Folks behind our Special Needs Blog thank Carol Gray for informing us of StoryMaker™, the app for creating and presenting Social Stories™. StoryMaker is an app from HandHold Adaptive® and it includes exclusive content from Carol Gray, creator of the Social Stories methodology. The app is designed to help parents, educators and clinicians and is designed for an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. The following press release from HandHold Adaptive tells you the complete story.
PRESS RELEASE
July 11, 2013, 11:54 a.m. EDT
HandHold Adaptive and Carol Gray, Creator of Social Stories, Announce New Handheld Autism Technology
StoryMaker™ for Social Stories™ app for iOS devices now includes exclusive instructional tools and stories created by Carol Gray to help individuals with autism spectrum disorders better understand social situations
SHELTON, Conn., July 11, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — HandHold Adaptive, LLC, a developer of handheld software for those with special needs and their caregivers, has released a new version of its “StoryMaker for Social Stories” application containing exclusive new features designed collaboratively with Carol Gray, creator of the Social Stories methodology.
The project represents the first opportunity for users of the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to create and present Social Stories with the built-in support of Mrs. Gray’s criteria, which are a widely recognized approach for describing situations, skills, or concepts in terms of relevant social cues, perspectives, and common responses.
Social Stories, devised in 1991 by Mrs. Gray, present accurate information about social situations to those with autism and to those who may otherwise face social challenges. Written by caregivers in a specifically defined style and format, Social Stories share accurate social information in a patient and reassuring manner. Improved understanding of events and expectations may lead to more effective responses in social situations.
The StoryMaker for Social Stories app allows caregivers, such as family members and professionals working with those with autism, to create, present and share Social Stories on Apple’s intuitive, touch-screen smartphone and tablet devices. Users of the software can import pictures from a built-in starter library, add them from a camera, or download from Google, Bing or Flickr. An unlimited number and variety of stories can be created, presented on-screen, or shared with other caregivers via printouts and email.
Several new features have been added to StoryMaker for Social Stories with the help of Mrs. Gray:
* ACADEMY: Learning how to write effective Social Stories in just a few minutes! The Academy section of the application teaches each of Mrs. Gray’s criteria using easy-to-understand examples and quiz modules. You’ll be writing tremendous Social Stories in no time!
* CAROL’S CLASSICS: More than 10 of Mrs. Gray’s most popular Social Stories are included as templates within the StoryMaker application. These stories, such as “Learning About Favorite Topics” and “Learning About Raising My Hand,” can be edited and customized to suit individual needs.
Development of StoryMaker was funded by the Small Business Innovation Research program at the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. HandHold Adaptive has received four awards under the program to support its research and development.
StoryMaker was investigated in an independently-conducted field trial featuring 31 teachers working with students with ASDs. A publication announcing the results of the study is expected soon.
StoryMaker for Social Stories is available on compatible iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad models for $39.99.
SOURCE HandHold Adaptive, LLC
Copyright (C) 2013 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
What are Social Stories™?
On Carol Gray’s Social Stories Facebook page she writes, “A Social Story™/ Social Article accurately describes a situation, skill, or concept according to ten defining criteria. Carol Gray developed Social Stories in 1991… Every Social Story is developed with consideration of 10 defining criteria that guide the process that develops and implements each Story, as well as determining the individualized format and other characteristics of the final text and illustrations. Social Articles follow the same 10 defining criteria as Social Stories, with a format and vocabulary suitable for a more advanced reader.”
Who is Carol Gray?
Carol Gray, an internationally-recognized author and presenter, first defined Social Stories™ in 1991. That year, Carol developed Social Stories™ and Comic Strip Conversations strategies that are used worldwide with children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). On our Special Needs Book Review site we have a review of her book, The New Social Story Book: Revised and Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition: Over 150 Social Stories™ that Teach Everyday Social Skills to Children with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome, and their Peers.
Follow Carol Gray:
7 Comments
Interested to find out how I may order this and is it shipped to Canada .
Barbara Santos, I am not sure where you can buy the Story Maker to have it shipped to Canada. Most books or resources like this one are also available for Canadian customers.
Hello, regarding the StoryMaker for Social Stories app for iphone…can the social story be exported to a device without the app??
Hello Sandy, I am sorry, but I just found this message; however, I do not know the answer to your question.
Add Comment