Visual support ideas
Visual support: Toileting steps
Using the toilet is a sequence of six or seven steps with no adult beside you to prompt the next one. The school toilets are loud and shared, and the steps that are automatic at home fall apart in a strange cubicle. Many autistic and neurodivergent students know what to do and lose the order under pressure.
A step strip on the inside of the cubicle door shows the sequence at child height, in pictures, with no adult needed. Make the cards match your school’s toilets, laminate them in a row, and walk the student through them once at a quiet time. After that, the strip does the prompting.
Sample cards
A typical set
- Sit on the toilet
- Wipe
- Flush
- Wash hands
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
The request is filled in. Choose how many cards, then click Generate.
30 free credits with an account — and one free try with none.
Tips for using it
- Mount the strip inside the cubicle at the student’s eye height when seated.
- Match the pictures to your toilets, such as the flush button style and the paper towel.
- Walk through the strip once at a quiet time with the student before relying on it.
Common questions
Are the pictures suitable for a toilet strip?
Yes. The cards are simple, direct pictograms with nothing graphic. They show the step, such as a hand on a flush button, in the same plain style as every other set.
How many steps should I include?
Six to eight. Choose eight cards if your sequence includes both wiping and pulling pants up as separate steps, which many students need.
Can I make one for home too?
Yes. Type the home steps and the set is drawn for them. Using the same card style at home and school helps the routine transfer.