Visual aids may include but are not limited to, pictures, written words, symbols, line drawings, objects, text, visual boundaries, schedules, maps, labels, timers, timelines, organization systems, and scripts. They support an individual to use their visual strength in processing, organizing, remembering, and responding to information. Many existing studies support the successful use of visual aids.
They allow information to remain consistent enabling an individual to participate with greater ease in the communication process. They increase the understanding of language and environmental expectations, provide structure, explain rules, reduce or eliminate undesired behaviours, support transition difficulties, and increase independence by providing a means of simple communication. As well, visuals aids support appropriate social skills assisting individuals with special needs or exceptionalities to move through their day with greater success.
Using visuals aids and strategies may only be one of many pieces to your “puzzle” however it is a step closer to completing the whole picture.
Vizually Speaking provides service designing, creating and training in using personalized visual aids and strategies, assisting the needs of an individual, their families, and caregivers. For a FREE consultation contact us TODAY!
Visual Aids:
✓ Are NOT meant to be a quick fix, rather they are a support to improve the overall quality of life.
✓ Provide hope for individuals, their families, caregivers, and teachers in achieving communication and behavioural success across environments in the home, school, work, and community.
✓ Assist the user in comprehending what is going on, communicate wants and needs as well as demonstrating more appropriate behaviour and/or social skills in life situations.
✓ Support learning and have been recognized as ‘best practice’. Research has shown that individuals having learning difficulties understand better what they see than what they hear.
✓ Enhance and enrich the goals of therapeutic intervention provided by an Occupational Therapist (OT), Physical Therapist (PT), Behavioural Therapist (BT) and Speech and Language Therapist (SLP).
Vizually Speaking understands that finding time in today’s high demanding world to create visual aids and strategies can be a great challenge. Vizually Speaking is committed to collaboratively work together providing a step by step support, assisting in the development and implementation of individualized visual aids and strategies. For a FREE consultation contact us TODAY!
Using Visual Aids and Strategies
When using visual aids and strategies it is essential to consider whether the goal is to learn skills we want an individual to have or look forward to the skills they will need to have today, tomorrow and in the future. The power of visuals aids and strategies combined with consistency, a supportive environment, and a good communication partner brings trust, predictability, and success. Therefore it is very important to implement and be consistent when using visual aids and strategies.
Visual strategies provide a way for students to participate more independently in their life activities. – Linda Hodgdon, M.ED., CCC-SLP, and consultant for Autism Spectrum Disorders
How Visual Aids Help
Visual aids and strategies are commonly used in an individual’s daily life assisting to communicate wants, needs, desires, and choices; organize their events; give directions; explain rules; clarify expectations; aid in transition give independence and clarify appropriate behaviors. There exist many types of visual aids and strategies. They assist to:
✓ establish attention
✓ give information
✓ explain social situations
✓ give choices
✓ give structure to the day
✓ teach routines
✓ organize materials in the environment
✓ organize the space in the environment
✓ teach new skills
✓ support transitions
✓ stay on task
✓ ignore distractions
✓ manage time
✓ communicate rules
✓ speed up slow thinking
✓ support language retrieval
✓ provide structure
✓ learn vocabulary
✓ communicate emotions
✓ clarify verbal information
✓ organize life information
✓ review and remember
And more . . .
Vizually Speaking understands that finding time in today’s high demanding world to create visual aids and strategies can be a great challenge. Vizually Speaking is committed to collaboratively work together providing a step by step support, assisting in the development and implementation of individualized visual aids and strategies. For a FREE consultation contact us TODAY!
Giving information to students in a concrete visual form helps them handle the many happenings during a day that can cause confusion or frustration.It gives them the structure necessary to better handle situations that are difficult for them. – Linda Hodgdon, M.ED., CCC- SLP, and consultant for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Join The Conversation
Are you supporting a challenging child? What is the greatest challenge you deal with as a parent supporting a child with special needs or a child with an identification? Leave me a comment here, and join the conversation on Facebook where I asked, “The greatest challenge about parenting a special needs child or a child with an identification is_____________.”
Workshop Presentation - Visual Aids and Strategies
Contact Vizually Speaking today to learn how Visual Aids and Strategies for Caregivers/Parents can decrease the undesired behaviour(s), improve communication, promote independence and increase self-confidence. Through our dynamic presentation you will:
✓ Uncover the importance of using Visual Aids and Strategies.
✓ Discover the benefits of Visual Aids and Strategies.
✓ Learn how to overcome communication barriers.
✓ Promote independence and decrease undesired behaviours.
✓ Be introduced to NEW resources.
EVEYONE benefits from Visual Aids!
Vizually Speaking understands that finding time in today’s high demanding world to create visual aids and strategies can be a great challenge. Vizually Speaking is committed to collaboratively work together providing a step by step support, assisting in the development and implementation of individualized visual aids and strategies. For a FREE consultation contact us today.
