Visual tips to help people choose what they want to eat

I want to share with you some visual support strategies on how to best use a choice-board to support a person to have choice and control over their own lives.

People with a disability in particular people with Autism Spectrum Disorders have difficulty processing auditory information, having to make their own choice, can sometimes be overwhelming.

A visual (photograph) is a concrete form of communication and allows the person to make their correct own choice and understand what is expected.

For this exercise, we are using photographs and supporting a person to make a choice of what they want to eat.

The choice is between a cereal or toast for breakfast.

Visual tips on using a choice board:

• On a choice board attach two photographs to choose from, any more than this, can be overwhelming.
• The object in the photograph needs to be clear without background distractions.

• Place a photograph of a food, you know the person likes to eat and something they don’t like to eat.
  For example, if you know the person likes to eat toast and does not like a cereal.  You can use this method to expand one’s diet.
• Support the person to point to the photograph they would like. Be patient, allow the person to process what is being asked of them.
• Use keywords only, refrain from using too many words.  For example, if the person points to a toast say “toast” only. Encourage the person to repeat the word, “toast” after you, effectively teaching the labels of foods.
• Once pointing has been established, encourage the person to take the photograph off the choice board and hand it to you. Exchanging pictures as a form of communication.
• Bring the chosen photograph up to your eye level to prompt eye gazing.
• Use the written word, Yes or No as a visual prompt to support the person to confirm what they want.
• Be consistent and persistent, everyone is different and some people take longer than others to understand the process of making a decision.

See-n-Speak
Food Choice Folder

Click here for more visual strategies.

Till next time

Alison