Support positive behavior, communication, and independence with this customizable set of visual behavior cards. Designed for special education, autism support, early learners, and students who benefit from visual supports, these resources help reinforce routines, encourage self-advocacy, and promote successful classroom participation.
These Editable Behaviour Support Cards, Break Cards, Asking for Help all with visual cues are perfect for those on the spectrum or needing additional help. Customize these visual cue cards to fit your needs and watch the transformation happen right away!
They have been a life saver in my classroom management, students can ask for a break, help and understand when they need to wait and what comes next.
Included in this customizable behavior support cards package:
Wait Cards – Help students learn patience and understand when they need to wait for a turn, activity, instruction, or reward.
Break Cards – Support self-regulation by providing students with a visual way to request a break when needed.
Help Cards – Encourage functional communication by helping students appropriately ask for assistance.
First, Next, Then Cards – Visual sequencing tools that support routines, transitions, task completion, and understanding expectations.
Token Reward Cards – Positive behavior support tools that allow students to earn and track tokens toward a chosen reward.
Reward Symbols (Visuals) – Visual representations of rewards and motivators that can be used with token boards and behavior management systems.
Card Visuals (44 Designs) – A set of 44 versatile visual icons that can be customized and used across schedules, behavior supports, communication aids, and classroom routines.
Ideal for special education classrooms, autism support programs, early intervention settings, speech therapy, behavior intervention plans, and home learning environments. Simply print, laminate, and customize to meet your students’ individual needs.
For many nonverbal students, challenging moments don’t come out of nowhere. They build quietly. Sensory overload, frustration, or just needing a pause. The challenge is not the feeling itself, it is not having a clear way to say, “I need a break.”
The good news? Asking for a break is a skill you can teach, and once it clicks, it can completely shift the tone of your classroom.
Start with a Simple Way to Communicate
Think of this as giving your student a “pause button.”
Choose one clear, consistent method:
A break card with a simple symbol
A button on an AAC device
A sign or gesture
Keep it easy, accessible, and always within reach. If it takes effort to find, it will not get used when it matters most.
Model It Like It Matters (Because It Does)
Students will not magically know what the break card means. You need to show them.
Use it yourself. Yes, really.
Pick a calm moment and say, “I need a break,” while using the card or device. Keep the language short and consistent. You are building a connection between the action and the meaning.
Over time, start to fade that support. The goal is independence, not perfection.
Honour the Break (This Part Is Everything)
When a student asks for a break, respond like it matters. Because it does.
Give the break right away
Keep it short and predictable (around 3–5 minutes)
Use a consistent break space or activity
This teaches one powerful lesson: communication works.
Teach the “When,” Not Just the “How”
Once the skill is there, you can shape it.
Help students understand timing:
Use visuals like “first work, then break”
Start small (one task, then break)
Slowly build up tolerance
This keeps the strategy practical for real classroom routines.
Use Visual Supports to Make It Click
Visuals reduce guesswork and lower stress.
Helpful tools include:
Break cards
Visual timers
Simple schedules
These act like a roadmap, showing students what is happening now and what comes next.
A Few Pitfalls to Skip
Even great strategies can wobble if these sneak in:
Waiting until the student is already overwhelmed
Saying “not now” when they request a break
Turning breaks into a reward or punishment
Removing the communication tool
Consistency is what makes the skill stick
The Bigger Picture
Teaching a student to ask for a break is not just about avoiding meltdowns. It is about giving them a voice, a sense of control, and a safer way to navigate their day.
And once that “pause button” is in place, everything else becomes a little more manageable. For them, and for you.
Are you overwhelmed by the amount of Behavior supports there are available out there! Are you looking for that particular one you need to help you manage behaviors and maintain structure in your classroom! These powerful strategies below might just help you create the classroom you want. Have a look at the different types of classroom management tools I use to achieve the Special Ed class I have.
# 1 Critical Communication Cards
Critical Communication Cards – To teach new skills such as requesting “break please”, “help” and “wait” self -management strategies.
QUICK TIP – I hang these cards close to my Calm Down Corner so my students have easy access.
Social Supports – To help my students understand how to behave or respond in a particular situation using a visual guide describing various social interactions, situations, behaviours, skills or concept.
QUICK TIP –I place them on the edge of tables to remind students on their choices.
#3 Visual Folder Supports
Visual folder supports – A place for my students to keep all their daily and most used visuals all in one place, ideal for quick support.
QUICK TIP – My students use these throughout the day and follow the schedule to stay on task. They choose a reward to use with the Token Economy system and have the visuals they might need ready to use.
#4 Self Regulation Tools
.Self regulation tools – I’ve made tools individually accessible for my students to use in a handy little booklet.
QUICK TIP –I bind then as a book and keep them on hand for self management, each one tailored to individual needs that help them to self-regulate.
#5 First and Then Strategies
First and Then –By using this strategy my students know what they must complete before having what they want, it also provides structure in their behaviour support plans.
QUICK TIP –If my students are finding it difficult to stay on track, I use the first and then strategy to remind them of what they are working for.
#6 Token Economy Rewards
Token Economy – A powerful method of strengthening new skills and behaviours, The tokens are a way of “paying” my students for completing tasks and then they can be used to trade for desired activities or items they choose.
QUICK TIP –I use this board when I start teaching the Token economy strategy, its a classroom resource that I can adapt with motivator choices for individual needs.
#7 Communication Binder
Communication Binder – My students can use their Daily Binders to aid Communication throughout the day and support them with any frustration or anxiety they may feel.
QUICK TIP –My student each have their own communication book which once laminated I place in a binder to keep the visuals safe
#8 Daily Visuals
Daily Visuals – A selection of visuals for Speech Therapy, Special Education and Autism to support communication in the classroom and at home. QUICK TIP –These have bigger visuals which are more suitable for students that are learning picture to item recognition. Students can point to what they want, need or feel.
#9 Token or Ticks Cards
Token or ticks – Point cards for some of my students to earn ticks for preferred behaviour.
QUICK TIP – I print a stack of these out to use when i need them, usually when I’m teaching a focused task. I ask before starting the task what they want to working for and tick off the boxes throughout to keep them motivated and earn the reward they’ve chosen..
#10 Daily Planner
Daily Planner – This Support folder is a place for my student to keep track of the days of the week, check their schedule, ask for task items they may need and support behavior before it arises.
QUICK TIP –A class daily organiser for my higher ability students. It helps them manage their day, hold motivator visuals, and reminds them of the rules in class.
