Picture this: your child navigates their morning routine independently, transitions between activities without meltdowns, and communicates their needs clearly—all with the help of simple visual supports you created at home. Visual supports are among the most powerful and accessible ABA tools available to parents, transforming abstract concepts into concrete, understandable information that reduces anxiety and builds independence.
The Power of Visual Learning
Research indicates that 65% of the population are visual learners, and for children with autism and developmental differences, visual supports can increase task completion by up to 80% while reducing challenging behaviors by 60%. The best part? Most visual supports can be created with materials you already have at home.
Understanding Visual Supports: More Than Just Pictures
Visual supports encompass any visual element that helps your child understand expectations, navigate routines, or communicate effectively. From simple picture cards to complex communication boards, these tools bridge the gap between what your child needs to know and their ability to process and remember information in the moment.
Visual supports work because they remain constant while verbal instructions disappear into the air. They reduce the cognitive load of remembering multi-step directions and provide a reference point your child can return to as needed. Most importantly, they promote independence by giving your child the tools to succeed without constant adult prompting.
Types of Visual Supports for Home Use
1. Visual Schedules
Visual schedules break down routines into manageable steps, showing your child what to expect and what comes next. They reduce anxiety about unknown activities and help children transition between tasks more smoothly.
Creating Your First Visual Schedule
Materials needed: Cardstock or poster board, pictures (photos or drawings), velcro strips or clips
Steps:
1. Take photos of your child completing each routine step
2. Print and laminate for durability
3. Arrange in order on a board or strip
4. Let your child move completed tasks to a "finished" section
2. First-Then Boards
These simple visual supports show the relationship between a less preferred activity and a preferred one, making expectations clear and providing motivation to complete tasks.
Example: "First brush teeth" (picture of toothbrush) "Then read story" (picture of favorite book). This visual contract helps children understand that completing the first task leads to the preferred activity.
3. Choice Boards
Choice boards present options visually, empowering children to make decisions and communicate preferences without relying solely on verbal communication.
Choice Board Applications
Snack Time: Display pictures of available snacks
Free Time: Show activity options like puzzles, blocks, or books
Getting Dressed: Present clothing choices for the day
Emotional Regulation: Offer coping strategy options like deep breathing or taking a break
4. Communication Boards
These visual tools help non-speaking children or those with limited verbal skills express their needs, wants, and feelings effectively.
Basic Communication Board Elements: Include pictures for common requests like "help," "more," "all done," "bathroom," and feelings like "happy," "sad," or "frustrated." Organize by category and make symbols large enough for easy selection.
5. Behavior Supports
Visual supports can also address challenging behaviors by showing expected behaviors, consequences, and coping strategies in a concrete way.
Visual Behavior Supports
Expected Behavior Charts: Show what behaviors look like in different settings
Emotion Regulation Tools: Visual thermometers for anger levels with corresponding coping strategies
Social Stories: Picture sequences that explain social situations and appropriate responses
Calm Down Plans: Step-by-step visual guides for self-regulation
Design Principles for Effective Visual Supports
Keep It Simple
Less is more when it comes to visual supports. Use clear, uncluttered images with minimal background distractions. Focus on the essential information your child needs to understand the message.
Make It Personal
Use photos of your child, their actual belongings, and familiar environments whenever possible. Personal images are more meaningful and easier for children to connect with than generic pictures.
Consider Size and Placement
Visual supports should be large enough for your child to see clearly and placed at their eye level. Consider your child's visual processing abilities—some children benefit from larger images, while others prefer smaller, more detailed pictures.
Accessibility Guidelines
Size: Images should be at least 2x2 inches for most children
Contrast: Use high contrast between images and backgrounds
Placement: Position supports where they'll be used (bathroom schedule in the bathroom)
Durability: Laminate or use protective sleeves for frequently handled items
Use Consistent Symbols
Once you establish visual symbols for concepts, use them consistently across all supports. If you use a specific picture for "finished," use that same image on all schedules and boards to avoid confusion.
Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
Phase 1: Assessment and Planning
Before creating visual supports, observe your child's current challenges and strengths. Where do meltdowns typically occur? What routines are most difficult? Which activities does your child enjoy? This information helps you prioritize which visual supports to create first.
Questions to Consider: Does your child respond better to photographs or drawings? Do they prefer color or black and white images? How much information can they process at once? These preferences will guide your design choices.
Phase 2: Creating Your First Support
Start with one routine that occurs daily and presents consistent challenges. Morning routines are often ideal because they're predictable and essential for daily success.
