Using+VoiceThread+to+Create+Social+Stories+for+Students+with+Autism

Using VoiceThread to Create Social Stories for Students with Autism
 Students who are diagnosed with Autism often demonstrate difficulty with understanding social situations and interacting appropriately with peers without having proper instruction. One way to provide instruction to these students is to allow them the opportunity to view, discuss, and even create social stories. A Social Story describes a given social interaction that a person may experience, and how to appropriately react and/or respond to the situation. A social story often allows the student with Autism to lessen the anxiety or worry they may feel in an unknown social situation as it prepares them for what to expect and/or how to communicate effectively during that social situation.

 Social stories are often written for students with Autism by someone else. This is more effective for learning how to handle social interactions because the person writing often understands the need for a brief story with as much accurate information as possible. Students with Autism struggle to write their own social stories due to not having access to or being familiar with the most accurate information to write the social story. Using VoiceThread will allow a student with Autism to access various types of information to feel as if they are a part of the social story creation process. Using VoiceThread will allow the students with Autism to discuss ways of interacting during a given social situation without needing to create the whole social story independently. For example, a student who is upper elementary or middle school age and is somewhat familiar with social stories, may be able to create an appropriate ending to a social story that the beginning has already been written for by leaving a written or oral comment onto the VoiceThread. Students with Autism can even respond to questions about the social stories on VoiceThread to check for understanding or comprehension of the story. Students who have Autism are be able to collaborate and discuss their responses to social stories with other students with Autism, as well to decide the most effective way to deal with a social situation, via VoiceThreads that have been shared with them.

 Social Stories are a great tool to help students with Autism understand how to prepare and interact in a social situation, and the use of VoiceThread will allow them the opportunity to feel as if they are a part of the Social Story creating process and interact with other students with Autism to discuss ways to handle social situations in the most effective manner.

References: Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations: [] What are Social Stories?: [] Social Story Tips and Sample: []