Many of our young people and older children are concerned about Covid-19. Again, using our understanding of the value of facing fear with facts. This is important to only use the bits that are relevant and appropriate for your young … Continue reading →

Thinking of returning to school, many of our schools are concerned about how to explain the new rules we have to follow. To help, we have made some signs up and will add visual instructions later. signs for school

We will update with more resources.   Covid 19 poster Bearing in mind, we don’t want our children and young people to feel anxious about their health. To do this, we need to give them the knowledge they need. As … Continue reading →

shoe laces

It is so important that we acknowledge the fears of our young people. Talking them through these fears and recognising their validity gives the young person the chance to reconcile with how they are feeling. Facing these fears with facts … Continue reading →

  Black Lives Matter. Remember, use only what is appropriate for your children/young people. Some of this may be upsetting so please use appropriately. Anyone who follows our blog regularly will be aware that we make resources to support communication. … Continue reading →

This post contains some differentiated visual explanations about vaccines. Vaccines

When it comes to story writing, many of our children and young people have fantastic ideas but can find it difficult to process these ideas and focus on the physical requirements of forming each letter and word to make up … Continue reading →

There are many things people learn naturally. Others are that are specifically taught. Some are straight forward and others are more difficult. Trying to get someone to take on board that someone else may have a different point of view … Continue reading →

funeral

We know (from personal experience) how difficult it can be moving into Phase 1. The rules are similar but a little different. We have made a wee story to try to help explain it. Visiting Phase 1      

We recognise that with new guidance from the Scottish governments, some people may find it difficult to understand new rules or may find it difficult to understand other’s perceptions of these. To combat this, we have made up a couple … Continue reading →

Huge thanks to  the OutLET: Play Resource Outdoor Learning Pack, developed for North Lanarkshire Virtual School. They have allowed us to visualise some of their resources and have inspired us! More will follow. Outdoor Play and Learning   nordic slinging … Continue reading →

Krysten Taprell has very kindly given us permission to visualise some of the amazing breathing techniques she discuss on her blog. https://www.thetherapistparent.com/blog/ Karen Taprell says on her blog that when we slow our breathing down and keep it in rhythm … Continue reading →

We will continue to update this as and when we can. It  can be hard for some people to get dressed. Having to process the order correctly and ensure they have what they need can use up a lot of … Continue reading →

We have been looking at some resources to support pupils once they are in school. As a teacher, I would print this out in black and white or give a small version to pupils to keep. Once the taught lesson … Continue reading →

Many of our family and friends are visual learners. As we have has discussed many times before, visuals are easier to process and understand for many. We are currently visualising the Scottish Government’s phased approach to varying restrictions due to … Continue reading →

Everyone is concerned about returning to school. We have made a wee booklet to help. We would also suggest that staff begin now by playing games online with pupils such as “Guess the staff behind the mask?” Take a picture … Continue reading →

Questioning and answering is an essential and natural part of communication. For some it can be difficult because the brain has to work too hard to process the information and then find an appropriate response. Having sentence starters can help. … Continue reading →

Emotions can be a tricky business. We all experience them, but our experience of them differs based on our past and our interpretation of situations. Sometimes we can feel sad but it is a small emotion, other times it is … Continue reading →

Lots more games are taking place outdoors just now. I am sure like our families, there are debates about the rules! Have no fear! Here are some visualised games that, secretly at least, most of us love to play! Tig … Continue reading →

We spend more time with ourselves than we do with anyone else. This may seem like an obvious statement, but it is important to consider what it means. How many times do we talk of others and say “if only … Continue reading →

Over the past couple of months, we have created and posted lots promoting positive mental wellbeing. We know there are so many people struggling and we aim to ensure that our children and young people grow up with a better … Continue reading →

We know learning new skills can be difficult. Not all learning needs to be academic. Learning life skills are vitally important. At any stage of our life. we may have to relearn some of these skills. These visuals can help … Continue reading →

Wearing masks can be very frightening for some people. As we mention in our previous posts (Masks), this can be due to many reasons. Wear Mask

It can be very difficult to explain social distancing to anyone who finds it difficult to understand. We have created some resources to try to help. We are not going into details of Coronavirus and do not mention it. These … Continue reading →

Many of our families and schools have been in contact raising concerns about how some young people and children may react to having to wear a mask. There is so much uncertainty at the moment that everyone is feeling. Children … Continue reading →

We have mentioned in previous posts about the importance of using visuals to support independence. We have also looked at the importance of breaking down instructions. To help with this, we are making some resources to visualise activities to promote … Continue reading →

Just a wee treat for you all! Anyone else had that experience of being at a party and the dance floor fills up when a certain song  comes on but you can’t figure it out. Here are some of our … Continue reading →

We know some of you have been asking for visualised nursery rhymes and fun songs. PDFs in blue and underlined. 5 green bottles 5 little monkeys 5 currant buns PDF Available below Songs Baby Shark 5 little speckled frogs Copyright … Continue reading →

All issues have now been resolved! If using a computer, click on the PDFs at the bottom of each blog post. Thanks for all your patience! Take care!  

