Today we will be focusing on visual aids to help people in the autism spectrum to improve their expressive and receptive communication. This is because some people respond better to visual clues than auditory clues.
People in the autism spectrum tend to be visual learners, so using visual aids will increase their chances of a better understanding of communication. It is essential for independence that a person understands simple instructions, such as requesting a certain item, go to a location or responding to a question.
Every day we come across with many visual systems for example timer, calendars, clocks, road signs, emergency signs, etc. As you can see there are many visual symbols we must learn to be able to function more effectively in the community.
So For People On The Autism Spectrum, You Can Use Visual Aids For Many Situations, For Example:
– To help a person understand what is happening now and next, with a visual timetable; – To help a person understand a sequence, by having a visual sequence with all the steps shown visually; – To help a person to wait, by using a waiting card. – To help a person understand a social situation, by using social stories; – The possibilities are endless. But remember that visual aids are personal, what might work for one person might not work for another.
Visual aids must be adapted to the person needs and current stage of development. The introduction to a visual aid to a person with autism must be done gradually so it does not overwhelm the person. Have fun creating visual aids and see how people respond to it!
