Visual Supports for Toddlers
Visual Supports for toddlers are a set of evidence-based practices (EBPs) that use images, pictures or objects that cue the toddler to engage in a desired skill or behavior. They provide the toddler with meaningful information about an activity, routine, behavioral expectation, or skill.
Visual Supports are effective with toddlers because they can be used to promote everyday routines and activities within the toddler’s natural environment.
Visual Supports can be used to increase target skills or behaviors of toddlers in the domains of academic, adaptive, behavior, cognitive, communication, joint attention, motor, play, school readiness, and social.
The AFIRM for Toddlers modules are designed for early intervention providers working with caregivers (families and childcare providers) of toddlers.
What Will I Learn?
The AFIRM model guides the EI provider through four lessons to facilitate:
- Reviewing basic knowledge about visual supports for toddlers.
- Planning with and coaching caregivers to use and monitor progress of visual supports.
The Visual Supports for Toddlers module will take approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete.
Dees, R., Sam, A., Waters, V., & AFIRM Team. (2023). Visual Supports for Toddlers. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Autism Focused Intervention Modules and Resources. https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/vs-toddlers
DEC Recommended Practices (2014)
DEC recommended practices that apply specifically to visual supports for toddlers module (PDF document, 3 pages)