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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Visual aids

31 replies

used2bthin · 28/04/2012 11:13

I've been trying to find somewhere to get some stuff to help with routines at home for DD. School did a communication book but said DD is too all over the place to use it much, they use now and next boards though and say as long as routines are followed she is happy.

I did a quick sketch last night for tea time, bath time, game time which she seemed to respond to. Still took ages but she did seem more willing I think. I found a good website I could download pictures from then would have to laminate (maybe my local children's centre would let me do that there) then get hold of sticky velcro things. Also found a website called ASD visual aids that sold the now and next boards and also the home communication books but the books were pricey and the pictures werent all relevant- I'd like them really broken down to get dressed, brush teeth etc.

Any other ideas or useful websites? DD doesn't have an ASD diagnosis she has a learning disability and SLI but lots of strategies seem to overlap and she is very very routine driven. Tried actual photos on a key fob for out and about but it didn't work very well and I think she's ready fro symbols now.

OP posts:

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 28/04/2012 11:59

have you had a look on ebay? These are just from one seller, there's a few more sellers that sell similar things so worth a look. This one is a specific tooth brishing one, try searching that seller too.

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 28/04/2012 12:00

Oh and you can get laminaters pretty cheaply these days if you shop round.

Ben10NeverAgain · 28/04/2012 12:16

I got a laminator for about 15 pounds and Velcro for about 3 pounds. I then googled for free pecs. I'm out at the moment but will have a look for the ones I used. We have ones that break down going to the toilet for example.

Original poster

used2bthin · 28/04/2012 12:33

Thank you both, ninja the second link I went to the sellers other items and there was some great stuff! Games etc too and all laminated already from the looks of it, I will def be getting some stuff there.

Ben10 thank you- hadn't realised laminators were so cheap! Only thing is we have very little space but will bear that in mind, may be easier for long term.

Found one on the free site which really broke down the activity of teeth brushing-much like the link ninja did-DD needs one about going to the toilet I think as she always forgets to wipe. Although maybe I am jumping ahead of myself and should start with very basic things eg just toilet rather than more complex instructions?

OP posts:

claw4 · 28/04/2012 13:32

We have a laminator, they are quite small and i think Asda sell them for about £8. I also use blu-tak to stick them.

I used visual sequencing chart to help with getting dressed, as when faced with too much choice ie socks, pants, vest, t-shirt, jumper, trousers, ds gets confused and doesnt know where to start. It also helped with putting his clothes on round the right way. I used googled images to find school uniform pictures in the same colour as his.

I used this site for PECS PECS which was helpful for things like play, finished, wait etc.

I would say the idea is to break down more complex instructions, into more step by step instructions for toileting and personally i would use a sequence chart for things like wiping.

Ds also needs to be able to see what he is doing when wiping, if he cant see he wont attempt to do it, so we got a full length mirror and also toilet wipes make it much easier for him.

Original poster

used2bthin · 28/04/2012 14:10

Thank you claw , yes toilet wipes are great, DD got really excited when I got her some bizarrely! She got sore though, must get some fragrance free ones and try again.Interesting about being able to see, hadnt thought of that.

I will look at asda for a laminator too, what a bargain! I saw a no hitting one on the ASD visual aids site- need one of those definately! Also breaking down getting dressed would help-better than what we do now which is I catch her and get her dressed whilst avoiding her hitting, spitting etc (on a bad day-not always that awful). She needs to start doing the bits she can on her own.

OP posts:

claw4 · 28/04/2012 14:42

Interesting the chasing around and hitting you, id forgotten that ds used to do that! He is 8 now, but when he was 5, he did the exact same thing, i have a video of him struggling and hitting me.

We have phased out the visuals now, as he can now almost dress himself, he still struggles with buttons, socks, zips and getting things in the right way and needs a bit of help. He needed lots of help to follow the visuals first of all though and would often just refuse point blank, but not getting dressed wasnt an option. I would ask him to choose between socks or pants for example, but putting nothing on wasnt an option. It also involved getting up an hour earlier, just so we had time for him to dress himself!

He used to say the sensation of pulling things over his head and pushing his arms/legs through to get his clothes on 'burnt his skin'. We have also been following a sensory diet for years, which has helped.

When OT did some work with ds years ago, he was asked to put his hand into a bag and retrieve the car just by touch, he couldnt do it. More recently when OT asked him to perform a task when his vision was occluded, he refused and she commented that he displayed poor sequencing and poor awareness of where he is placing his hands or fingers. Poor fine motor skills and body awareness. Which gave me the idea of the mirror for him to be able to see.

Ben10NeverAgain · 28/04/2012 15:40

this is the site that I used I think it's fantastic as you can choose how detailed you want to be and there are boy and girl specific ones.

My laminator is about 30 cm by 10cm. It was from the range and came with some free laminator sheets.

