Recognizing the Need for Customized Social Stories: A Parent's Perspective in the Pakistani Context

Abstract

This study explores the importance of customized social stories in the context of Pakistan to improve the social skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Data was collected from 62 parents of diagnosed children with ASD across various cities using a quantitative descriptive approach and survey method. The research instrument demonstrated a reliability score of Cronbach's Alpha 949, and field experts verified its validity. Findings reveal a solid parental desire to develop culturally relevant social stories to aid in teaching and supporting their children. Parents emphasized the effectiveness of these stories in enhancing their children's social skills and daily functioning. The use of social stories intervention for improving social skills among children with autism spectrum disorder is minimal, according to research that reviewed recent literature on the topic. It is because the social stories currently available are mainly in a western context, which does not accurately reflect Pakistan's social context, necessitating the development of customized social stories specifically tailored to the needs of Pakistan's current autistic population for different difficult social situations. This study will offer a piloted mechanism to assess the written and visual content of a given customized social story in the Pakistani context and a tentative framework for creating and assessing customized social stories to ensure their appropriateness for Pakistan's environment and culture. The study concludes that there is a significant need to create and disseminate customized social stories within the Pakistani context, providing valuable resources for parents to train better and support their children with ASD at home and in various social situations.