We know how difficult (and expensive) working from home can be. So we have been looking at resources that can be made from every day items found around the house. Let us know what you think! Remember this isn’t about … Continue reading →

Our staff have been very busy trying to make and follow their own instructions! Here are some that we have tried and tested! Let us know how you get on!! Air Dry Clay- We will add in some pictures of … Continue reading →

Many of our children are due to start school in August. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out with our control, the normal transition programme is unable to go ahead. We have created booklets that can be edited by each school and … Continue reading →

This is similar to our Now/Next and First/Then Boards. You can use this on a smart phone or tablet by downloading PowerPoint or keynote etc. Then stretch the page to see all the visual and using your finger drag what … Continue reading →

Following recipes is a great way to develop processing skills. It can be used at all ages and stages.   PDF Version available here recipes

Card games are hugely popular. Using visuals alongside verbal and written rules make them easier to explain and understand. Snap Rules Go Fish   We will be adding more resources to this blog post so please comment with other games … Continue reading →

Beginning a conversation can be difficult. Sometimes we want to talk but our brains are too busy processing to find the starting point. These tables below can be used to help. They can be used using open questions such as … Continue reading →

Having a shopping list is great for all ages. It means that you can shop for just what you need, you won’t forget anything or to keep others on track during the shopping visit. When there are times that shopping … Continue reading →

All About Anne This is a story that can be used by all ages.

This pack was designed to support Autism Awareness Week in schools. Each link comes with a lesson plan, list of required resources and the tasks linked to plan. Autistic Experience Famous Faces Say what you mean scenarios Smelly Days Visual … Continue reading →

John’s Powerpoint This PowerPoint was created by an autistic child who wanted to help people understand what autism means to him. He has given his permission to share this and hope it helps.  Autism Awareness Week This PowerPoint was used … Continue reading →

We recognise the need to support communication at all stages. This resource could be used in hospitals, care homes or by carer who visit people in their home. The size can be edited in word, publisher and powerpoint (or any … Continue reading →

We know how hard everyone is trying to come up with some great ideas to keep everyone entertained! Here are some great and easy to play games for all ages! Pencil and paper games PDF Available here Pencil and paper … Continue reading →

Sometimes we can forget that moving from Primary 1 to Primary 2 or Primary 5 to Primary 6 can be just as upsetting, challenging and/or confusing as moving schools. Here are some resources we use to help. Pri to Pri … Continue reading →

Our last post gave instructions on how to make your own board on a tablet or smart phone. This post will include examples and some of the symbols and resources you may need. Remember to save as image (if using … Continue reading →

Some of our families and many of our schools use first and then boards or now and next boards. Whether you call them first and then or now and next, it doesn’t matter as long as you are consistent. If … Continue reading →

Transition book This book may help with transitioning between classes. Primary Transitions This sheet could be used as suits!

Hi everyone! We are so excited to see our blog is being received around the world! Please leave us a comment to let us know where you are from and what else you would like to see on our blog? … Continue reading →

We have previously spoken about the importance of giving children and young people the name of emotions as this helps to validate the feeling and to give them some control over it. We are going to be adding more emotion … Continue reading →

We have spoken so much about the impact of anxiety on children and young people (and on parents). We are now going to look at different coping skills. Today our focus is on those who need to work. Just like … Continue reading →

So much of what we are doing is focusing on easing anxiety and maintaining relationships. Many schools and parents are finding it hard to keep the link with home and school. This isn’t about recreating school at home, but at … Continue reading →

Many of us will be struggling with being out of physical contact with others. Those working from home are having to find new ways of keeping in contact with their colleagues. Those with elderly relatives are having to talk to … Continue reading →

  Many of our Denominational Schools are giving activities based around prayers. Here are some visuals for some of the familiar prayers.                     More to follow at a later date.   Praying … Continue reading →

It can be difficult for some children and young people to focus on hygiene and what it means. Sometimes they are too excited to start the day, or continue to play that they rush their washing in the shower or … Continue reading →

More and more of our children and young people are starting to settle into this new normality. At home, you may start to see dips in their moods and in behaviour. This is because they are trying to cope. The … Continue reading →

Huge thanks to our North Locality Literacy Support Teachers in NLC for these fantastic links about dyslexia! https://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk https://addressingdyslexia.org/home We will continue to add to this with more great links!

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At the time of writing, we have just started the lockdown due to COVID-19. This is something that is unprecedented and something we couldn’t properly prepare children and young people for. As mentioned in previous posts, it’s important to talk … Continue reading →

PDF Available Choice Board Research Choice Board  

Keeping busy is helpful for children and young people, but there needs to be a purpose for it. Sending someone for a long stand or a left handed ruler is not purposeful so is a waste of time for everyone. … Continue reading →

Once again, we start with Choice Boards to allow opportunities to ease anxiety and stress. Instructions These are guidelines, not must dos. You know your children/young people. You will know how much guidance and freedom they need to make choices … Continue reading →

Choice is important when children or young people are feeling stressed or anxious. When someone experiences stress or anxiety, there is a feeling of being out of control. Having control over anything regardless of how small it may be, eases … Continue reading →

Structure and routine are hugely important during times of stress or uncertainty. Using a visual timetable can help. For those who have children at home just now, how many of you are being asked ” When’s lunch? ” “When’s dinner?” … Continue reading →

Looking after ourselves is paramount to keeping a healthy body and a healthy brain. In times of stress, this can be hard to do. This is the same for children and young people. We use visuals to help by taking … Continue reading →

Emotions can be difficult to support as sometimes the person does not always know what they are feeling. We use visuals to help with this.Instead of asking, “How are you feeling?”, try asking ” Can you show me how you … Continue reading →

Our priority at the moment is having a central place for all of our resources to make them easier to find. We are focusing this month on supporting learning at home, with a focus on calming anxiety. Anxiety Tips Please … Continue reading →