DIY Visual Schedule Creation
Step 1: Take photos of each routine step in the actual environment
Step 2: Print photos (4x6 size works well)
Step 3: Attach velcro to the back of each photo
Step 4: Create a board with corresponding velcro strips
Step 5: Add a "finished" area where completed tasks can be moved
Phase 3: Introduction and Teaching
Introduce visual supports during calm, non-stressful times. Walk through the schedule together, explaining each step and demonstrating how to use the support. Practice during preferred activities first to create positive associations.
Teaching Strategies: Use hand-over-hand guidance to help your child move pictures or point to symbols. Provide enthusiastic praise when they use the visual support correctly, even with assistance. Gradually reduce your prompts as they become more independent.
Phase 4: Consistency and Expansion
Use the visual support consistently for at least two weeks before making changes. Once your child is comfortable with one support, you can introduce additional ones or expand existing supports to include more steps or choices.
Troubleshooting Common Challenges
When Visual Supports Aren't Working
If your child isn't responding to visual supports after consistent use, consider whether the images are too complex, the schedule is too long, or the support isn't addressing the real challenge. Sometimes simplifying or breaking down the support further makes all the difference.
Common Issues and Solutions
Child ignores the support: Make it more interactive or add preferred characters
Too overwhelming: Reduce the number of steps or choices
Pictures unclear: Use real photos instead of drawings or vice versa
Not portable: Create mini versions for outings or transitions
Maintaining Interest
Rotate themes, update photos as your child grows, and add new elements to keep visual supports engaging. If your child loves dinosaurs, incorporate dinosaur elements into their choice board or schedule.
Addressing Resistance
Some children initially resist new visual supports, especially if they're used to verbal instructions. Introduce supports gradually, start with preferred activities, and make the experience positive through praise and reinforcement.
Advanced Visual Support Strategies
Mobile Visual Supports
Create portable versions of visual supports for community outings, school, and travel. Keyring picture cards, smartphone apps with custom pictures, or small flip books can provide consistency across environments.
Technology Integration
While homemade supports are often most effective, consider apps that allow you to create custom visual supports. Some families find success with tablet-based schedules or communication apps that can be personalized with family photos.
Free Technology Resources
Smartphone cameras: Perfect for creating instant visual supports
Free editing apps: Add text or simple graphics to photos
Home printers: Print and laminate custom supports
Online symbol libraries: Access free picture symbols if photos aren't working
Collaborative Visual Supports
Include your child in creating their visual supports when possible. Let them take photos, choose colors, or decorate their schedule board. This ownership increases their investment in using the supports successfully.
Measuring Success and Making Adjustments
Data Collection Made Simple
Track your child's success with visual supports using simple methods like counting independent task completions or rating cooperation levels on a 1-5 scale. This information helps you refine supports and celebrate progress.
Signs of Success
Look for increased independence in routines, reduced prompting needed from adults, smoother transitions between activities, and decreased anxiety around schedule changes. Even small improvements indicate that visual supports are making a difference.
Parent Success Story
"We started with a simple morning routine visual schedule using photos I took with my phone. Within three weeks, my 6-year-old was getting ready completely independently. Now we have visual supports throughout our house, and they've eliminated about 90% of our daily struggles. The best part is seeing how confident and proud he looks when he completes tasks on his own." - Jennifer R., Parent Powered ABA Community Member
Beyond Basic Implementation: Advanced Applications
Once you've mastered basic visual supports, you can expand their use to address more complex challenges like social skills, emotional regulation, and community participation. Visual supports can be adapted for any situation where your child needs additional structure or communication support.
Consider creating visual supports for challenging situations like doctor visits, family gatherings, or new environments. Having familiar visual tools in unfamiliar situations provides comfort and structure when your child needs it most.
Building a Visual Support System
The most effective visual supports are part of a comprehensive system rather than isolated tools. Create consistency across different environments by sharing successful supports with teachers, therapists, and other caregivers. This coordination ensures your child receives consistent visual support throughout their day.
Conclusion
Creating effective visual supports at home doesn't require expensive materials or professional training—it requires understanding your child's unique needs and presenting information in a way that makes sense to them. By implementing these evidence-based strategies, you're providing your child with tools that promote independence, reduce anxiety, and enhance communication.
Remember that the best visual support is one that works for your specific child in your specific situation. Start simple, be consistent, and don't be afraid to modify supports as your child's needs change. Every child deserves access to information in a format they can understand, and visual supports make that possible in your everyday family life.
The journey of creating and implementing visual supports is an investment in your child's independence and your family's daily success. With patience, creativity, and consistency, these simple tools can transform challenging routines into smooth, predictable experiences that build your child's confidence and capabilities.
