Social story topics
Social story: Taking medicine
Medicine has a taste, a texture and a timing, and at school it usually means leaving the class and going to an adult the student may not know well. For autistic and neurodivergent students the taste can be unbearable and the leaving-the-room part can feel like being singled out.
This story describes who gives the medicine, when, where and how, and what to do about the taste, such as a drink of water straight after. Read it with the family so the home routine and the school routine use the same words, and keep the time and the adult the same every day.
A sample story
My Medicine at School
- 1First, I walk to the school office to get my medicine.
- 2The office staff keep my medicine safe in a locked box.
- 3I hold out my hand, and I swallow my medicine with a small cup of water.
- 4I take my medicine at school, and my body feels looked after.
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
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Tips for using it
- Keep the time, the place and the adult the same every day.
- Agree a plan for the taste, such as water or a strong-flavoured snack straight after.
- Let the student leave for the office quietly without an announcement.
Common questions
Does the story name the medicine?
It does not need to, and often it is better not to. "My medicine" and the colour or the cup it comes in are usually enough for the student.
Can the story be used at home too?
Yes. Make one for home and one for school if the routines differ, or write a single story if they are the same. Email the PDF to the family from the result screen.
What about tablets that are hard to swallow?
Add a page about the swallowing plan, such as a sip of water first. Talk to the pharmacist about options; the story should match what the student will really do.