Visual aids are powerful tools that can make a world of difference for children, especially those on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, and other disabilities. They provide a clear and structured way to communicate and understand daily routines, making life more predictable and manageable for both you and your child.

• Enhanced Understanding: For children with disabilities, verbal instructions alone can sometimes be challenging to grasp. Visual aids, such as pictures or symbols, complement verbal cues and help children understand what's expected of them.
  
• Predictability and Comfort: Children thrive on routine and predictability. Visual schedules create a sense of security, reducing anxiety and making transitions between activities smoother.
  
• Promote Independence: Visual aids empower your child to take ownership of their daily tasks. As they become familiar with the schedules, they can begin to initiate activities on their own.
  
• Minimise Challenging Behaviours: With visual cues, your child can better anticipate changes in their routine, reducing frustration and potential challenging behaviours.

Visual aids benefit all children but are particularly helpful for those on the autism spectrum, with Down syndrome, ADHD, communication difficulties, attention difficulties, and learning and intellectual disabilities. By providing a clear and consistent structure, visual aids make routines easier for all family members, ensuring smoother transitions and less stress in daily activities. They help children understand what to expect, which enhances their ability to participate and engage in various tasks.

Position visual aids in places where they will be most useful and easily seen by your child. Here are some tips:

• Proximity to Activity: Place visual aids near the location of the activity they represent (e.g., tooth brushing visuals in the bathroom, dressing aids in the bedroom).
  
• Child’s Eye Level: Ensure that the visuals are at your child's eye level so they can easily see and refer to them without assistance.
  
• Consistent Placement: Keep the visual aids in the same spot to help your child develop a routine and know where to look for guidance.
  
• High-Traffic Areas: Consider placing general routine aids in high-traffic areas like the kitchen or hallway to provide constant reminders of the daily schedule.

By thoughtfully positioning visual aids, you can maximise their effectiveness in helping your child navigate their daily routines with confidence and independence.

What products are in the Growing Skills range?
~ Wet-Area Visual Aids: Showering, Washing Body, Washing Hair, Bathing, Brushing Teeth, and Washing Hands
~ Dry-Area Visual Aids: Toileting, Making the Bed, and Cleaning the Room
~ On-the-Go Range: lightweight and portable, perfect for home, outings, appointments, and travel
~ Health Care & Daily Skills Range: durable plastic cards including Health Care, Blowing Nose, Mealtimes, and Putting on Sunscreen


What surfaces can the visual aids be stuck to?
~ Wet-area visual aids: smooth surfaces like tiles and glass
~ Dry-area visual aids: Painted walls, tiles, and glass (please note dry-area visual aids are not suitable for lime walls, aged or peeling painted walls, or wax-treated wallpaper.)
~ The On-the-Go and Health Care & Daily Skills ranges are not wall applied, they are fully portable.

What are the visual aids made from?
~ Wet-area visual aids: Flexible waterproof plastic, designed to handle the bathroom environment
~ Dry-area visual aids: Soft felt backing with a removable adhesive coating, and a dry-erase front suitable for whiteboard markers - simply wipe over to clean (avoid wetting the surface)
~ On-the-Go Range: Lightweight plastic, 0.38mm–0.76mm thick
~ Health Care & Daily Skills Range: Durable plastic, 3mm thick - sturdy and built to last


Will they damage my walls or surfaces?
No. When used as intended, wall-applied visual aids can be removed without leaving glue residue or damaging paint. They are easy to press on and off, and fully removable and reusable.
Please note they are not suitable for lime walls, aged or peeling painted walls, or wax-treated wallpaper.

How do I set them up?
For wet-area and dry-area visual aids:
~ Choose a suitable surface (see above)
~ Clean the surface and allow it to dry
~ Press firmly and smooth out any air bubbles
~ To reposition, simply peel back gently and reapply

For portable visual aids, no setup is needed - just use them where needed at home or pop them in your bag when going out and about.

Can I move or reposition them?
Yes. All wall-applied visual aids can be moved and repositioned as routines or spaces change.

If you are self-managed or plan managed, you may be able to use your NDIS funding to purchase from Growing Skills. Please check with your plan manager or support co-ordinator if you are unsure.

If you are self-managed:

1. Please order and pay via the website as normal.

2. When checking out, please note in the comments section that a Tax Invoice is required, or email hello@growingskills.com.au and we will happily provide you one

3. As we receive payment upfront, your order will be dispatched as normal

If you are plan-managed:

Growing Skills can issue you a Proforma Invoice which you can then provide directly to your Plan Partner for approval and processing.

1. Please complete the below form with the details required.

2. Once we receive it, we will issue you an invoice via email for you to send onto your Plan Partner.

3. Once payment is received, we will post the item to the address provided and you will receive an email with tracking details.

Free shipping Australia-wide for orders over $500.00

Flat shipping rate of $15 across Australia for standard delivery.

If your items are in stock, they will be dispatched within 5 business days of receiving the order.

This may vary during peak periods; however, we’ll aim to provide updates on our website if this is the case.

Our new release products are often available for pre-order for our customers. We’ll make sure we note this in the product description and give our best indication of when the items are due.

Our products are sent through Australia Post or via courier and we are subject to their shipping times.

Not yet, however we are looking into it. Please click here and fill in an enquiry form if you are interested.

We love hearing your ideas and are eager to collaborate on fresh, exciting ventures. Get in touch with us at Growing Skills HQ!

If you have an idea or special request, we’d love to hear from you. Please click here and fill in an enquiry form.