Identify the target skill or routineįor example, if you want to make the morning routine easier, focus on that for a visual schedule first. These tips can help you make a visual schedule that’s most useful to the autistic child in your life. The process of making a visual schedule will be different for each child, each family, and likely for each goal. This can be a real self-esteem and mood booster. Visual supports can help people practice their social skills and help them develop confidence in their abilities.

Autistic children and adolescents may be interested in supportive tools that help them learn to navigate social situations. Some people on the autism spectrum have difficulty interacting and socializing with others. For example, some people may benefit from visual schedules for social interactions. Visual schedules do not only pertain to classroom or household tasks. Giving a child a visual schedule allows them to study, learn, and repeat the expected behaviors of a task or activity. Even transitioning between regular activities can be difficult if a child does not know what to expect.Ī visual schedule can help autistic children understand what’s coming next, which can help facilitate smoother transitions.Īlso, the visual schedule can reinforce lessons or help develop new skills. And unexpected scheduling changes can be upsetting and stressful. Many autistic children prefer to stick to regular routines. Visual schedules can help reduce scheduling-related anxiety. How visual schedules help autistic children But visual supports can often help bridge that gap. The best type of visual support for an autistic person will depend on their preferences and communication styles.įor some autistic children, responding to auditory prompts and verbal instruction may be difficult. They’re also helpful for nonspeaking autistic people.Īutism visual supports can be in the form of: Generally speaking, visual supports are image-based tools that help autistic people communicate, follow directions, and carry out daily tasks more effectively. Ultimately, these visual tools should help a child develop new skills, meet expectations and deadlines, and reduce their dependence on caregivers, teachers, and parents.

The right type of visual schedule will depend on the person’s needs, routines, and goals. Schedules are typically customizable and adjustable. That schedule could include things like:Ī visual schedule can be as broad as an entire day’s activities, or multiple visual schedules can be used to break down parts of the day. Once the child is at school, they may have another visual schedule to follow. The schedule could include photographs depicting tasks that need to be done, such as: It presents a sequence of events for what is going to happen during a specific task, during an activity, or throughout the day.Ī visual schedule may use a sequence of photographs, videos, illustrations, or other visual elements that help children understand what they are expected to do.įor example, a parent might use a visual schedule to help their child prepare for school. A visual schedule is an image-based tool that helps support autistic children.

Kids daily schedule center