Autism/Special Needs, Resources, Strategies 
2 Comments Autism Resources: Visual Strategies
What are Visual Strategies? The simple answer is that “visual strategies are ways to improve the communication process by using supports that can be seen.” (taken from a brief article by the Midland County Educational Service Agency, adapted from Linda Hodgdon’s book below).
Examples in our daily lives might include a daily planner or to do list, road signs, and people’s body language. Other things we could use to facilitate communication and understanding are picture or object schedules, written or pictorial breakdowns of a specific task or routine, picture icons used with or in place of speech, choice boards, charts for token/reward systems, etc.
The books listed here give great information about not only the what, but also the why and the how of using visual strategies, including resources for supplies you might need. At the bottom, I have listed a couple of websites that have free printable items that could be useful for parents of younger typical children as well as teachers and parents of children or adults on the spectrum.
Some Books to Consider:
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Visual Strategies for Improving Communication : Practical Supports for School & Home by Linda A. Hodgdon (and here’s Linda’s website)
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Visual Supports for People With Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Autism) by Marlene J. Cohen and Donna L. Sloan
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Making Visual Supports Work in the Home and Community: Strategies for Individuals with Autism and Asperger Syndrome by Jennifer L. Savner, Brenda Smith Hyles, and Brenda Smith Myles
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Activity Schedules for Children With Autism: Teaching Independent Behavior (Topics in Autism) (Topics in Autism) by Lynn E., Ph.D. McClannahan and Patricia J., Ph.D. Krantz
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A Picture’s Worth: PECS and Other Visual Communication Strategies in Autism (Topics in Autism) by Andy, Ph.D. Bondy and Lori Frost (and here’s the PECS website)
A Couple of Websites to Check Out:
do2learn.com: a site with free teacher & parent material and free computer-based instruction as well as other resources available at a cost, including their Make a Schedule software (online or desktop version)
chartjungle.com: has lots of free printables, including calendars, checklists, chores and schedules
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Tags: resources, Visual Strategies
Great resources thanks. I have been meaning to make a visual schedule for Monkette.
Thanks for the comment on my blog. I could not say it there but I have had issues with this woman in the past that I am pretty sure it was meant in a mean way. She once told me her son had similar problems but she spent a week spanking it out of him and he is all better now.
@cajunchic – Oh my! Good luck with the visual schedule. I have often found my son’s SLP or autism support teacher to be very willing to provide icons and even a schedule board to use at home.