What are they and how do we use them?
Written by Alex Liau
Understanding the challenges autistic people face is crucial to providing effective support. A promising approach is to use various visual aids. This article will explain why visual aids are important, explore different types, and offer tips on creating personalized visual aids for people with autism.
Many autistic people excel at visual learning. Making the most of this strength can significantly improve their understanding and communication skills.
Visual aids are a powerful tool for reducing sensory overload, creating a structured, clear environment that is easier for autistic people to understand.
Visual supports, such as pictures or charts, are essential for promoting independence by helping autistic people understand their routines. This in turn allows them to complete their daily tasks with confidence.
Different Types of Visual Aids
1. PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
PECS, or Picture Exchange Communication System, is a fantastic tool for people with verbal communication problems. This approach involves establishing a structured system in which nonverbal individuals use images to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs.
In the PECS system, individuals are encouraged to exchange specific images, each representing a particular item, action, or desire. This visual exchange allows them to communicate with others and effectively make their preferences known. It is a personalized and adaptable method that accommodates the unique communication styles of nonverbal individuals.
The beauty of PECS lies in its simplicity and versatility. People using PECS not only develop a way to convey their messages, but also improve their understanding of cause and effect. By using visual aids, they strengthen their communication skills and build a bridge to connect with the world around them.
2. Social stories
Social stories play a crucial role in supporting autistic people by acting as personalized narratives that guide them through social situations, behaviors and expectations. These stories are designed to provide clear and understandable information, allowing individuals to navigate various social contexts.
When we create personalized social stories, we tailor them to the specific needs and preferences of the autistic person. These stories become a valuable tool, helping them understand what is happening in a social situation and how to respond appropriately. The power of social stories lies in their ability to break down complex social scenarios into manageable, understandable parts.
For example, a social story might focus on a birthday party. It can include pictures and simple language to explain what happens at a party, how to greet people, and what behavior is expected. This personalized approach provides a road map for autistic people, offering guidance on what to expect and how to navigate the social intricacies of the event.
3. Visual schedules
Visual schedules are valuable tools for structuring and clarifying daily routines, especially for people with autism. These schedules, often represented as pictures or graphs, create a visual roadmap of what to expect throughout the day. The main goal is to make routines more predictable, reduce anxiety and promote safety.
Imagine a visual schedule in the form of a personalized planner filled with images depicting different activities, transitions, and events planned for the day. This visual representation helps autistic people understand the sequence of events, thereby promoting a sense of order and control in their environment.
The power of visual schedules is that they provide clear structure and allow individuals to actively participate in their daily routines. As individuals become more familiar with visual cues, they develop a sense of independence because they can anticipate and prepare for upcoming activities.
4. Visual Timers
Visual timers are practical tools to help people, especially those with autism, manage transitions between activities. The timer visually communicates how much time remains in an activity or how soon a transition will occur, providing a tangible and easily understandable measurement.
During activities, the integration of visual timers becomes a supportive measure to facilitate smooth transitions. For example, if a person is engaged in one activity and plans to transition to another, the visual timer can signal when the transition will take place. This visual cue prepares individuals for the upcoming change, thereby reducing anxiety or resistance.
The adaptability of visual timers allows them to be used in a variety of settings, such as at home, at school, or during therapy sessions. Consistently incorporating visual timers into routines helps establish a predictable structure, promoting a sense of security for autistic people.
Guidelines for Creating and Using Visual Aids
Personalization and individualization
The secret to making visual aids truly effective lies in tailoring them to the preferences and needs of each individual. When we personalize visual aids based on what a person likes and needs, it’s like creating a road map that perfectly matches how they learn and understand the world.
For example, if someone likes certain colors, including those in visual aids can make the information more appealing and enjoyable. Likewise, if there are specific topics or activities that pique their interest, incorporating them into the visuals can increase engagement.
This personal touch ensures that the visual aids resonate more deeply with them, fostering a stronger connection and making the learning or communication experience more meaningful.
Consistency and repetition
Consistent use of the same visual aids is crucial to reinforcing understanding. This repetition is a reliable tool in the learning process, contributing significantly to long-term understanding. Repetition of these visuals helps your brain make connections and strengthens your understanding of the topic.
When visual aids remain the same, autistic people can make a reliable connection with the information, making it easier to grasp and remember. Just as practicing a skill repeatedly helps you improve, using the same visual aids repeatedly reinforces learning, ensuring that the information remains ingrained in memory.
Collaboration with professionals
Collaborating with professionals when creating visual supports is a key aspect of providing effective support. Seeking advice from professionals ensures that visual aids not only align with an individual’s progress, but also meet the specific therapeutic goals set for them.
Professionals have valuable information about an individual’s strengths, challenges, and best strategies. When they participate in creating visual aids, it adds a layer of expertise that improves the overall effectiveness of these tools.
The collaborative effort involves sharing information about the individual’s treatment journey, milestones reached, and areas where they may need additional support. This exchange of information allows visual materials to be tailored to meet specific needs and challenges, making them more targeted and impactful. For example, if therapy focuses on improving communication skills, visual aids can be designed to support and reinforce these particular aspects.
Understanding the unique way autistic people learn through visuals is a crucial starting point. This recognition paves the way for exploration and experimentation with various visual aids, each meeting different needs and preferences.
Free course: Mastering the support and care of children with developmental disorders
Are you interested in improving your skills in caring for children with special needs? Look no further! Nurture Pods offers a free online course designed to delve deeper into the treatment and care of children with developmental disabilities. This comprehensive course provides you with invaluable information and techniques, focusing on conditions such as autism, ADHD and anxiety disorders.
In this engaging online program, we navigate through the distinctive characteristics and common challenges faced by children with developmental disabilities. The course places a strong emphasis on evidence-based approaches, including the gold standard in autism treatment: applied behavior analysis (ABA).
Untangle the complexities of supporting children on the autism spectrum with proven techniques. Whether you are a parent, caregiver or educator, this course provides a wealth of knowledge on understanding and effectively managing children with diverse needs. Develop your know-how and gain confidence by fostering an environment favorable to these extraordinary people.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your skills and make a positive impact. Join our free Nurture Pods online course and embark on a journey toward inclusive, informed support for children with developmental disabilities.
About the author
Liau Alex received his degree in psychology from the National University of Singapore and specializes in childhood disorders, particularly learning and behavioral difficulties. He has many years of experience working with children with a wide range of learning and behavioral problems, many of whom have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
As an author, Alex has two titles published by Future Horizons Inc. (USA), the global leader in autism and sensory resources. Schools around the world have used his books for inclusive education and parent training for children with special needs. Titles under his name include School Shadow Guidelines (2015) and A Parent’s Guide to Early Intervention (2021).
Alex received training in Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) in Australia and then traveled to the United States, where he completed training in Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) under the guidance of Dr. Steven Gutstein and by Dr. Rachel Sheely. He has given presentations in Australia, Houston and Singapore and has also been invited to participate in media interviews. Additionally, he has worked with clients around the world including China, Taiwan, Australia, UK and USA.
