Social Narratives-Autism

Social Narratives Fact Sheet

Social narratives (SN) are interventions that describe social situations in some detail by high- lighting relevant cues and offering examples of appropriate responding. They are aimed at helping learners adjust to changes in routine and adapt their behaviors based on the social and physical cues of a situation, or to teach specific social skills or behaviors. Social narratives are individualized according to learner needs and typically are quite short, perhaps including pictures or other visual aids. Usually written in first person from the perspective of the learner, social narratives include sentences that detail the situation, provide suggestions for appropriate learner responses, and describe the thoughts and feelings of other people involved in the situation.

Qualifying Evidence
SN meets evidence-based criteria with 17 single case design studies.

Ages
According to the evidence-based studies, this intervention has been effective for preschoolers (3-5 years) to high school-age learners (15-18 years) with ASD.

Outcomes
SN can be used effectively to address social, communication, behavior, joint attention, play, school-readiness, academic, and adaptive skills.

Reference
Wong, C. (2013). Social narratives (SN) fact sheet. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Adapted from: Collet-Klingenberg, L., & Franzone, E. (2008). Overview of social narratives. Madison: University of Wisconsin, Waisman Center, The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders.