Visual supports in ABA therapy are tools like pictures, symbols, written words, or objects that help people with autism spectrum disorder communicate, follow routines, and understand their environment. They work by making abstract information concrete and visible. ABA therapists use them across a wide range of ages and ability levels.
If you’ve ever used a calendar, a grocery list, or step-by-step directions, you’ve used a visual support. For most of us, those tools are helpful. For someone with ASD who struggles to process spoken language or navigate social expectations, they can be transformative.
Visual supports show up in classrooms, therapy sessions, and homes across the country. Here’s what they are, how they work, and what you need to know if you’re using them with a child or a client.
What Are Visual Supports in ABA?
Visual supports are any visual cues used to help someone understand a concept, follow a sequence, communicate a want or need, or manage a social situation. They don’t have to be elaborate. A photograph taped to a bathroom mirror showing someone washing their hands counts. So does a hand-drawn picture schedule on a piece of cardstock.
In ABA therapy, visual supports are designed to meet the individual where they are. A nonverbal child might rely on picture cards to request a snack or indicate they’re finished with an activity. A teenager with ASD might use a written checklist to get through a morning routine without reminders. The format changes, but the goal is the same: make the abstract concrete.
Common types of visual supports include:
- Visual schedules: A sequence of images or words showing what comes next throughout the day. These are especially helpful for people with ASD who struggle with transitions or unexpected changes in routine.
- Visual reminders: A single image or symbol placed in a relevant spot, like a picture showing “shoes on” next to the front door.
- Visual checklists: Step-by-step visual guides for completing multi-step tasks. For example, a series of photos showing what to do after eating dinner: put your dish in the sink, throw away your napkin, wipe the table, push in your chair.
- Choice boards: A display of pictures representing options, allowing a person to point to what they want instead of having to verbalize it.
- Social supports: Visual aids that help people navigate social situations, such as a card showing facial expressions and their meanings, or a step-by-step guide for starting a conversation.
Why Visual Supports Work
Many individuals with ASD benefit from visual information because it remains visible and can be processed at their own pace. Words disappear the moment they’re said. A picture stays. That permanence matters when someone is trying to remember what comes next or figure out how to respond in a social situation.
Visual supports reduce the cognitive load of daily life. When a child already knows what to expect because they can see it on their schedule, there’s less room for confusion, less frustration, and fewer meltdowns. That predictability also builds independence over time. The child doesn’t need someone to tell them what comes next because the visual shows them.
Beyond communication, visual supports also reduce anxiety. Many people with ASD find uncertainty deeply distressing. A clear, visual routine gives them something to anchor to, which research in ABA consistently connects to better behavioral outcomes and improved quality of life.
Types of Visual Supports Used in ABA
ABA practitioners use visual supports in a few specific ways worth knowing about.
One strategy often used alongside visual supports is priming, a behavioral technique that previews upcoming events using images, stories, or visual sequences. Before a new or potentially stressful event, a therapist or parent might use pictures or a visual story to walk the child through what will happen—going to the dentist for the first time, for example. There might be a set of images showing the waiting room, the chair, the light, the tools, what the dentist does, and then leaving. Priming reduces anxiety by removing the unknown.
Visual supports also play a role in behavior support plans. A visual cue might remind a child of expected behavior, such as raising their hand before speaking or taking a breath before responding when frustrated. These aren’t punishments. They’re tools that help people internalize expectations without constant verbal prompting.
For nonverbal individuals, visual supports often work alongside other communication systems. Picture exchange communication (PECS) is one example in which a person uses picture cards to initiate communication and make requests. Social narratives are another, using visual sequences to explain social situations and what an appropriate response looks like.
How to Create Visual Supports at Home
You don’t need a therapist or specialized software to make useful visual supports. Many of the most effective ones are homemade.
Cutting pictures from magazines, printing photos from your phone, or drawing simple images are all fair game. A laminator and some Velcro can turn a set of printed photos into a durable, reusable visual schedule. The goal is clarity, not polish.
That said, there are tools designed specifically for creating professional-quality visual supports. Boardmaker and SymWriter are widely used symbol-based communication software tools popular with ABA practitioners and teachers. PictureSET is a free library of visual resources commonly used by educators and therapists. All three are worth exploring if you want a broader symbol set than photos alone can provide.
A few practical tips if you’re getting started:
- Use real photos when possible for younger children or those who are just starting with visual supports. Abstract symbols require more cognitive work to interpret.
- Keep schedules to a manageable number of steps. A 12-step morning routine on one card can overwhelm. Break it into smaller segments.
- Involve the child in creating their visual supports when you can. Ownership often increases buy-in.
- Revisit and adjust. What works at age five might not work at age ten, and that’s fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who benefits from visual supports in ABA?
Visual supports are most commonly used with people with ASD, but they’re also helpful for individuals with other developmental disabilities, language delays, or cognitive differences. Any person who processes visual information more reliably than auditory input can benefit from them.
At what age can visual supports be introduced?
Visual supports can be introduced very early, even with toddlers. The specific type and complexity of the support should match the child’s developmental level. Simple pictures or objects work well for young children, while written text and more detailed visual systems are appropriate as literacy and cognition develop.
Can visual supports replace verbal communication?
No. Visual supports are designed to supplement communication, not replace it. The goal in ABA is always to build skills and increase independence, including verbal communication where possible. Visual supports are a bridge, not a permanent substitute.
Do visual supports work for adults with ASD?
Absolutely. Many adults with ASD use visual supports as part of their daily routine to manage time, remember tasks, and navigate social situations. The format and content naturally evolve with age, but the underlying value doesn’t change.
How do ABA therapists decide which visual supports to use?
Therapists start with a functional assessment to understand the individual’s communication level, learning style, and specific challenges. From there, they design visual supports that address identified goals and adjust them based on data collected during sessions. If you’re interested in providing this kind of individualized support professionally, you can explore top ABA master’s programs to learn what training and certification in the field looks like.
Key Takeaways
- Visual supports are concrete tools: Pictures, symbols, written cues, and objects that help people with ASD communicate, follow routines, and understand their environment more independently.
- Permanence is the point: Visual information remains visible and can be processed at the individual’s own pace, reducing anxiety and supporting clearer understanding.
- There are many types: visual schedules, checklists, choice boards, and social supports. Each serves different needs and can be mixed and matched based on the individual.
- You can make them at home: Many of the best visual supports are made with printed photos, magazines, and a laminator. Specialized software like Boardmaker is helpful but not required.
- They’re always individualized: In ABA, visual supports are designed based on a functional assessment and adjusted over time as the client’s skills and needs change.
Want to learn more about ABA therapy and the professionals who deliver it? Exploring a degree in applied behavior analysis is a great next step.
