Question
How can occupational therapy practitioners integrate social stories into practice?
Answer
Social Stories serve as a therapeutic bridge between a client's understanding of social cues and their functional performance in daily routines. While often associated with psychology, OTs can use these stories to reduce cognitive load and promote independence in tasks like self-care, transitions, and classroom participation. Research indicates that the highest efficacy is achieved when these stories are individualized, written in the first person, and maintain a 2:1 ratio of descriptive to directive sentences. For the best results, OTs should treat the story as an adjunct tool within a holistic, multidisciplinary plan rather than a standalone intervention.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Social Stories For Occupational Therapy Practitioners, presented by Aditi Mehra, DHSc, OTR/L.
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