Social stories are invaluable resources to therapists, teachers, and parents because they help improve social-emotional growth, reduce anxieties, and teach self-regulation. Using a short narrative about a specific situation, combined with respective visuals and positive way to respond, social stories help guide behavior, explain an event, teach social skills, or navigate feelings.
Research consistently shows that social stories are most effective when they are personalized and relatable—when they reflect the individual’s experiences, challenges, and appearances. Traditionally, creating these stories required therapists or parents to spend hours creating or searching for images. But in today’s digital age, generative AI is transforming how therapists, educators, and parents are creating social stories. They now can quickly and easily create social stories that are tailored to each child’s unique needs and routines. However, it is very important to understand what AI tools are available and how to choose the right AI platform that ensures safety, quality, and consistency.
Is it Safe to Create Social Stories with AI?
The answer is yes—if you work with AI that is trusted, verified, and purpose-built for creating social stories that follow the proper structure. Using general-purpose Large Language Models (LLMs), which are now part of our daily lives, can sometimes be useful, but caution is needed. These LLMs may seem like a good option if you only need a verbal narrative, but you must ensure the story follows the criteria defined by Carol Gray.
Visuals, however, are now an essential part of social stories, and most general-purpose GenAI tools do not create consistent images that flow smoothly from start to finish. Because they are not designed for making social stories, they can hallucinate—producing inaccurate or inappropriate outputs. That’s why choosing the right AI platform is essential. The best option is to select a purpose-built AI social story maker, designed specifically to create safe, trusted, and predictable stories.
What to Look for in an AI Social Story Platform
Not all AI social story maker platforms are created the same. As you begin exploring and evaluating options for your classroom or practice, focus on safety, ethics, and output consistency—without compromising data privacy and personal information handling. This ensures that the stories are both accurate and supportive, while complying with child-safety and privacy standards.
Next, consider usability, customization, and collaboration options. Look for AI tools that allow you to easily write prompts with all the details you need. It’s equally important to choose an AI platform that generates visuals, since many tools produce only text and cannot reflect individual appearances or specific scenarios.
Lastly, think about collaboration. Social stories are meant to be revisited, shared, and printed. Choose AI platforms that make sharing and revisiting stories easy and consistent. For educators, ensure that the AI platform integrates with approved learning systems.
All of this applies to families as well. Parents and caregivers need AI social story tools that are simple, safe, and engaging for children. Typing a short prompt that includes the child’s name, routines, or challenges should be a straightforward, one-step process. The platform should work seamlessly across devices and support easy printing, saving, and sharing.
The Right Choice Builds Trust and Connection
AI social story platforms are powerful tools when chosen wisely. The right solution will be trusted by professionals and loved by parents because it provides children and adults with the right support and guidance.
At Emona, our goal was to deliver a safe, trusted, and purpose-built AI social story maker that follows the latest Social Story™ criteria established by Carol Gray. This allows users to create personalized social stories that support emotional growth and social understanding. We balance trust, safety, quality, and usability—helping both parents and professionals provide meaningful support with empathy and humility, anytime and anywhere.