Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations

Do you sometimes find it challenging to explain social situations or emotional concepts to autistic people? For many autistic people, traditional verbal explanations can be difficult to process, leading to confusion and anxiety. Visual support strategies, such as Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations, offer powerful ways to bridge this communication gap, providing clear, concrete information that enhances understanding and reduces distress.

Here, we will introduce these two popular visual tools, explaining their purpose, structure, and how to create and use them effectively to support autistic people.

What Are Social Stories?

Have you ever wished for a straightforward guide to a complex social situation? Social Stories are short, personalised descriptions of a particular social situation, skill, or concept. They are written and illustrated in a clear, reassuring, and literal manner, designed to provide autistic people with information about what to expect, why things happen, and what appropriate responses might be.

The purpose of a Social Story is to increase an autistic person's understanding of social cues, perspectives, and expected behaviours in specific contexts. They are not meant to change a person's behaviour forcibly, but rather to inform and prepare them, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of safety and predictability.

The Structure of a Social Story

Social Stories typically use specific sentence types to convey information:

• Descriptive Sentences

  These sentences state facts about the situation. For example, "Sometimes, the fire alarm rings at school".

• Perspective Sentences

  These describe the thoughts and feelings of other people involved. For example, "My teachers want me to be safe".

• Directive Sentences

  These offer gentle guidance on expected behaviours. For example, "I will walk quietly to the assembly point".

• Affirmative Sentences

  These reinforce a positive aspect or benefit. For example, "This helps everyone stay safe".

An example of a Social Story

What does a Social Story look like? Here's an example about going to a doctor's appointment:

"Going to the doctor's office is important for my health. My mum or dad will take me to the doctor. We will wait in a waiting room, which might have other people there. When the doctor calls my name, I will go into a room with them. The doctor might ask me questions and look at my ears or throat. This helps the doctor make sure I am healthy. When the visit is finished, we will go home. My mum or dad will be proud that I was brave".

What Are Comic Strip Conversations?

How can we make abstract concepts like emotions and intentions more concrete? Comic Strip Conversations are a visual tool that uses simple stick figures and speech bubbles to illustrate social interactions. They help autistic people understand conversations, social cues, perspectives, and emotions by visually mapping out what is happening, said, and thought during an interaction.

The simplicity of the drawings helps to reduce cognitive load, allowing the autistic person to focus on the key elements of the conversation. Colours are often used to represent emotional content, adding another layer of visual information.

Key Elements of Comic Strip Conversations:

• Stick Figures

  These are simple drawings that represent people involved in the conversation.

• Speech Bubbles

  These visually show what people are saying out loud.

• Thought Bubbles

  These visually show what people are thinking but not saying. This is particularly helpful for explaining hidden social rules or intentions.

• Colours

  Different colours can be used to represent emotions, such as green for good ideas/happiness, red for anger, blue for sadness, and yellow for fear. Black can represent facts.

An example of a Comic Strip Conversation

Imagine a scenario where a friend is frowning and quiet. Drawing a Comic Strip Conversation will be useful to help the autistic person understand what's going on, and how to deal with the situation. It also helps them recognise when a situation like this arises. Here are the 'cartoon' panels you might use for a conversation like this:

• Panel 1 - Observing what's going on

  A drawing of a friend with a frowning face, with a speech bubble that's either empty or just contains '...' which suggests they're not saying anything. However there's also a thought bubble (perhaps blue in colour to represent sadness), saying "I feel sad because my game console broke".

• Panel 2 - Seeking clarification

  A drawing of the autistic person with a neutral face, and a speech bubble saying "Are you okay? You look quiet". There's also a thought bubble (perhaps black in colour to represent fact-finding) saying, "I wonder why my friend is quiet?"

• Panel 3 - Gathering information

  A drawing of the friend, who is still frowning, and perhaps with a tear to visually show their sadness. The friend's speech bubble says, "My game console broke!", and there's also a thought bubble (again blue in colour for sadness) saying, "I feel really upset about it".

• Panel 4 - Deciding on an appropriate response

  A drawing of the autistic person with a slightly sympathetic facial expression, and a speech bubble saying "Oh, that's sad. I'm sorry your game broke". There's also a thought bubble (perhaps green in colour to represent a good idea) saying, "My friend needs some comfort right now".

Creating Effective Visual Tools

How can parents, educators, and therapists create these tools effectively? Whether creating Social Stories or Comic Strip Conversations, certain principles enhance their effectiveness:

• Personalisation

  Tailor the content to the specific person and situation. Use their name, familiar settings, and relevant details.

• Positive Language

  Focus on what the person should do, rather than what they shouldn't. Emphasise positive outcomes.

• Use Simple and Clear Language

  Use straightforward vocabulary and short sentences. Avoid jargon, sarcasm, or idioms, as these can be confusing.

• Visuals Are Important

  Use clear pictures, photos, or simple drawings that directly represent the text. Ensure visuals are not too cluttered or distracting.

• Repetition

  Read Social Stories regularly and revisit Comic Strip Conversations as needed. Repetition helps with understanding and retention.

• Collaboration

  Involve the autistic person in the creation process if appropriate. Their input can ensure the tool is relevant and meaningful to them. For example, asking them to draw parts of a Comic Strip Conversation about their own experiences.

Benefits for Autistic People

What are the real-world benefits of using these visual tools? Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations offer numerous advantages for autistic people, impacting their social understanding, emotional regulation, and overall well-being.

• Improving Social Understanding

  These tools make abstract social rules and expectations concrete and understandable, helping autistic people "read" social situations more effectively.

• Reducing Anxiety

  By providing predictable information about upcoming events or social interactions, they lessen the fear of the unknown, significantly reducing anxiety and distress.

• Teaching New Skills

  They can be used to teach a wide range of skills, from personal hygiene routines to navigating public transport, by breaking down complex tasks into understandable steps.

• Promoting Independence

  As autistic people gain a better understanding of social situations and new skills, they can participate more independently in various environments, fostering confidence and self-esteem.

• Enhancing Communication

  They provide a shared reference point for discussions about social situations and emotions, making it easier for autistic people to express their feelings and for others to understand them.

Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations are invaluable visual tools that empower autistic people by making the social world more comprehensible and less overwhelming.

By embracing these strategies, parents, educators, and therapists can provide meaningful support, fostering greater understanding, reducing anxiety, and helping autistic people navigate their world with increased confidence and success.