Visuals are everywhere, we rely on them daily and most of the time, we probably don’t even realize how much we are utilizing them.  Think about when you drive somewhere new, order food at a restaurant, shop at the grocery store, or navigate your way through an airport, most likely, you are utilizing visuals for each of these scenarios and throughout your entire day, every single day. 

Now, what if we took away all those visuals that I mentioned above; would you be able to find your gate number at the airport?  How about trying to drive to a new place; would you be able to get there without a GPS?  What if you didn’t have a calendar or text reminders for appointments; would you remember when and where you needed to be?  Would you be able to order food at a restaurant without a menu, but rather, the waiter or waitress verbally telling you the menu items?  Most likely, the answer would be no for all of those scenarios.

When we don’t have visuals to help guide us throughout our day, we can quickly become frustrated in any given situation.  Visuals are important tools that tell us what to do, making all of us successful and independent every single day.  

Visuals in the Classroom

In the classroom, we are constantly giving verbal directives such as giving directions, requiring students to get out materials, having students turn in papers, etc.  Our students can quickly get lost in all the verbal language that we use, creating frustration which then can lead to negative behavior.  This is why visuals are so important.  Not only do they help make our students with autism successful, but they can benefit all learners and create independence.

Classroom Visuals:

• clearly label materials within the classroom
• label turn in bins
• create visuals for different areas of the classroom
• task list for the assignments during that class period
• list of materials needed for class

Visuals in the Home

Visuals can also assist in the home environment.  How often are you asking your kids to pick up their toys, hang up their backpacks, put their shoes away, do their chores, brush their teeth, etc.?  As a parent, I know I get frustrated with the constant reminders and feel like a broken record.  What if it doesn’t have to be like that and all you need to do is create a visual?  Let me share an example: After several nights of negative behavior from my four-year-old at bedtime, I realized that something had to change.  I quickly created a visual schedule for her bedtime routine and once she learned how to use it, that routine went from taking an hour to only 20 minutes.  

Remember, visuals are everywhere, and we all utilize them to guide us to be successful in our day.