new experience feel manageable.

Common ways families and therapists use them:

  • Preparing for new or one-off events, such as a hospital visit, a flight, or starting a new school
  • Teaching everyday routines, such as brushing teeth, packing a bag, or a morning schedule
  • Building social understanding, such as taking turns, personal space, or how others might feel
  • Reducing distress around change, such as a new sibling, a house move, or a change of routine

The evidence base is developing rather than definitive. Reviews of social story research report benefits for some children in some situations, with effects that vary from person to person, which is why they are best used as one tool within broader support rather than a standalone fix. Autism organisations such as the UK’s National Autistic Society describe social stories and comic strip conversations as practical communication tools that work best when they are individualised and used consistently.

How the NDIS Supports Social Stories

The NDIS does not fund social stories as a line item, and it does not need to. Social stories are one of the everyday tools that funded professionals use inside supports a participant already receives. Framing this accurately matters for planning.

The professionals who commonly develop and teach social stories are funded under Capacity Building:

  • Speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists are funded under Capacity Building Improved Daily Living. Creating and coaching families in a social story can be part of therapy. See our NDIS speech therapy guide for how allied health therapy is funded and delivered.
  • NDIS behaviour support practitioners are funded under Improved Relationships. A social story may form part of a positive behaviour support plan. Our guide to NDIS behaviour support explains how this support works and how practitioners are engaged.

For young children, the way this support is delivered is changing. The Australian Government’s Thriving Kids program begins on 1 October 2026 and provides early support, including allied health input, for children aged 8 and under with lower to moderate developmental needs without requiring an NDIS plan. Children with higher support needs continue through the NDIS. Because these arrangements are being rolled out through 2026 and 2027, confirm current details with the NDIS, your planner, or your provider before you plan supports.

None of the above is medical or clinical advice. How and whether social stories suit a particular person should be decided with a qualified therapist or behaviour support practitioner.

Where to Get Help

You do not need to write a social story alone. Speech pathologists and occupational therapists build them into therapy, psychologists and behaviour support practitioners use them within support plans, and many teachers and early childhood educators already use them in the classroom.

Reputable places to start reading:

If sensory factors are part of why a situation feels overwhelming, our guide on sensory processing support across home, school, and community explains how an OT assesses and supports sensory needs alongside communication tools like social stories.

Reviewed against reputable autism and NDIS sources on 2 July 2026.

Carevo connects families to speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and behaviour support practitioners who use communication tools like social stories, across home, school, and community settings in Australia. Get matched with the right provider to build the right communication support team.