Social story topics
Social story: Riding the school bus
A bus is loud, bumpy and full of older children. You have to know when to get on, where to sit, how to hold on and when to get off, and nobody explains any of it. For autistic and neurodivergent students the ride to school can be the most stressful part of the day before the day has even begun.
This story goes through the trip from the stop to the school gate, with the sounds and the movement named. Read it before the first ride and, if possible, ride the route once with an adult. A seat near the front and a named driver make the story concrete.
A sample story
My Bus Ride to School
- 1Every morning, a big yellow bus stops at my corner.
- 2The bus is loud and has many seats inside.
- 3The bus driver knows exactly which stop is my school.
- 4I hold my red backpack, sit down, and look out the window.
- 5The bus stops at school, and I feel ready to go in.
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
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Tips for using it
- Arrange a fixed seat near the front and tell the driver.
- Practise the route once with an adult before the student rides alone.
- Put the exact stop and a landmark in the story so getting off is clear.
Common questions
Can the story cover the trip home too?
Yes, either as extra pages or as a second story. The afternoon ride is different, with tired children and a different stop, so a separate story is often clearer.
Does it work for an excursion bus?
Change the topic to "riding the bus on our excursion" and the story will describe that trip. The excursion story on this site covers the whole day.
Should the driver have a copy?
If the driver is willing, yes. A one-page summary of the plan helps them support the student in the same way.