How to Use Visual Supports in ABA Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy stands as one of the best approaches to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental delays. Once you enroll your child in ABA therapy after initial consultation and assessment with a board-certified expert of ABA therapy in Dubai, you will observe the use of various tools in therapy sessions. These are visual supports in ABA therapy, aids specifically designed to improve communication and improve learning. In this guide, we’ll cover the different types of visual supports used in applied behavior analysis. Let’s take a look at the role they play in intellectual and developmental progress.

Visual Supports in ABA Therapy: Ways to Enhance Learning

It can be difficult for parents, caregivers, and other people in the life of a child with autism to manage behavior. With just auditory instruction alone, there can be challenges with managing behavior aspects such as:

Applied behavior analysis therapy encourages positive behavior and enhances communication. More importantly, it uses visual aids for structure, prompts, and organization. Visual supports for children on the autism spectrum or children with developmental delays come in many styles.

These visual aids for autism make it easier for ABA experts and even parents, caregivers, and teachers to convey information in a more understandable way. These can be applied in various environments other than therapy sessions at the autism center in Dubai. Visual supports come in use at home and in school to encourage social interactions, promote positive behavior, and even reduce anxiety.

With that in mind, it is essential for a parent or a caregiver of a child with ASD to know as much as possible about ABA therapy and the visual supports it involves. Here are some common visual supports in ABA therapy:

1) Visual Schedules

One of the most favored visual supports in ABA therapy is a visual schedule, which is a sequence of words or diagrams that show a set of activities or tasks—in the order that they will occur. Moreover, visual schedules can be activity-specific, daily, or even weekly.

A good example of a visual schedule is a First/Then board. This helps a therapist or parent to ‘converse’ with a child about an activity or task that occurs first (usually a non-preferred one) followed by another activity (the loved one).
 
By recognizing the sequence of activities, even for an entire day, the child better adapts to a routine + learns patience regarding waiting to do something they like.

2) Choice Boards

When it comes to autism treatment with visual supports, a choice board is an example that enables autonomy.  Creating a choice board is one of the easiest ABA therapy techniques to do at home to give a child with ASD a sense of independence.

Place objects, photos, images, simple drawings, or text on the board. As a result, this board allows your child to express preferences for tasks, activities, items, or even foods. Furthermore, the biggest advantage of introducing a choice board in your child’s life is that it helps lessen frustration.

3) Token Boards

Token boards are an effective form of visual communication in ABA therapy. These involve visual tokens or symbols as rewards that have been earned. The ‘tokens’ on the token board are a form of positive reinforcement, ideal for encouraging behavior or activities that are usually difficult or not preferred.

Essentially, when a child finishes a task or exhibits any desired behaviors, a token is placed on the board. After they earn a certain number of tokens, the child can get a reward—possibly one of their choice.

4) Prompt Boards

Communication tools for non-verbal children can consist of prompt boards or devices. These use symbols, images, or even words that children with restricted verbal abilities can use to tell about something they want or even simply participate in conversation.

You can use visual prompts to address speech delay in toddlers. Visual prompts also act as helpful reminders for following instructions and making decisions. ABA therapists even use images or symbols on prompt boards to demonstrate good social behaviors.

5) Visual Timers

Visual timers help facilitate transitions smoothly for children with ASD who have a hard time moving between tasks. Additionally, visual timers can help decrease the stress and anxiety that people—especially children—feel when coping with changes. In other words, visual timers are a great way to help children with development delays understand the concept of time.

Visual timers create a clear countdown that aids in time management, ultimately helping to go about the day easily. Essentially, they offer visual and auditory signals, encourage independence, and even help children finish their tasks willingly and happily.