Carol Gray
Encyclopedia
Carol Gray is the Director of the Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. She is best known for her creation of social stories
, short stories used as a teaching tool for autistic
children that describe a potentially challenging situation, skill, or concept in terms of relevant social cues, perspectives, and common responses. Gray has also published several resources on topics related to children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders, including articles on bullying, death and dying
, and how to teach social understanding
. Before establishing her own organization, Gray was employed as a teacher
and later an educational consultant
who worked with children with autistic spectrum disorders in the Jenison, MI public school district. Gray obtained a B.S. from Central Michigan University
in 1973; completed additional coursework at Grand Valley State University
(from which she received an endorsement for special education
for mentally impaired
, learning impaired
, and emotionally impaired individuals) and Western Michigan University
(from which she received an endorsement to teach autistic individuals; and completed postgraduate work at Calvin College
.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. She is best known for her creation of social stories
Social stories
Social Stories are a concept devised by Carol Gray in 1991 to improve the social skills of people with autism spectrum disorders .Social Stories are short stories written or tailored to an autistic individual to help them understand and behave appropriately in social situations...
, short stories used as a teaching tool for autistic
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
children that describe a potentially challenging situation, skill, or concept in terms of relevant social cues, perspectives, and common responses. Gray has also published several resources on topics related to children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders, including articles on bullying, death and dying
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
, and how to teach social understanding
Social skills
A social skill is any skill facilitating interaction and communication with others. Social rules and relations are created, communicated, and changed in verbal and nonverbal ways. The process of learning such skills is called socialization...
. Before establishing her own organization, Gray was employed as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and later an educational consultant
Educational consultant
An educational consultant is an independent consultant who helps parents/students and organizations with educational planning. They are classed as "educational, vocational, and school counselors." Educational Consultants, however, are normally self-employed , while school counselors are employed...
who worked with children with autistic spectrum disorders in the Jenison, MI public school district. Gray obtained a B.S. from Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
in 1973; completed additional coursework at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
(from which she received an endorsement for special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
for mentally impaired
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
, learning impaired
Learning disability
Learning disability is a classification including several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors...
, and emotionally impaired individuals) and Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
(from which she received an endorsement to teach autistic individuals; and completed postgraduate work at Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
.