UnChartered · 28/04/2012 15:42

i used mrsriley as recommended by a MNer

really easy to use, you can upload your own pictures and/or use ones other users have shared

there is a small fee for non US customers, but it was £5 for a month - bargain

Ben10NeverAgain · 28/04/2012 16:17

Thanks Unchartered, That looks good....and I'm sure I could print off LOTS of cards in a one day trial.

UnChartered · 28/04/2012 16:22

if you have a file on your 'puter set up with all your pics...

the 9 to a page is a very good size, you get a decent border which when you've cut them out, makes for easy placement on an A4 sheet of laminate

i think i got my laminator from asda..with free pouches. under £15

hazeyjane · 28/04/2012 16:25

Hello Used2, my hv gave us a load of pec cards laminated and velcroed for me to use with dd2, maybe yours would be able to sort some out.

Ds's portage lady suggested taking photos of things like the car, nursery, snack, highchair, clothes, keyworker etc to use as visual aids for ds, in order to try and help him with his clinginess/unhappiness in new places etc. She offered to laminate them too (I can't remember if you have a good portage worker, maybe they could help).

Triggles · 28/04/2012 19:34

We bought a laminator as well. We have signs all over the house - supposed it's helpful for guests, eh?

You can get some packs of laminating pouches at poundland sometimes.

We have a mix of pictures and words here. For some odd reason, DS2 responds better to lists/words (toileting and bedtime routine) in some instances. Whatever works, I suppose.

Ben10NeverAgain · 28/04/2012 19:39

I can imagine us all going to each houses and knowing exactly what to do to get each others children ready for school as we follow the visual timetables.

Triggles · 28/04/2012 20:08

At least everyone that comes to our house that can read will know to wipe their bums, flush the toilet, and wash their hands.

Ben10NeverAgain · 28/04/2012 20:12

I have images in my bathroom of the wiping etc. You wouldn't need to read here!!

I decided against including the ones that actually had wee or poo though :)

Triggles · 28/04/2012 20:15

DS2 wanted the toilet ones in words, so those have no pictures in our house. It actually specifies using just 4-5 squares of toilet roll after pooing, as he tends to unroll the whole thing. Still does sometimes, so apparently he's not reading that one very well.

Ben10NeverAgain · 28/04/2012 20:17

Squash the roll so it is an oval not round. It helps.....a little.

Triggles · 28/04/2012 20:22

I've tried that. I have honestly never seen a child unroll a roll of loo roll so fast in my life. It's a gift, I tell ya! (he almost always manages to do it when DH is watching him as he's not as quick to stop him LOL)

Ben10NeverAgain · 28/04/2012 20:27

Andrex puppy :)

UnChartered · 28/04/2012 20:29

oh yes, that shout....

'mum...happened again....'

i had one of those toilet roll holders with a 'lid' on it, to stop DD rolling it off [fruitless task emoticon] it 'broke'

will do the squashing it oval trick in a bit

Triggles · 28/04/2012 20:39

DS2 is 5yo. According to his TA, he tried to stand up to wee the other day in school (using a urinal) and ... well... it didn't work. As DS2 said to me "I got water ALL OVER me mummy!"

Um, yes... water.... okay... only it wasn't water. But I didn't have the heart to tell him that.

Triggles · 28/04/2012 20:39

oh, and yes, the TA gave him a change of clothing.

Triggles · 28/04/2012 20:52

used2bthin - if you've found pictures you like, it's probably a good idea to introduce them little by little (rather than all at once) and see what ones she responds to well. For some reason, DS2 did not like some of the pictures (a few of the faces in some of the pics were odd to him and he didn't like them so refused to look at them). We also make sure when there are pictures that the words are on there too, as he sometimes is much more focused on words than pictures (plus it's always good for them to see the words as well).

Original poster

used2bthin · 28/04/2012 23:07

Oh wow thanks everyone, some really great ideas, I know what I will be doing during my mat leave-covering the house with pictures! Wonder if the it will be useful for DH too!! Love the fact that people at yours get a step by step wiping lesson triggles, what a good idea I think I will put pictures in ours too, will start gently though having read this, and start with morning routine stuff getting dressed in particular.

Claw my Dd's OT said she thinks the only reason DD tolerates me getting ehr dressed is she craves the rough and tumble stuff so I have massage to do for her first (she hates it though!)in fact I have been a bit lax with the whole sensory diet thing of late, will make sure I do it properly and see if that helps too. She hasn't got the language to say if it hurts but she certainly hates it.

Hi Hazey! DD is five now so think I'd have to go through our SENCO-we don't have portage here but used to have an inclusion teacher who made the key fob and photo cards for us but she has backed off now we are moving out of the foundation stage. Wish we hadportage, I wanted to train in it but the nearest was over an hour away!

Ben10 and triggles you have reminded me about dd unravelling toilet paper. Also last time we were at her social skills group I went to check on her as she was ages doing a wee and she sad she was doing a wee like my DH- that would explain why she had wee all over her tights then. Have since found her repeating this-standing ovr the toilet facing it and trying to aim her wee into the bowl-messy!

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