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Pictures, visual aids can improve communication between parents and their children, that have Autism Spectrum Disorder or, other disabilities. Visual aids helps children with autism, to understand directions, how it affects their world, and what is expected of them.
Having visual aid supports, such as, pictures, numbers, puzzles, and large shapes of different colors, can help children with autism, develop management skills, improve reading comprehension, and make it easier for children to learn about the passage of time and sequencing, such as, (what comes first, second, etc). Telling time, the hour, minutes, night and day, is advantageous for the use of visuals. One could make play clocks, or use real ones, create scenery to show night as dark, light for day light. Create a sunrise, a sunset, and perhaps use clouds for stormy weather. Use your imagination. There is no the limit.
Visuals can help a child organize a routine. Pictures, are an example, of what they can create to formulate a schedule and keep a child on a healthy routine. This would involve, having a snack, brushing teeth, exercising, the time to get ready for bed, breakfast, bathe, dress, etc., will help children understand and predict events in each time of day or night.
Social scripts as visuals, with pictures added, could be used to educate and teach children social rules. The stories help children learn typical social behaviors, such as covering their ears if it becomes noisy, instead of using a hurtful behavior.
One can also, use visuals for autistic children to reduce or stop unwanted behavior. For example, many autistic children do not know how to express themselves in a healthy way with anger, frustration, asking for what they want or need, verbalize with healthy communication skills. In addition, social visuals are an excellent way to teach children how to express their needs and encourage them to verbalize, through pictures and other visuals.
Pictures do say a thousand words, to assist and aid positive changes for autistic children to communicate in several areas, and better under themselves. The color of pictures or the texture is not the concern for proper visuals. What matters for proper visuals and learning aids, is the quality of how it is represented. Which means, the size, the use, interchanging the visuals, thick and thin lines, and what you are trying to convey to the student. Color is always a nice touch. It makes it exciting and keeps the attention of children with autism. Go ahead and try using visuals for your child with autism. It is an exciting way to communicate, and grow with your child.
