Visual support ideas
Visual support: Days of the week
A week is a long time to hold in your head, and the things that change by day, sport uniform, library bag, who does pick-up, are exactly the things that cause the morning worry. For many autistic and neurodivergent students "it is Tuesday" means nothing until it is paired with what Tuesday brings.
A days-of-the-week set shows each day with its one distinctive event as a picture. Mount it as a row with a marker for today, at home or by the classroom door, and move the marker each morning. The student sees not just the day but what the day means, before anyone has to explain it.
Sample cards
A typical set
- Monday Library
- Tuesday Sport
- Wednesday Music
- Thursday Swimming
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Tips for using it
- Give each day one picture for its distinctive event, not a full timetable.
- Move a "today" marker along the row each morning as a shared routine.
- Use the same set at home and school so the week looks the same in both places.
Common questions
Should I include weekends?
For a home set, yes; the weekend often has its own fixed events. For a classroom set, five days is usually enough and leaves room for bigger cards.
What if the week changes, such as a wet-weather day?
Make a "change" card and place it over the day it applies to. Pair it with the social story about the timetable changing so the card is already familiar.
Can the cards show pick-up arrangements?
Yes. Type "Thursday: Dad picks me up" and the card is drawn for that. Who is at the gate is one of the biggest sources of worry and one of the easiest to make visible.