Visual support ideas
Visual support: First-then board
A whole timetable can be too much to hold, and "after this we will" is just words that disappear. For many autistic and neurodivergent students the hard part of a task is not knowing when it ends or what comes after, and the result looks like refusal when it is really a missing horizon.
A first-then board holds two cards: the task now on the left, the good thing next on the right. It makes the end of the hard task visible and the reward concrete. Make a set of cards for your common tasks and the student’s favourite activities, laminate a board with two pockets, and swap the cards each time.
Sample cards
A typical set
- Writing
- Maths
- Reading
- Outside Play
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
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Tips for using it
- Keep the "then" genuinely motivating for this student, and make sure it really happens.
- Keep the "first" short at the start, then stretch it as the board earns trust.
- Hold the board where the student can see it during the first task.
Common questions
What cards should I make?
Your four or five most common tasks and the student’s four or five favourite activities. That gives you a set you can swap in and out for most of the day.
Is first-then the same as a visual timetable?
No. A timetable shows the whole day; a first-then board shows only the next two things. Many students need the board before they can use the timetable.
Can the "then" be a break?
Yes, and often it should be. A short break in the calm corner is a reliable "then" that does not need equipment or another adult.