How to Write Social Stories
1. Define the problem
- Make sure that the issue is fully acknoweldged, defined, and referenced early on in the story/ discussion presented to the person with ASD.
- "It is very easy for me to lose track of where I place things because I have lots of things on my mind. As a result, I lose track of things very easily."
2. Affirmatively state the solution
- Make sure to make clear that the problem being addressed may happen on a daily basis, however, there are ways to overcome it.
-"Losing track of my things happens pretty often, but it doesn't mean I can't have a system to remember where my things are."
3. Write down a logical solution to the problem
- There is a logical solution to the presented problem: Make sure to write the solution to the problem on a piece of paper so that it is easily viewed and referenceable. Putting the solution down on paper will help us see it, and remember it better.
- "It makes the most sense to have one specific place where I write down things that I tend to lose track of. I am going to keep this list in a folder on the end table near my bed. This is the most logical place because it is where I put all of my other important things as well."
4. Make a plan
- What should we do the next time something disappears/ appears lost? First, we assign each object a home. When we need it, we will go to its home and look for it there. (The assigned home may not make sense to anyone but the person with ASD. In order for the individual to be independent, it doesn't matter if anyone else understands why that particular home has been chosen for the object. As long that they understand why, that is all that matters).
- "When I realize that I have misplaced something, all I need to do is write down where I'm going to keep it. The place I decide to make the item's home makes sense to me. The next time I need to find the item I can look on my list to see where I decided to keep it."
5. Indicate the benefits of the plan
-Individuals with Asperger's need to understand both WHAT to do and WHY. In order for them to carry out a particular task or develop a particular plan, it has to make sense in THEIR minds. The reasoning behind every action needs to be logical in the mind of the person with Asperger's, not in the mind of those around them.
- "When I have a good list of most of the items that go missing, things wont get lost nearly as often and I will be a lot less frustrated."
- Make sure that the issue is fully acknoweldged, defined, and referenced early on in the story/ discussion presented to the person with ASD.
- "It is very easy for me to lose track of where I place things because I have lots of things on my mind. As a result, I lose track of things very easily."
2. Affirmatively state the solution
- Make sure to make clear that the problem being addressed may happen on a daily basis, however, there are ways to overcome it.
-"Losing track of my things happens pretty often, but it doesn't mean I can't have a system to remember where my things are."
3. Write down a logical solution to the problem
- There is a logical solution to the presented problem: Make sure to write the solution to the problem on a piece of paper so that it is easily viewed and referenceable. Putting the solution down on paper will help us see it, and remember it better.
- "It makes the most sense to have one specific place where I write down things that I tend to lose track of. I am going to keep this list in a folder on the end table near my bed. This is the most logical place because it is where I put all of my other important things as well."
4. Make a plan
- What should we do the next time something disappears/ appears lost? First, we assign each object a home. When we need it, we will go to its home and look for it there. (The assigned home may not make sense to anyone but the person with ASD. In order for the individual to be independent, it doesn't matter if anyone else understands why that particular home has been chosen for the object. As long that they understand why, that is all that matters).
- "When I realize that I have misplaced something, all I need to do is write down where I'm going to keep it. The place I decide to make the item's home makes sense to me. The next time I need to find the item I can look on my list to see where I decided to keep it."
5. Indicate the benefits of the plan
-Individuals with Asperger's need to understand both WHAT to do and WHY. In order for them to carry out a particular task or develop a particular plan, it has to make sense in THEIR minds. The reasoning behind every action needs to be logical in the mind of the person with Asperger's, not in the mind of those around them.
- "When I have a good list of most of the items that go missing, things wont get lost nearly as often and I will be a lot less frustrated."
