155. The Power of Social Stories, with Sivan Hong

Discover what’s possible when stories shape behavior.  Sivan Hong is the author and illustrator of the best-selling children’s book series Super Fun Day Books, which celebrates the triumphs of neurodiverse children as they face challenges with determination and courage. Her titles include Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day, and Avery G. and the Scary End of School. Sivan is also the mother of two neurodiverse children, and she herself has ADHD.  In this conversation, we discuss: Sivan’s discovery of her neurodivergence at age 47 How audiobooks opened her up to the world of reading Neurodivergent traits that help her writing  The difference between social stories and traditional children’s books Why social stories are effective in teaching neurodiverse children to navigate challenging situations The benefits of social stories for every student in the classroom, including neurotypicals An excerpt from one of Sivan’s books about Halloween Why she focuses on strengths with her family Tips for other parents To learn more about Sivan Hong, please visit her website at sivanhong.com. ----more---- Resources: A Novel Mind - A database for educators and parents who are looking for the right book for the right child. Dyslexia Linked to Visual Strengths Useful in Astronomy - The study Sivan mentions during the conversation. ----more---- We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. Follow us on Instagram: @autismpodcast Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey