Everyday Teaching Autism Resources

Different colors everywhere. Yes, they are pretty! It is a middle school autism program with severe cognitive and behavioral challenges. 

But the most important reason for using a color-coding in my class is to promote students’ independence, especially during transitions.

Setting the table is also one of my students’ daily chores. He will set up a snack table like this using a visual system. When it is time for other students to transition to snack, they will know where to sit by finding their own colors. Nobody likes to hear my yelling or shouting over middle schoolers like “No! sit here. You sit there!” We are a group of independent people. 

In order to increase my student’s independence, I train students to have their own colors- Like this guy here…He is a color Green. His chair and schedule board all match-

Surely he would find his GREEN place mat on the snack table as well. Who wouldn’t love quiet and smooth transitions, right? Visual support rocks!