For people and families
New places can be hard. See inside first, so there are fewer surprises and you can go when you’re ready.
- Know what you’ll see, hear and do
- Prepare together with family, carers or teachers
- Free, with nothing to download
Video social stories for real places
Know what to expect, before you go
Watch a short, calm video of a place, read what will happen step by step, and arrive ready. Made by the cafés, churches, schools and venues you visit. Free for everyone.
No app to download. No account needed.
What is Knowing Before Going?
Knowing Before Going is a web app for short, calm video social stories made by real places. Cafés, churches, schools, clinics and venues film what happens during a visit and add the steps in words. Visitors scan the QR code at the place, or search for it, and watch on their phone, so they know what to expect before they go.
- What it is
- Short video social stories for real places, with the steps written underneath.
- For visitors
- Free. No app to download and no account.
- For organisations
- £99 a year, billed annually, with unlimited social story videos.
- Works on
- Any phone, tablet or computer with a web browser.
How it works
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Scan or search
Scan the QR code in the window, or search for the place by name, town or kind of place.
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Watch the story
See what happens, from the front door onwards, in a short full-screen video. Watch as often as you like.
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Read the steps
Each story has the steps in words, plus anything good to know, like loud moments or a quiet space.
Made for two kinds of people
For businesses and organisations
Welcome people before they arrive. Film your place on your phone, add the steps, and put a QR code in your window.
- Help autistic and anxious visitors plan a visit
- Show that your place is welcoming and inclusive
- £99 a year, billed annually, with unlimited social story videos
Calm by design
Knowing Before Going is built for people who find new places, noise and surprises hard. Every screen is designed to be predictable.
Nothing plays until you tap
Sound never starts by surprise.
Stories never move on by themselves
You choose when to watch the next one, or watch again.
Play more slowly
Slow any video down, and pause at any time.
Read instead of watch
The steps are written under every video in short, plain sentences.
Sensory notes
Places tell you about loud moments, busy times, bright lights and quiet spaces.
Works with poor signal
Stories you’ve opened before still open, and their steps can be read, without a connection.
Who it helps
Anyone who finds new places hard, and the people who support them.
- Autistic people
- People with ADHD
- People with anxiety
- People with a learning disability
- People living with dementia
- People with sensory sensitivities
- Families with young children
- Carers and support workers
- Teachers and therapists
- First-time visitors
For every place people visit
Any organisation can make stories about its own place, and put a QR code in the window for people to scan.
- Cafés and restaurants
- Churches and places of worship
- Schools and nurseries
- GP surgeries and dentists
- Hospitals and clinics
- Museums and galleries
- Libraries
- Theatres and cinemas
- Leisure centres and pools
- Shops and hairdressers
- Events and festivals
One simple price for organisations
£99 a year, billed annually. Unlimited social story videos. Always free for visitors.
Questions people ask
What is Knowing Before Going?
Knowing Before Going is a web app for short video social stories about real places. A café, church, school, clinic or venue films what happens during a visit and adds the steps in words. Visitors scan the QR code at the place, or search for it, and watch on their phone, so they know what to expect before they go.
What is a social story?
A social story is a short, simple description of a situation or activity that helps someone know what to expect. The approach was developed by Carol Gray in the early 1990s and is widely used by autistic people, families, teachers and therapists. Knowing Before Going turns social stories into short videos with the steps written underneath.
Who is Knowing Before Going for?
Anyone who finds new places hard: autistic people, people with ADHD, anxiety or a learning disability, people living with dementia, people with sensory sensitivities, families with young children, carers and support workers, and anyone visiting somewhere for the first time.
Is it free to watch stories?
Yes. Watching stories is free for everyone. You don’t need an account and you don’t need to download anything.
Do I need to download an app?
No. Knowing Before Going works in the web browser on any phone, tablet or computer. If you use it often, you can add it to your home screen so it opens like an app.