Waiting at the Curb Social Story for Young Adults

Help teens and young adults with autism, developmental disabilities, or other support needs learn how to wait safely at the curb with this ready-to-use, no-prep social story. Using age-appropriate symbols, clear visuals, and structured language, learners practice stopping, looking, listening, and waiting for a safe signal before crossing the street. This functional resource is ideal for community-based instruction, life skills programs, transition lessons, and vocational classrooms.

Why Educators & Therapists Love This Resource

This social story teaches essential pedestrian safety and community participation skills. Learners practice expected versus unexpected behaviors, taking turns, listening to instructions, and using safe, appropriate actions while waiting at the curb. These skills support independence, confidence, and real-world problem-solving, helping students navigate everyday routines safely and successfully.

Resource Features

This resource includes two story versions—a short version and an extended version—for flexible differentiation. Clear, age-appropriate visuals and AAC symbols are designed specifically for teens and young adults. The story teaches step-by-step waiting routines, street safety, and social communication while supporting self-regulation, attention, perspective-taking, and independent decision-making. Two 3×4 static AAC displays using Adaptive Ed Symbols are included: one focused on functional communication for curb safety, such as “stop,” “wait,” and “help,” and one fringe vocabulary display focused on waiting and street safety strategies.

Included Activities

Learners engage with WH questions in both visual and open-ended formats, yes/no comprehension questions, matching and memory games, and sentence strip practice. Additional activities include sorting tasks for expected versus unexpected behaviors, coloring pages, inferencing exercises, predicting outcomes, perspective-taking questions, and a vocabulary word search. AAC symbol displays are included throughout to enhance accessibility.

Available Formats

This resource is provided as a printable PDF for immediate use. Editable Canva and PowerPoint versions are included to customize language, visuals, and layout for individual learner needs.

Perfect For

Community-based instruction, life skills and functional academic programs, transition and vocational lessons, one-to-one or small group instruction, and speech-language therapy sessions. This social story supports teaching pedestrian safety, situational awareness, and independent community participation.

Support learners with autism and other support needs in practicing safe curb behavior, following routines, and making confident decisions in the community. This engaging social story and companion activities help build independence, real-world safety skills, and functional AAC communication.