Visual Supports for Students With Behavior and Cognitive Challenges

In many schools, supports for children with a dual diagnosis of mental retardation and behavioral disorders are inadequate or nonexistent. Often these students are placed with teachers who, although appropriately trained and licensed, are not familiar with support strategies for meeting the behavioral and emotional needs of these students at an appropriate cognitive representational level. This article describes six evidence-based visual support strategies, their benefits, and simple methods for implementing them in the classroom.