How to Use Visual Supports for Children with Autism

Your child with autism faces numerous struggles, and communication often tops the list. Using visual supports -- pictures or photographs, hand or body signals and environment-based cues -- can allow you to better communicate with him. Visual cues benefit your child, too, by allowing him to understand rules, choices and social situations, both at home and school. Plus, visual supports are adaptable for your child̵7;s situation and can be reduced over time as he develops more skills.

Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a method for your child to predict her day̵7;s events to help ease her anxiety and decrease transition time. A visual schedule can help with the day̵7;s overall order of activities or show her parts of a larger event. Try creating a poster with symbols, words, or photographs for each event attached in the order they will occur. Or, make a smaller, portable version she can carry with her.

    • 2

      Create a way for your child to help mark the transition from one activity to another in order for him to better handle that transition. For instance, if you are using a portable schedule with pictures, have him move the picture of the activity he has just finished to a different pocket, or have him check off an activity as he completes it. You can also laminate a list of words or photos for him to cross off with a dry-erase marker as he completes each event, allowing you to reuse the list.

    • 3

      Offer a choice board for your child to allow her the opportunity to choose from acceptable activities. If you need her to choose a quiet activity, have a specific board showing her options. Or, make one showing possible situations or people she can interact with. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends using the Picture Exchange System for children with more severe communication issues. The PECS allows your child to hand you a picture of a requested item, which you would then give to her; as she develops more skills, she can create sentences, answer questions and start conversations.

    • 4

      Show your child how to express his emotions through an emotions chart, hand signals or body language. These are especially effective if your child is less verbal. For instance, have him point to a picture depicting his feelings from a group of drawings at the end of each activity. Or, you could teach him to clap his hands to signal needing your attention.

    • 5

      Write social stories to help your child learn about specific situations in her day and how she should behave in each one. For example, if you are going to the grocery store, your story would be a short account of what she might encounter there, how she should or shouldn̵7;t behave and how to remain safe while there. You can create an endless supply of social stories to cover a variety of situations, and you can add drawings or pictures as well. Social stories are also helpful for helping your child learn basic rules and desired positive behavior.

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