The Autonomy Cards is a series of cards designed to practice and increase autonomy in different areas of life for people with intellectual disabilities or autism. They can be used directly by people with intellectual disabilities or autism and/or mediated by parents, support teachers and those who work in the education and rehabilitation processes.

The cards are portable and customizable. Thanks to the ring on which they are inserted and that allows everyone to create his/her own deck by selecting the needed steps, the cards help to visualize and memorize the steps required to perform numerous activities. Each activity is broken down into a variable number of steps according to need. Also supplied in a printable version, they can be used as a visual support, included in the daily agenda or to illustrate sequences of actions or social stories.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Each action deck illustrates, in a variable number of steps depending on the action, the complete sequence for performing the chosen action.

Wash hands:

Card 1 – I approach the sink

Card 2 – I turn on the faucet

Card 3 – I adjust the water temperature

Card 4 – I press the pump of the liquid soap dispenser

Card 5 – I evenly distribute the soap on both my hands

Card 6 – I rinse off my hands

PERSONAL CARE AND HYGIENE

CONTENTS:

1. Wash your hands
2. Wash your face
3. Take a shower
4. Wash your hair
5. Dry your hair
6. Take a bath
7. Use the toilet
8. Blow your nose
9. Put on contact lenses
10. Brush your teeth
11. Change your sanitary pad
12. Shave with a razor blade
13. Shave with an electric razor
14. Put on lipstick

Find out more »

Leaf through some selected card that have been translated into English to facilitate your evaluation:

TAKING CARE OF HOUSE AND COOKING

CONTENTS:

1. Set the table
2. Load and start the dishwasher
3. Load and start the washing machine
4. Wash the dishes
5. Vacuum clean
6. Cook fish or meat in the oven
7. Cook pasta with sauce
8. Eat soup
9. Prepare coffee with the pod
10. Prepare coffee with the moka
11. Prepare a sandwich
12. Prepare a vegetable flan
13. Use a teaspoon
14. Use a fork
15. Taking care of your dog/cat

Find out more »

Leaf through some selected card that have been translated into English to facilitate your evaluation:

THE AUTHOR

Marco Pontis is a Teacher of Pedagogy and special didactics for intellectual disabilities and generalized developmental disorders as well as Pedagogy and special didactics for multi-professional collaboration at the University of Bolzano. For over fifteen years he has been working with and for people with autism spectrum disorders and other complex disabilities, constantly collaborating with family associations in the training of parents, school workers, socio-health care workers and supervising evidence-based educational interventions.