We Built What We Wished Existed
Free, clinically-validated social stories for autistic children ages 4-12. Built by parents who understand. Backed by science. Free forever.
Understanding Made Simple
We know how hard it is. We live it too.
The unpredictable rules. The sensory overload. The meltdowns that come from a world that moves too fast and explains too little. As parents of an autistic child, we've been in those moments — and we know how isolating they feel.
Most resources weren't built by people who understand. They move too fast, use harsh visuals, and treat your child like a problem to be fixed.
SammyStories makes learning feel safe
We built gentle, predictable stories that create a safe space where children learn at their own pace. Each story follows a comforting structure with no harsh visuals, no surprises, and plenty of time to process.
Children see themselves in Sammy's experiences, making social skills feel achievable and natural — because the people who built it understand what "achievable" actually means for your child.
How It Works
Three simple steps to help your child build confidence in everyday situations.
Choose a Story
Browse SammyStories by category - school, emotions, friendships, daily routines. Pick the situation your child is working on.
Read Together
Switch between three communication styles to match your child. Use read-aloud narration, bionic reading, or visual symbols - whatever works best.
Watch Them Grow
Track progress as your child revisits stories. Celebrate milestones together. Over time, the replacement behaviours become natural.
Try a Story
Experience a real SammyStories story. Toggle between three communication styles designed for different needs.
My First Day at Big School
I like to try new games at home. I am good at building tall towers. I feel happy when I play here. I know my toys and my room.
A New Place
Today I go to big school. New sounds are happening all around me. Many children are walking inside. My tummy feels a little bit fluttery.
Finding My Classroom
I walk down the hallway. There are many new classrooms. I see my adult helping me. It is okay if new places feel big. I can look for a quiet space.
Real story pages from My First Day at Big School · 3 communication styles
Everything Your Child Needs
Every element of SammyStories is thoughtfully crafted by parents, behaviour analysts, speech therapists, and occupational therapists to support neurodivergent learners.
12 Stories Across SammyStories
Clinically validated social stories covering emotions, school routines, friendships, and daily life - each reviewed against Carol Gray’s Social Stories™ 10.4 criteria
3 Communication Styles
Full text, simplified text, or visual-only with AAC symbols - each story adapts to your child's preferred way of learning
Read-Aloud Narration
5 natural AI voices read stories aloud with adjustable speed. Turn it on once and it reads the whole story automatically
Bionic Reading & Reading Aids
Bold-first-letter text, line-focus ruler, and emotion color coding help children with dyslexia and visual tracking difficulties
AAC Symbol Support
Key words display familiar AAC symbols alongside text, bridging the gap between symbol users and text readers
Meet Sammy & Friends
Sammy, Zee, Mara, and Dem bring diverse perspectives to every story, including the sibling experience of growing up together
Easy to Read on Any Device
High contrast mode, dyslexia-friendly fonts, reduced motion, keyboard support, and screen reader help are built into every page
Progress Tracking
Track which stories your child has read and celebrate milestones. Progress syncs across devices automatically
Popular Stories
Start with a story that matches what your child is working on right now.
Meet the Friends
Sammy and his friends navigate everyday situations together, showing children that everyone's journey is unique and valuable.
Sammy
Nigerian (Igbo heritage)
Meet Sammy! He's a curious, kind 7-year-old who's learning to navigate the world just like your child. With his warm smile and gentle spirit, Sammy explores everyday situations with wonder and courage.
Mara
European heritage
Mara is a gentle, empathetic friend who loves reading and helping others understand their feelings. With her book bag always close, she often appears in stories about sharing, friendship, and communication.
Dem
South Asian (Indian heritage)
Dem is energetic, playful, and always up for an adventure. He's learning patience and turn-taking, and often joins stories about school, waiting, and working together.
Zee
Nigerian (Igbo heritage) - Sammy's sister
Zee is Sammy's little sister. She loves her big brother with all her heart, even when she doesn't understand why he gets upset or needs things to be a certain way. Through Zee's eyes, siblings learn it's okay to feel confused and that love means learning together.
Sammy's stories help children learn social skills in a safe, supportive, and culturally affirming way.
Built by Parents. Backed by Science.
