About Carol


Carol Gray is an educational consultant and the founder of Social Stories.  She shares information and ideas via webinars, referral, resources, and direct services to autistic individuals, their families, and the professionals who work on their behalf. She is an internationally sought-after keynote and seminar speaker, and has completed over twelve hundred presentations.

Carol is best known for the development of Social Stories, a respected evidence-based practice used worldwide with people of all ages.  Carol was the first teacher for autistic students at Jenison Public Schools in Jenison, Michigan (1977-2004).  In 1989, Carol began writing stories for her students to share information that they seemed to be missing, information that so many of us take for granted.  Many of the stories resulted in immediate and marked improvement in her students’ responses to daily events and interactions.

Carol is also known for initiating Social Humility, a very effective philosophy that is comprised of five elements that recognize that: 1) social mistakes surround autism and their solutions are shared; 2) all perspectives as ‘equally valid’: 3) curiosity is confusion with a good attitude; 4. it’s important to never argue perception and 5) to abandon all assumptions.  She has completed groundbreaking work on some of the toughest topics in autism by reviewing the research, developing new theories, and proposing practical instructional strategies, most notably Gray’s Guide to Bullying (2004) and Gray’s Guide to Loss, Learning, and Students with ASD (2003).

Carol has received many awards for her international contribution to the education and welfare of children, adolescents, and adults.  These include Social Thinking’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), Learning Spring School’s Spectrum Award (2012), the Autism Society of America’s Education Book of the Year (The New Social Story Book: Revised and Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition (2009), and the Barbara Lipinski Award (Lansing, Michigan, 2005).

Carol lives in west Michigan with her husband, Brian, two basset hounds, Hank and A.L.F., and an English bulldog, Quinn.  Brian and Carol are the parents of two grown children, Joanna and Barrett, and grandparents to Ryan. In the summer, Carol lives “at the lake” where she is often found in the garden or the Wildwood Library, a small private library adjacent to their cottage. Carol founded the library to serve their community, and serves as its librarian each summer. In the winter, Carol enjoys continuing her life’s work and walks at the dog park.

Publications

Carol has written several articles and chapters in addition to the resources that are listed below.   Many of them are available as a free download in The Morning News/Jenison Autism Journal section of this website, and may also be highlighted below.

  • Gray, C. (2015). The new Social Story book: 15th Anniversary Edition
  • Gray, C. (2012). The last bedtime story that we read each night. Arlington, TX: Sensory World / Future Horizons.
  • Gray, C. (2010). The new Social Story™ book: Revised and expanded 10th anniversary edition. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.
  • Gray, C. (2004).  Social Stories™ 10.0.  Jenison Autism Journal: 15, (4), 2-21.
  • Gray, C. (2002). Friendship on the horizon: Can Social Stories pave the road?  Includes Watch, listen, move closer, ease in, a 10 page rip-out insert. Jenison Autism Journal: 14, (3).
  • Gray, C. (2000a).  Writing Social Stories with Carol Gray [Video and accompanying workbook]. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.
  • Gray, C. (1999). Gray’s guide to compliments.  The Morning News: 11, (1), 20 page rip-out insert.
  • Gray, C. (1998a). Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations (pp.167-198). In Schopler, E., Mesibov, G., and Kunce, L. (Eds.), Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism? New York: Plenum Press.
  • Gray, C. (1998b). The Advanced Social Story workbook.  The Morning News: 10, (2), 24 page rip-out insert.
  • Gray, C. (1995).  Teaching children with autism to “read” social situations.  In Quill, K.A. (Ed.), Teaching Children with Autism: Strategies to Enhance Communication and Socialization.  New York: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
  • Gray, C. (1994). Comic strip conversations.  Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.
  • Gray, C. & Garand, J. (1993). Social Stories: Improving responses of individuals with autism with accurate social information. Focus on Autistic Behavior, 8, 1-10.
  • Gray, C. & White, A. L. (2000).  My Social Stories book. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Contact Carol Gray

If you would like Carol to speak for your group or organization, fill out the Workshop/Presentation Request Form.