There are many different ways to support autistic children, and one of the most efficient is through the use of visual supports.
Visual supports can help to reduce anxiety and improve communication and social skills. In this article, we provide strategies and tips for using visual supports with autistic children
A. Autistic children are visual learners
Visually supporting autistic children can be very helpful. Autistic children often have difficulty processing verbal language, and adding visual supports can aid in their understanding.
There are many different ways to provide visual supports, and what will work best may vary from child to child. Here are some tips and strategies to get you started:
1. Use pictures or other visual aids to help explain things.
If you’re trying to explain a concept to an autistic child, using pictures or other visual aids can be very helpful. For example, if you’re explaining how to brush your teeth, you might show a picture of a person brushing their teeth. If you’re explaining a new rule, you might use a picture of a stop sign to help illustrate what you’re saying.
2. Be consistent with your visual aids.
If you’re going to use visual aids, it’s important to be consistent with them. If you use a picture of a stop sign to help explain a new rule, make sure you always use a picture of a stop sign when you’re talking about that rule. This will help the child learn to associate the visual aid with the concept you’re trying to teach.
3. Keep your visual aids simple.
When you’re first introducing a visual aid to a child, it’s important to keep it simple. You don’t want to overwhelm them with too much information at once.
For example, if you’re introducing a picture of a stop sign, you might just show them the picture of the stop sign by itself. Once the child is familiar with the picture, you can start adding in other visual aids, like a picture of a car stopped at a stop sign, to help illustrate the concept.
4. Be patient.
Learning new things can be difficult, and it may take some time for the child to understand what you’re trying to teach them. It’s important to be patient and to keep using the visual aids until the child is able to grasp the concept.
5. Reward the child’s progress.
When the child is able to understand a concept, be sure to praise them and give them a small reward. This will help reinforce the behavior (free rewards chart) and encourage the child to continue using the visual aids.
B. Visual supports can help autistic children understand and retain information.
Visual supports are any type of visual aid that can be used to help an autistic child understand and retain information. They can be used to help with everything from communicating emotions and daily routines, to academics and Behavior Management.
There are many different types of visual supports that can be used, and the best type will depend on the individual child and their needs. Some common types of visual supports include:
1. Picture symbols
Picture symbols are a type of visual support that can be used to help a child understand and communicate abstract concepts such as Occupations (check out this free resource with 40 different occupation Task Cards and another on places and locations). They can be used to represent emotions, daily routines, and even academic concepts such as numbers and additions. There are many different types of picture symbols available (check out this resource with 108 basic visual aids), and you can even create your own.
2. Social stories
Social stories are another type of visual support that can be used to help a child understand social rules and expectations. They can be used to teach a child how to interact with others, how to handle emotions, and even how to ask for help.
3. Schedules
Schedules are a type of visual support that can be used to help a child understand and follow a daily routine. They can be used to help a child know what activities will happen and when, and can help reduce anxiety and meltdowns.
4. Visual timers
Visual timers are a type of visual support that can be used to help a child understand and manage time. They can be used to help a child know how long an activity will last, and can help with transitions between activities.
Visual supports can be a helpful tool for autistic children. They can provide structure and predictability, and can help a child understand and retain information. When using visual supports, it is important to choose those that are most appropriate for the individual child and their needs. Try using different types of visual supports in different situations, and see what works best for your child.
C. Visual supports can be used in various settings.
Visual supports are versatile tools that can be used in a variety of settings to help autistic children succeed. Classrooms, homes, and therapy sessions can be overwhelming for autistic children, who often have difficulty processing all of the stimuli around them. This is where visual supports can help.
Autistic children often benefit from having a visual schedule of their day. This can help them understand what is coming next and help reduce anxiety. A visual schedule can be as simple as a whiteboard with pictures or words describing the activities for the day. At home, you can use a picture chart to help your child understand the expectations for the day. You can have a picture of your child getting dressed followed by a picture of breakfast.
Therapy sessions can also be overwhelming for autistic children. Visual supports can help therapists deliver information in a way that is more digestible for autistic children. For example, a therapist may use pictures or a social story to help an autistic child understand how to appropriately interact with others.
Whether your child is in a traditional school setting, being homeschooled, or receiving therapy, visual supports can play a key role in helping children Succeed.
D. How to succeed in using visual supports with the child
Visual supports are a key component of supporting children with autism. They can provide visual cues to help with communication, social interaction, behavior, and daily living skills.
1. Consistency is key
When using visual supports, it is important to be consistent and use them in a way that best meets the child’s needs and preferences, and the particular nature of the visual aid.
Each visual support is used in a particular way in order to stay consistent and succeed:
- Picture schedules can be used to help the child understand the sequence of activities for the day and should be used every day.
- Social stories can be used to teach specific social skills or provide information about a situation that may be challenging for the child. Social stories can be used whenever the child faces challenging situations
- Visual timers can help the child understand how much time is left for an activity. These can be used while working in the classroom, at home, or during therapy sessions.
- First-Then boards can be used to help the child understand what needs to happen first and what will happen next. These also can be used daily and in different settings
2. Involve the child in the decision
It is important to involve the child in deciding how and when to use visual supports. Some children may benefit from using visual supports all the time, while others may only need them in certain situations. It is also important to give the child choices about which visual supports to use. This can help the child feel more in control and increase motivation to use visual supports and communication aids.
Visual supports are an important tool that can be used to help autistic children communicate and understand their surroundings. When used correctly, visual supports can help autistic children to interact with others, learn new skills, and cope with changes in their environment.
E. Keep in mind
To sum up, visual supports are very useful for helping children with autism. To use visual supports effectively:
- First, consider the child’s individual needs and preferences. What type of visual supports would be most helpful for them? There are many different options available, so it’s important to find the right fit.
- Next, make sure that the visual supports are clear and concise. Keep them simple and easy to understand.
- Finally, be consistent in using visual supports. If they are only used sometimes, it can be confusing for the child. Use them consistently and pair them with other supports, such as verbal instructions, to create a comprehensive support system.