Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Choice Cards for Students with ASD

In my last post, I wrote about break cards as a wonderful visual tool to use with students with ASD who have challenges with verbal communication.  An additional tool to help students with ASD succeed in the classroom are Choice Cards.

Choice cards are pictures that allow students a visual choice between two or more images.  Students can point to, nod towards or even verbally state their preference.  Choice cards are useful as students are typically less likely to "act out" when given a choice.  It makes the individual feel some power and/or control over their learning environment.  They are especially helpful for kids who cannot speak clearly or have limited vocabulary and are easy to use and low-tech.

Some examples:
                

2 comments:

  1. Gabriela,

    I think the pictures you used to go along with the explanation of choice cards were great, especially because they show the student choosing the card they wish to participate in. It shows the choice cards can be used for any student, especially those who are nonverbal, as they have the ability to point or nod to the card to make their decision.

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  2. I agree with you that students are less likely to act out when given the opportunity to make a visual choice. I work with nonverbal autistic students who really value the opportunity to let us know if they want milk or juice at lunch. Choice cards also give the students the opportunity to tell us if they want to take a break or if they have to use the bathroom. Choice cards really give students a sense of independence and change their overall demeanor in the classroom.

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