Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations are two widely used tools in the field of special education. These tools have proven to be very effective in helping individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) develop social communication skills.
But who developed these tools? Let’s take a closer look.
Social Stories
The concept of Social Stories was first introduced by Carol Gray in 1991. Carol Gray is a consultant to children, adolescents, and adults with ASD, and has over 30 years of experience in the field of special education.
Social Stories are short stories that describe a social situation or interaction in a way that is easy for individuals with ASD to understand. The stories use simple language and are often accompanied by illustrations or pictures. They are designed to help individuals with ASD learn appropriate social behavior and communication skills.
Social Stories typically follow a specific format, which includes four main parts:
- The descriptive sentence – describes the situation or event
- Perspective sentences – describe how others might feel or think about the situation
- Directive sentences – provide guidance on appropriate behavior
- Control sentences – offer reassurance that things will be okay
Comic Strip Conversations
Comic Strip Conversations were developed by Carol Gray as an extension of Social Stories. They use a similar format, but instead of telling a story, they use simple illustrations or cartoons to depict a conversation between two or more people.
Comic Strip Conversations are designed to help individuals with ASD understand social interactions and communication in real-time situations. They can also be used to help individuals learn how to express themselves more effectively in social situations.
Like Social Stories, Comic Strip Conversations follow a specific format. They typically include:
- Speech bubbles – containing what each person is saying
- Thought bubbles – containing what each person might be thinking
- Action bubbles – containing descriptions of what is happening in the conversation
- Emotion bubbles – containing how each person might be feeling
Conclusion
In conclusion, Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations are two very effective tools in the field of special education. They were both developed by Carol Gray, a consultant with over 30 years of experience working with individuals with ASD.
These tools have helped countless individuals with ASD develop social communication skills and navigate social situations more effectively. Their continued use in special education classrooms and therapy sessions is a testament to their effectiveness and value in helping individuals with ASD achieve success in their daily lives.