As many of you know, visual supports are incredibly important for our students with autism. Today, I’d like to talk about three types of visuals I use every day: schedules, cues, and boundaries.
Schedules: Empower Independence and Build Confidence
In our classroom, schedules help my students know what to expect and when.
My daily schedule is a simple First/Then that shows the activities we’ll do in short segments. It’s one of the first things my students check when they come in each morning. I love seeing their faces light up when they see a favorite activity on the schedule! This is also an effective way to introduce changes to our schedule and help my students who struggle with flexibility.
I also use smaller, individual schedules for center rotations. For example, when it’s time for centers, I use a simple color-coded picture schedule showing each center. It’s amazing how this little visual aid helps my students become more independent!
Cues: Silent Helpers
One of the first areas of the brain to develop in young children is the Visual Cortex. This means, students process visual input much easier than verbal input (controlled by the Temporal Lobe which fully develops later in life). As a result, visual cues can be huge game changers in the classroom.
Visual cues are like silent helpers in my classroom. They give my students important information without any words needed.
One of my favorite support cues is The Autism Helper’s Visual Necklace for Students With Autism. It’s a cool lanyard or keyring with little picture cards that show different behaviors. When I point to the “Quiet Voice” card, which has a picture of someone whispering, the students know it’s time to use their indoor voices.
This visual support makes my classroom a calmer, more positive place. It’s so much nicer than having to constantly remind students verbally about behavior expectations.
Additionally, I use color coded visuals for the restroom. Green indicates the restroom is open and students can enter, red indicates that the restroom is occupied. Students simply flip the card before they enter and again after they exit the restroom. These incredible bathroom visuals are part of The Autism Helper’s Professional Development Membership that I highly recommend for any educator. To take an in-depth look at what the Membership offers, read this post by me.
Boundaries: Our Safe Spaces
Visual boundaries are visual supports that help my students understand where they should be and what spaces are for what activities.
In my classroom, I use colorful tape, rugs, and furniture to mark and segment different areas of the classroom. There’s a blue carpet for our morning meeting spot, green tape, chairs, and a tent for our reading center, and many, many bookshelves for my task box and play centers.
I’ve observed that clear visual boundaries can significantly reduce anxiety for some students. They always know where they are supposed to be, making transitions much easier. If you have trouble with students staying in their centers, setting up visual boundaries can be a game-changer. Additionally, if students have trouble staying out of cabinets or materials, using a sheet to cover shelves, like shown above, can be an effective way to create a helpful boundary.
I wish I could show you all the wonderful photos of our classroom and students using these visuals, but for privacy reasons, I can’t share those here. Just know that behind each visual support is a smiling face and a student who’s growing in confidence every day! Thanks for reading! To see my visual schedules in action, check out the video below:
- Autism Acceptance Week: An Opportunity to Learn and Celebrate - April 7, 2025
- Three Types of Visual Supports - March 18, 2025
- The Importance of Classroom Routines Visuals - February 3, 2025
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