Issue link: http://saihq.uberflip.com/i/1536627
28 Summer 2025 • sai-national.org By Karen Birch Blundell S igma Alpha Iota chapters build community through mutual support, creativity programming, and educational innovation within the art of music. We strive to create spaces where everyone feels welcome and empowered. Social Narratives advance these goals, particularly in supporting individuals who are neurodivergent, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Here, I'll explain what Social Narratives are, how and why they are applied in musical performances, and offer practical suggestions for creating them. According to the Autism Society of North Carolina, "Social narratives are simple stories that visually represent social situations and appropriate social behaviors. The social narrative connects the important details of a setting or social situation to support the person with ASD in understanding the social context and in developing a new social skill." In the sphere of the performing arts, this often means creating a document outlining the elements an audience member may encounter as they attend a performance. The document may include information about entering the hall, presenting your ticket, where you can find bathrooms, etc. It is written in the first person, using short, clear sentences, and is designed to give the reader a clear understanding of the flow of events as well as any social norms they may encounter. For example: • I will enter the building from Front Street and pass through the lobby area. • I will give my ticket to an usher who will show me to my seat. • There may be people I don't know sitting next to me. • The lights will dim before the performance. • The musicians will enter the stage and we will applaud to welcome them. SOCIAL NARRATIVES: An Inclusion Tool for SAI Inclusion A 2022 National Convention delegate watches Singing SAIs in Greensboro, NC. A 2022 National Convention delegate watches Singing SAIs in Greensboro, NC.