We're parents first, but we take the science seriously. Every story follows established clinical frameworks used by behaviour analysts, speech therapists, and occupational therapists worldwide.
Carol Gray's Social Stories™ Aligned
Every story follows Carol Gray's Social Stories™ criteria — the gold standard — with proper sentence ratios and descriptive/perspective/directive balance.
BCBA-D Reviewed
Content is designed using Applied Behavior Analysis principles with identified behavioral functions, antecedent strategies, and replacement behaviours.
SLP & OT Informed
Communication styles reviewed by speech-language pathologists. AAC symbol support and sensory load ratings guided by occupational therapy principles.
Sensory-Safe Design
No flashing, no sudden sounds, no overwhelming detail. Every page rated for sensory load. Reduced motion respected throughout.
Social Stories is a trademark of Carol Gray. SammyStories is not affiliated with or endorsed by Carol Gray.
Who Benefits from SammyStories
Children with ASD
Ages 4-12 who are learning to navigate social situations and build independence
Parents & Caregivers
Families seeking gentle, evidence-based resources to support their child's growth
Therapists & Educators
Professionals looking for accessible tools to reinforce social skills in therapy and classroom settings
Siblings & Peers
Brothers, sisters, and classmates who want to understand and support their autistic friends
Stories for Every Situation
Explore our carefully organized categories, each designed to help your child build confidence in the situations they encounter every day.
Home & Family
Daily routines, family time, and household activities
School & Learning
Classroom behavior, following directions, and academic settings
Social Interactions
Making friends, taking turns, and understanding social cues
Emotions & Self-Regulation
Identifying feelings, calming strategies, and emotional awareness
Stories That Finally Feel Safe
"After trying so many apps and programs, SammyStories is the first one my daughter actually wants to use. The gentle pacing and predictable format help her feel safe instead of anxious. She asks for 'Sammy time' every evening now. You can tell it was made by someone who actually gets it."
— Sarah M., Parent of 6-year-old with ASD
We hear stories like Sarah's every week. Parents who finally feel seen. Children who finally feel safe. That's what happens when the people building the tools are living the same reality you are.
Designed for Neurodivergent Minds
Our Accessibility Promise
We know what sensory overload looks like because we see it every day in our own home. SammyStories is built from the ground up with neurodivergent children at the center of every design decision — by parents who understand why it matters.
Sensory-Friendly Design
Carefully chosen colors, gentle animations, and calming visual elements that reduce overstimulation and create a peaceful learning environment
No Flashing or Sudden Sounds
Every transition is smooth and predictable, with no jarring noises or visual surprises that could trigger sensory discomfort or anxiety
Easy to Read and Navigate
Strong color contrast, keyboard-friendly controls, and screen reader support help more children and caregivers use the site with confidence
Multiple Font Options
Choose from several readable typefaces including OpenDyslexic, specially designed to improve reading comfort for children with dyslexia
Use SammyStories in Your Practice
Free, clinically-validated stories that meet professional standards. Share specific stories with families, assign as homework, or use during sessions. Built by parents — designed for your workflow.
Behaviour Analysts
Pre-made antecedent interventions with identified functions and replacement behaviours.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Three communication modalities per story — full text, simplified, and visual-only with AAC symbols.
Occupational Therapists
Sensory load ratings on every story. No flashing, adjustable contrast, reduced motion built in.
Free for Every Family
No subscriptions, no paywalls, no data collection from children. SammyStories is built by parents of an autistic child, for every family that needs it.
Browse Story LibraryWorks on any device · No account required · Easy to read and screen reader friendly
Every Child Deserves to Be Understood
SammyStories was built by parents of an autistic child who couldn't find the tools their son needed. What started for one family became a mission for every family. Join us.
Stay Connected
Be the first to know when new stories, modules, and features launch. We're building SammyLearns, SammyPlays, and SammySpeaks next.
No spam. No data selling. Just updates from parents building for parents.
Free Forever
Built by parents, for every family. No subscriptions, no paywalls, no ads, no data collection from children. Every story, every reading aid, every accessibility feature — free.
Browse StoriesOur Mission: Every child deserves to be understood. withSammy.org is building free tools across four domains — stories, learning, games, and speech — so every neurodivergent child gets the support they deserve, regardless of what their family can afford.
