Visual supports and modelling

Visual Supports 

Visual supports encompass picture cards, tactile cards, photos, short videos, coloured cards, stickers, scales and line drawings. There are many types of visual supports. There is more information available on the National Autistic Society that may help a child or young person. 

Visual cards can be used as prompts, like teaching someone how to have a conversation or learn a new skill. One example might be what happens when you go out for a meal:

• You arrive at the restaurant 
• speak to the waiting staff 
• look at the menu
• order the food
• the food is cooked and served 
• you eat the meal 
• pay the bill and leave. 

This breaks down the events so they are non-threatening for some children and young people. 

Scales are also very useful in breaking down abstract social and emotional concepts in a visual and concrete way. This can support a person to identify the expected social interaction in different situations.

The 5-Point Scale created by Karri Dunn Buron and Mitzi Curtis is an example of how scales can be used. Kari states that “A primary goal of the scale is to help them (people with autism) notice and functionally respond to their own and others' social behaviour.”

We also offer a Visual Support Pack. The pack includes useful information on how visual supports can be used effectively. 

Modelling

Modelling is the demonstration of the desired behaviour by a parent, professional, or peer that can result in the imitation of that behaviour by the learner. This can lead to the development of new skills. Modelling is often combined with other strategies such as prompting (‘my turn’) and reinforcement (‘Good talking turns).

For more information visit the autism behaviour strategies page.

Video Modelling

Video modelling is the same as modelling, but rather than doing it in real life, footage of the skill being modelled is recorded on video. This allows the learner to review the video at a time that suits them, and repetitively, to develop fluency in learning the skill. 

There are different types of video modelling. Some use peers or adults to create the video footage, while other types of video models use footage of the learner themselves, either displaying the skill or a small part of the skill, which is then edited together.

Here is an example of a video model. 

There are also iPhone and Android applications that can make video modelling easy.