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Visual Supports That Work: Building Independence One Step at a Time
Content
Jennifer Winstone
PublishedJames is a 29-year-old man with Down syndrome who attends a local day service five days a week. He’s friendly, loves music, and knows his way around the kitchen. While he understands much of what’s said to him, spoken instructions can be overwhelming—especially when there’s too much information or unexpected changes. His support team uses some basic visuals to assist with activities, but James’ NDIS goals focus on something deeper: building his independence, making more of his own choices, and increasing his confidence in daily routines.
To support him, the team started using MyComms—a digital platform that makes it easy to create and share personalised visual supports in real time. Now, instead of relying on repeated verbal prompts or paper printouts, James can check his tablet throughout the day to see what’s coming, what he needs to do next, and where he has choice. The difference? He’s more confident, in control, and actively participating in shaping his day.
This isn’t just anecdotal. Recent research underscores the effectiveness of visual supports in enhancing independence and participation among adults with intellectual disabilities. For instance, a study published in BMC Health Services Researchevaluated the ‘Care for Participation+’ (CFP+) intervention, which aimed to improve participation of adults with visual and severe or profound intellectual disabilities. The findings indicated that, despite implementation challenges, the intervention facilitated self-management and engagement in new activities for participants.
Furthermore, technology-aided interventions have shown promise in supporting functional engagement. A study in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies demonstrated that using simple technology systems, such as smartphones paired with motion sensors and speakers, significantly increased independent task completion among individuals with intellectual and visual disabilities.
These findings highlight that visual supports are not just tools for communication—they are gateways to autonomy, dignity, and active participation in daily life.
5 Practical Ways MyComms Supports Daily Independence
- Break Down Tasks into Simple Steps
Use the My Tasks widget to create visual checklists that guide individuals through each part of a task, enhancing memory and confidence.
- Make Your Day Predictable
The My Day widget helps structure daily activities in a clear sequence, reducing anxiety and supporting smoother transitions.
- Make Choices That Reflect You
Empower individuals to make meaningful decisions using the My Choices widget, fostering self-expression and autonomy.
- See the Week as a Whole
Utilize the My Week widget to lay out key routines or activities across several days, building rhythm and awareness of upcoming events.
- Communicate Change Clearly
MyComms allows for quick updates to visuals, helping individuals understand and adapt to changes in their routine with ease.
Ready to explore how MyComms can support independence and agency?
Download our free visual guide featuring examples of the four main widgets: My Tasks, My Day, My Week, and My Choices.
References
- Hanzen, G., van Nispen, R. M. A., Vlaskamp, C., Korevaar, E. L., Waninge, A., & van der Putten, A. A. J. (2020). Improving the participation of adults with visual and severe or profound intellectual disabilities: a process evaluation of a new intervention. BMC Health Services Research, 20, Article 319. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05161-1
- Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O’Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Alberti, G., Chiariello, V., & Desideri, L. (2021). Technology-Aided Spatial Cues, Instructions, and Preferred Stimulation for Supporting People With Intellectual and Visual Disabilities in Their Occupational Engagement and Mobility: Usability Study. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 8(4), e33481. https://doi.org/10.2196/33481
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The MyComms difference
We believe visual supports are a universal language that can be used by everyone. By empowering families, carers and professionals, MyComms ensures that we all feel informed, understood and connected.
