Social stories for student success: a compilation of customizable pragmatic therapy tools for elementary-, middle-, high- school, and college-aged students on the autism spectrum

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2020, approximately 1 out of 44 – nearly 3% – of all children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. With the prevalence of this disorder on the rise, it is important for educational professionals – such as teachers, special education teachers, speech therapists, counselors, and educational psychologists – to have access to tools specifically designed for their students on the spectrum. One option is social stories, an intervention method that presents confusing information about complex social situations to students with autism in an unbiased and educational format. Children and adults with autism experience, process, and interact with their environment in different ways so it is vital that caregivers and educators can individualize their materials to match the distinct needs of each client they serve. This resource serves to guide professionals in their creation of social stories to serve their clientele’s behavioral, cognitive, and social needs. As much as this thesis benefits the ASD population, its goal is to guide educators to the successful incorporation of their exceptional learner population.