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The Autism Little Learners PodcastAuthor: Tara Phillips
You want to help your autistic students or child thrive but it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. Whether you're wondering how to build connection, teach communication, navigate sensory needs, or support your paras you're in the right place. Welcome to The Autism Little Learners Podcast, where compassion meets practical strategy. Host Tara Phillips, a speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience, brings you neurodiversity-affirming insights, step-by-step tips, and real-world examples that help you feel confident, prepared, and inspired to support young autistic children. This show is relaxed, upbeat, and packed with actionable ideas you can use right away whether you're a special educator, SLP, general education teacher, paraprofessional, parent, grandparent, or anyone who loves a young autistic child. Each episode explores topics like: Teaching communication and AAC in natural, joyful ways Using visual supports and routines to create predictability Fostering co-regulation and independence Understanding sensory needs and reducing stress Supporting paraprofessionals with clarity and compassion Building strong, trusting relationships with autistic kids Tara's approach is rooted in connection over compliance helping you see each child's strengths, honor their communication style, and create an inclusive environment where everyone can succeed. Subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast and join the movement toward more compassionate, affirming early childhood education. Connect with Tara: Facebook: facebook.com/autismlittlelearners Instagram: instagram.com/autismlittlelearners Website: autismlittlelearners.com Language: en Genres: Education, Kids & Family, Parenting Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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#165: Are You Using the Right Symbols on Your Visual Schedule?
Episode 165
Tuesday, 10 March, 2026
What if the reason your visual schedule isn't working… isn't because the child "doesn't respond to visuals"… but because the symbols you chose aren't meaningful to them yet? In this episode, we'll explore something that often gets overlooked in conversations about visual schedules: symbol selection. Because not all pictures are created equal. We talk through the continuum from less abstract to more abstract symbols, how to recognize when a symbol isn't connecting, and how to adjust in ways that increase clarity instead of frustration. This isn't about making your visuals look better. It's about making them meaningful. In This Episode, You'll Learn • Why symbol selection is just as important as schedule length • The continuum from functional objects to written words • Why some clipart icons are more abstract than we realize • Signs that a symbol may not yet be meaningful to a child • When to shift from line drawings to real photographs • When functional objects can act as both a symbol and a transition bridge • The difference between miniature objects and functional objects • How to use baskets or containers for object-based schedules • How to gradually move along the abstraction continuum • Why observation is your most valuable data point Key Takeaways • A visual schedule only works if the child understands what the symbol represents • "They don't get visuals" often means the symbol is too abstract • Real photos reduce abstraction and increase familiarity • Functional objects can reduce the gap between "what's next" and "what do I do" • It's okay to mix clipart, photos, and objects • Symbol selection is a process, not a one-time decision • Meaning matters more than aesthetics • When symbols are meaningful, transitions soften and anticipation grows Try This • Observe whether the child orients to the schedule without prompting • Notice if they can match the symbol to the location or activity • If clipart isn't connecting, try a real photograph of your actual classroom space • If photos still feel abstract, experiment with a functional object • Increase picture size if a child isn't visually attending • Focus on meaning over uniformity Small adjustments in abstraction can completely change how a schedule functions. Related Resources & Links Autism Little Learners Membership: www.autismlittlelearners.com/pod Visual Schedules Made Easy Course Visual Schedules: Choosing The Symbols And Length Using A Visual Schedule At Preschool: 3 Types To Promote Independence! Visual Supports Starter Set This episode isn't really about clipart versus photos. It's about access. If the symbol isn't meaningful, the schedule can't reduce anxiety. It can't increase independence. It can't support smoother transitions. But when the symbol clicks — when it truly represents something familiar and concrete — you'll see it. They'll glance at it, carry it, and anticipate what's coming next. It's not about making visuals prettier. It's about making them meaningful.
