Visiting Parliament Social Stories
Last updated: 03 September 2025
These resources have been made to be used with students prior to their visit to Parliament with their school or educational group.
What are Social Stories?
Social Stories are an evidence-based practice. They are patient, accurate and literal descriptions of life’s many topics, scenarios, or situations. They can help individuals adjust to new routines, develop certain life skills, participate in conversations, or more comfortably visit a new place for the first time. They frequently include information that some would take for granted, or that we may mistakenly assume that ‘everyone knows’. Social Stories are free of assumptions, with respect for the perspective of the audiences.
Why are Social Stories important or useful?
The aim of a Social Story can be to make a new situation or scenario more familiar. They aim to lessen anxiety and empower individuals to feel more comfortable entering new situations by letting them know what to expect, and what might be expected of them.
Using the resources
These resources have been made to be accessible for individuals visiting Parliament specifically for educational visits. The resources themselves are editable so that they can be altered to meet the specific needs of the individuals. There are two different versions of the Social Story resource available, a highly detailed and a simplified version to meet various levels of need.
