Background

dynamICONs are all about making communication more clear, concrete, and consistent. Teachers can pair a simple visual support along with their verbal directions—for an individual student or for the whole class. The strategy is designed for autistic students, but can be helpful for all learners.

Why incorporate a visual? Why use these consistent symbols?

The answer has to do with the problem with verbal language. Our verbal directions have to pass through three "filters": language processing, context, and memory. If our language isn't as clear, concrete, and consistent as possible, misunderstandings may result.

Language Processing

When students hear a verbal direction, their brains have to convert the sounds of our words into something that conveys meaning.

If students have language processing delays—or if teachers use too much language too quickly—students may mishear some of our directions.

Context

Context involves using information in the surroundings—prior knowledge, tone of voice—to arrive at the correct intention in communication. (Is that image above a rabbit… or a duck?)

Autistic students have challenges using context as efficiently as neurotypicals. If teachers' language is too vague, directions given may be misunderstood.

Memory

As teachers, we subconsciously make the assumption that students understand and remember all the details of the the verbal directions that we give.

If teachers use inconsistent language, chances are that students will have a harder time remembering directions, impeding their ability to follow them.

Visual Supports

Visual supports are a broad category of strategy that can be enormously helpful for all sorts of students. For most people, visual processing is our strongest way of getting information from the environment—by a lot. Nearly 50% of our brains are involved in visual processing, and 70% of total sensory receptors are located in our eyes (Merieb, E. N. & Hoehn, K., 2007).

By pairing our verbal directions with a visual support, teachers can take advantage of this relative strength to improve our communication. Because dynamICONs are visual, teachers can make student directions clearer and more concrete. 

Though originally designed for autistic students, dynamICONs can potentially benefit any students with language processing challenges, and be helpful inclusive support for all students.