When behaviour gets big, words often get lost. A child in the middle of a meltdown, a teenager overwhelmed by anxiety, or an adult who finds spoken language hard to process may not be able to take in a long explanation, however kind it is. That's where well-designed visual resources come in.
Behaviour is communication
At The Behaviour Change Compass we start from a simple understanding: behaviour is not who someone is, it's what they do, and it's a form of communication. Our resources were developed by behaviour specialist Tanya Curtis, drawing on more than two decades of practice in clinical, school and home settings, where the guiding principle has always been to meet each person for who they are, not what they do.
Visual tools turn that understanding into something practical. They give everyone involved a shared picture of what's happening and what to do next.
What the research says about visual supports
Visual supports aren't just a nice idea. A major US review by the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice examined 972 studies published between 1990 and 2017 and identified 28 evidence-based practices for autistic children, youth and young adults. Visual supports were one of them, described as a visual display that helps a person engage in a desired behaviour or skill without needing extra prompts (Steinbrenner et al., 2020).
The same thinking applies well beyond autism. Large studies of social and emotional learning show that when people are explicitly taught to recognise and manage their feelings, behaviour improves. A meta-analysis of 213 school programs involving more than 270,000 students found reduced disruptive behaviour, less emotional distress and an 11-percentile-point gain in academic achievement (Durlak et al., 2011).
How our resources help
- Behaviour/Anxiety Scales use five colour-coded levels (Code Blue to Code Red) so a person can show how their body is feeling before they have the words for it. Adults can respond to the level, not just the behaviour.
- I Choose Charts set out, step by step, the choices a person can make in a specific situation, such as when they lose a game, make a mistake or feel rejected. They make the "what now?" visible.
- Communication cards and keyrings such as Please Start, Please Stop and My Answer is Yes/No give a quick, low-pressure way to communicate in the moment.
- Behaviour Change Posters explain the "why" behind behaviour, from the sequence of behaviour to the foundations of lasting change, for the adults doing the supporting.
- Sunlight Ink picture books help children build self-worth and see mistakes as part of learning.
Five reasons visual resources work
- They're there when words aren't. A chart on the wall or a card on a lanyard is available the moment it's needed.
- They reduce the load. Pictures and colours are quicker to process than spoken instructions, especially under stress.
- They're consistent. The same visual means the same thing at home, at school and in therapy.
- They're respectful. They focus on skills and choices rather than blame.
- They build independence. Over time, people learn to use the tool on their own.
Getting started
Start small. Choose one situation that's hard right now, pick the matching 'I Choose Chart' or a Behaviour/Anxiety Scale, and teach it during a calm moment, not mid-crisis. Practise it together, display it where it's needed, and use the same words every time.
Browse all resources or filter by focus area, such as anxiety, autism or emotional regulation, to find the right starting point.
Sources
- Steinbrenner, J. R. et al. (2020). Evidence-Based Practices for Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Autism. National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice, UNC.
- Durlak, J. A. et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning. Child Development. Summary: ScienceDaily.
Our resources provide general information and practical tools. They are not a substitute for individual professional advice.