Create top tips for making a Picture or Social Story page

[Roger-Heathcote]

• Picture the goal of your story. Decide ‘who’ the story is for and ‘what’ activity it will focus on.

• Consider the needs and abilities of the child or adult you are supporting at every stage of making the story. (What will they need to know, what might they be worried about, what reassurance can this story give, what information do they need to have)

•  Gather your images. Take as many photographs as you can of the actual activity, place or person that the story will focus on.  Use Google images, pecs or clip art were you need to. 

• Consider your story title. This is important. For example: if the story is about a parent having to go away overnight, perhaps title the story ‘Mum coming home again’ and focus the content on reassuring the child that their parent is returning rather than titling it ‘Mum needs to go away for a night’ which may cause anxiety rather than reassure. 

• Every story needs an title, introduction, main body and ending. Generally speaking you will usually be answering 6 questions in your story; Who, What, Why, Where, When and How/How long?

• Sequence your images in a way that represents the ‘recipe’ of the activity and then tailor your text. Text should always be supportive, patient, simple and clear. 

• Your ending is very important and should always be positive. You can highlight what you might do when the activity is over, a strength of the person the story is for or an aspect of the activity which they might really enjoy. 

• Lastly, when complete read the story with the person at a time that is relaxed and comfortable for them. Print it out so they can have their own copy and review it in their own time. Use it together in the days leading up to the activity and on the day itself.