Visual Supports are evidence-based strategies that have been shown to be useful across home, school, and community settings in addressing many goals for children with autism and other disabilities, including decreasing challenging behavior and increasing communication skills, flexibility, attention, and engagement in activities. When these types of needs are identified, the visual supports described in this set of videos are typically the first line of recommendations. These are strategies that can be easily used by parents/family members, teachers, and providers and apply across the age range.
After the strategies reviewed in webinar 1 are in place, reinforcement is the other primary evidence-based strategy recommended for use across home, school, and community settings. Reinforcement is important to use across the age range by parents/family members, teachers, and providers. In order to effectively use reinforcement to increase appropriate behaviors and new skills, it is important to know why certain behaviors occur and how to respond to them. These videos explain this as well as various ways to effectively use reinforcement.
It is vital to ensure that children with autism and other developmental disabilities are taught functional ways to communicate their needs. The strategies discussed in webinars 1 and 2 lay the foundation for teaching communication skills. The videos in this section focus on practical ways that parents/family members, teachers, and providers can use additional evidence-based strategies to more specifically focus on increasing communication skills for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.