Our Story

It Started With One Child

When our son Sammy was diagnosed with autism, we did what every parent does: we searched for help. We found therapy waitlists that stretched for months. Apps that felt clinical and cold. Resources that talked about our child like a problem to be solved.

Nothing felt right. Nothing felt like it was made by someone who actually understood what bedtime looks like when transitions are terrifying. What a school morning feels like when socks have the wrong texture. What a grocery store sounds like when the fluorescent lights are screaming.

So we built what we wished existed.

We built gentle, predictable stories that help Sammy understand the world around him — stories that never say "you should" or "be normal," but instead say "you can try" and "it's okay to feel this way." Stories designed for the way his mind actually works, not the way someone thinks it ought to.

Then We Heard From Other Parents

Through support groups, therapy waiting rooms, and late-night online forums, we kept hearing the same thing from other parents: "We need this too."

Every family's story was different, but the struggle was the same. A child who melts down at transitions. A sibling who doesn't understand why their brother acts that way. A parent who lies awake wondering if they're doing enough. A therapist who wants to help more families but can only see so many in a day.

That's when SammyStories stopped being a project for our family and became a mission for every family.

What We Believe

Every child deserves to be understood — not just the ones whose families can access the right support.

Every child deserves access to tools that help them navigate the world — not just the children whose families can afford private therapy. SammyStories is free for every child, forever. No paywalls. No ads. No data collection from children.

We believe autistic children aren't broken. They experience the world differently, and they deserve tools that meet them where they are — not tools that try to make them "normal."

The withSammy Vision

SammyStories is the first module of withSammy.org, a Canadian non-profit building free digital tools for neurodivergent children. Our vision goes beyond stories:

Long-term, revenue from professional tools, grants, and donations will fund physical withSammy Centres — real-world spaces where low-income families can access therapy, support, and community at no cost.

Clinical Methodology

We're parents first, but we take the science seriously. Every story on SammyStories follows Carol Gray's Social Stories™ criteria, the gold standard for social story development. Our clinical pipeline enforces:

• Sentence ratio compliance — descriptive and perspective sentences outnumber directive sentences
• Positive, patient tone — "can try" and "might choose" instead of "should" or "must"
• First-person perspective — helping children see themselves in the story
• Function-based approach — every story identifies the behavioral function and teaches a replacement behavior

Stories are validated by clinical AI agents trained in BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst), SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist), and OT (Occupational Therapist) frameworks that check for vocabulary accessibility, sensory sensitivity, and clinical compliance.

Three Communication Styles

Every story is available in three formats because every child communicates differently:

Meet Sammy & Friends

Our characters reflect the children we're building for — diverse, curious, and navigating the world in their own way.

Accessibility Is Not An Afterthought

SammyStories is built for children who experience the world differently. That means accessibility isn't a feature — it's the foundation:

• WCAG 2.1 AAA contrast ratios (7:1 minimum)
• Full keyboard navigation
• Screen reader support with ARIA labels
• Reduced motion mode that respects system preferences
• No flashing content (seizure safety)
• 44px minimum touch targets
• Sensory-friendly colour palette
• Bionic reading and reading ruler aids

Get Involved

withSammy is community-driven. Whether you're a parent with a story to tell, a clinician with expertise to share, a developer who wants to contribute, or just someone who believes every child deserves to be understood — we'd love to hear from you.