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What are examples of visual supports for autism?
Can you imagine living in a world where expressing yourself with words is not an option? For many people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this is an everyday reality.
The autism spectrum is vast, and each person experiences it uniquely. However, communication challenges are common for those with autism. While some may develop communication skills with professional support, others may remain nonverbal throughout their lives. That’s why visual supports for autism are an essential tool in their day-to-day lives.
Communication is key to integrating into society, learning, carrying out our routines, and fostering independence. In the search for effective strategies, many parents, caregivers, and educators find picture communication for autism an excellent option to improve the interaction of people with ASD. However, a frequently asked question is: What are examples of visual supports for autism?
In this ABA Centers of Virginia blog, we will explore visual supports for autism in depth. We will provide you with a clear guide to picture communication for autism, the benefits of these tools, and practical tips for you to apply at home or in the classroom.
Visual Supports for Autism: What Are They?
Pictures may be a preferred form of communication for some people with autism, as their way of processing information is often more visual than verbal. A National Library of Medicine study found that individuals with ASD tend to think in images more often than in words.
One possible explanation is that the cognition of people with ASD is based more on visual and perceptual processing. In this research, participants with autism reported more frequent and extended use of visual representations for different everyday life situations, such as remembering, problem-solving, anticipating events, decision-making, planning, comprehension, and memorization.
Given this strong link to visual thinking, people with autism may rely less on verbal language. Whereas “internal dialogue”—thoughts formulated in words—is common in the neurotypical population, this may be reduced or impaired in people with ASD. As a result, visual supports for autism become a key tool for communication and learning.
So, What Are Visual Aids for Autism?
Visual aids for autism can be symbols, written words, pictures, images, or objects. Their purpose is to make information more accessible, helping people with ASD understand ideas, follow instructions, and establish routines more quickly.
How Does Picture Communication for Autism Help My Child?
Picture communication for autism offers multiple benefits for both children and their loved ones. Here’s how these tools can make a difference in their development and well-being:
- Foster Communication: Visual tools provide an effective alternative for nonverbal children or those with limited speech to express their needs, emotions, desires and a straightforward way to interact with others.
- Facilitate Learning: Understanding verbal instructions can be challenging for many children with ASD. Pictures allow parents and educators to communicate more efficiently, improving learning and retaining information.
- Promote Independence: Visual supports for autism remove uncertainty when performing daily tasks, strengthening confidence in children. For example, a picture checklist can guide them through their morning routine, helping them to get ready independently. Achieving these small successes builds their self-esteem and fosters their independence.
- Reduce Anxiety: According to the University of Florida, visual supports for autism help reduce anxiety in children because they provide clarity and structure about their environment and the day’s activities. Because many have difficulty understanding spoken language, they may feel uncertain about unexpected changes in their routine. By providing them with visual information about what will happen, these resources make transitions between activities smoother and more predictable, decreasing frustration.
- Strengthen Social Bonds: Visual aids for autism facilitate more effective communication with family, educators, and peers. When children with ASD can express their ideas, emotions, and needs more clearly, they feel understood and valued. Visual aids for autism not only strengthen their relationships but also encourage better interaction with others.
Examples of Visual Supports for Autism You Can Use at Home or School
Now that you know the basics of visual supports for autism, it’s time to put these tools to use. Here are some practical and simple examples to use at home or in the classroom:
- Pictures and Symbols: Caregivers and children with ASD can use pictures and symbols to label objects, illustrate actions, or express emotions. Some examples include:
- Choice Boards: These allow the child to point out preferences. For example, they show pictures of “juice” and “milk” so the child can choose which to drink.
- Emotion Cards: Help express feelings. Example: a card with a smiley face to indicate “happy” or one with furrowed eyebrows for “frustrated.”
How to use them:
- Keep visuals simple and clear
- Always accompany the image with the corresponding word to reinforce the language
- Make sure the symbols are appropriate to the child’s developmental level
- First-Then Board: First and then boards help children understand which activity to do first before moving on to a desired activity. This method is especially helpful in motivating children to complete less preferred activities before doing something they enjoy.
Example:
- First: Finish homework
- Then: Playing with the tablet
How to use it:
- Use pictures or words to represent both activities
- Keep instructions simple and clear
- Reinforce the connection between the two activities with phrases such as “When you finish the task, you can play.”
- Visual Schedules: Visual schedules organize daily activities in a logical sequence, helping children anticipate what will happen.
Example of a morning routine:
- Brushing teeth
- Getting dressed
- Eat breakfast
How to use:
- Post the schedule in a visible place
- Use Velcro strips so the children can remove the activities they completed
- If there are changes in routine, update the schedule to maintain confidence and predictability
- Checklists: Checklists break a task into small, manageable steps, making it easier to accomplish.
Example:
Prepare a backpack for school:
- Put notebooks away
- Pack lunch box
- Pack a bottle of water
How to use them:
- Use short phrases or pictures to describe each step
- Allow the child to check off each completed step, encouraging autonomy and confidence
- Social Stories: These are personalized stories that explain social situations and help children understand what to expect.
Example:
Social story on visiting the doctor:
“When I get to the doctor’s office, I sit in the waiting room. Then, the doctor will check me over and tell me everything is okay. At the end, I’ll get a sticker for doing really well.”
How to use them:
- Write the story from the child’s perspective
- Use positive language and reinforce expected behaviors with pictures.
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): This tool allows children to communicate their needs by exchanging picture cards or symbols.
Example:
- Asking for a toy
- The child hands over a card with a picture of a train to ask for it
How to use:
- Begin by teaching the child to exchange a picture for the desired object
- Increase complexity over time, incorporating phrases such as “I want [object].”
- Use pictures that are clear and adapted to the child’s level of understanding
ABA Therapy: The Key to Enhancing Communication Skills in Children with Autism
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a science-based approach for developing essential skills in children and teens on the autism spectrum, including communication and social interaction. Through structured strategies and positive reinforcement, ABA therapists use visual supports for autism to break down complex interactions into more manageable steps, facilitating learning and promoting positive behaviors.
In addition, ABA therapy benefits children and provides parents and caregivers with practical strategies for implementing autism communication tools in the home and other settings. This collaborative approach ensures consistency and reinforces progress and communication skills in a personalized manner tailored to their needs, preferences, and level of support.
Leveraging Autism Communication Tools with ABA Centers of Virginia
At ABA Centers of Virginia, we offer specialized support for children and teenagers on the autism spectrum in Arlington and Washington, D.C., helping them develop essential skills to lead fuller, more independent lives.
Through in-home or in-school ABA therapy, our specialized therapists use visual supports for autism and personalized strategies to strengthen communication and other key skills in each child.
At ABA Centers of Virginia, we believe in the power of visual supports for autism for autism as a tool that empowers children and helps them overcome challenges – we’re here to support you! Call us at (855) 957-1892 or contact us online to discover how ABA therapy can help your loved one reach their full potential.
