Visual Support Structures

Visual Support Structures are an essential element of the Physical Environment Engineering domain within The CMS Approach™. Visual Support Structures involve incorporating concrete visual cues into the learning environment, empowering students to complete their tasks independently.

If your class has students with auditory processing, focusing, or communication challenges, relying solely on auditory cues while teaching can hinder their learning.

Integrating Visual Supports into your teaching methods when educating students with ASD and related disabilities can significantly enhance their learning experience and behavior. Visual supports are like pictures and diagrams that help students learn alongside spoken words.

Visual Supports can be helpful to:

• Show, not just tell. Visual clarity is improved through pictures, diagrams, and furniture arrangements to explain to students what needs to be done.
• Keep things organized. Clear containers, labels, and schedules can help students find what they need and stay on track.
• Break down complex ideas. Step-by-step pictures showing how to complete a task one step at a time can help students avoid frustration.

Remember that when students know what is expected, they are less likely to get frustrated, confused, or upset. 

Visual support structures should follow three key features: clarity, organization, and instruction.

Implementing visual support in the classroom provides visual organization for each area, with a specific purpose and expectation assigned to each space. Visual supports offer numerous advantages that significantly influence student learning and behavior. These benefits include:

• Eliminating the need for reading and verbal understanding
• Simplifying complex concepts and instructions 
• Being accessible for reference throughout the day
• Allowing students to understand activities as step-by-step processes
• Reducing the student’s need to engage in maladaptive behavior because the process is clear

Visual support structures are powerful tools in educational settings, offering numerous benefits for students. However, finding the right fit may require experimentation and adaptation to ensure effectiveness in specific situations.

Generalization refers to the ability to apply learned skills or strategies in different environments. This means taking a skill and using it in various ways. 

Teaching and interventions can effectively promote the generalization of skills and strategies by incorporating various approaches. These include:

• Presenting the same skill using different materials
• Using visual aids to illustrate changes in sequence 

You will learn more strategies during our workshops and live immersive classroom training.

If you are an educator looking to support students with auditory processing, focusing, or communication challenges, join the CMS Community. With us, you can discover how incorporating visual support structures can transform the learning experience for students.

Explore our resources, participate in our training, and connect with fellow educators who are making a difference every day. 

By embracing The CMS Approach™, you are not only enhancing your own teaching experience but also shaping a brighter future for students with ASD and related disabilities. Let's take this journey together and enable an educational landscape where every child thrives.