Following directions is one of those foundational skills that helps little learners thrive—in the classroom, during play, and in everyday routines. But for many autistic children, understanding and remembering verbal directions alone can feel tricky.
That’s why I love using visual supports during speech therapy. When we pair a picture with the words we say, it gives children a clear, concrete cue for what to do next. It helps them connect language with action—and builds confidence along the way!
If you’ve been looking for an engaging, effective way to teach two-step directions in autism speech therapy, this resource is a great place to start.
Why Two-Step Directions Matter for Autistic Learners
Learning to follow one-step and two-step directions is about so much more than “listening.” It’s actually a key part of language development. When children follow directions, they’re practicing skills like:
- Understanding and processing new words
- Remembering information in order (sequencing)
- Focusing attention and shifting between tasks
These are skills that carry over into communication, play, and daily routines—so every little bit of practice helps!
How Visual Supports Make Learning Easier
Many autistic children are strong visual learners. That means they understand best when information is shown, not just spoken.
By pairing a clear picture with each direction, we make abstract language more concrete. For example, when you say “Touch your nose and clap your hands,” the visual cue helps your student picture each step before doing it.
This approach reduces frustration, increases understanding, and helps your little learners feel successful.
“This resource is so nice for those emerging learners working on following verbal directions. You can use the visuals to model the direction and fade as the student has success.” -Lee L.
What’s Included in the “Two Step Directions” Set
The Autism Speech Therapy Two Step Directions resource includes 40 total direction cards that combine actions like:
- Touch your nose and clap your hands
- Stomp your feet and sit down
- Wave and fold your hands
- Point and wiggle your fingers
Each card uses simple, clear images that make sense to young learners.
There are four sets in total, starting with directions children can do while sitting (like “touch your nose and clap”) and building up to full-body movement directions (like “jump and spin”).
You’ll also get:
- Data sheets to track progress
- A key for prompting, so you can easily scaffold support as your learners grow
Who This Resource Is For
This set is designed with flexibility in mind! It’s perfect for:
- Speech therapists working on early receptive language goals
- Special education teachers who use visuals in the classroom
- Parents or caregivers looking to make following directions fun at home
Whether you’re just getting started with autism speech therapy or looking to add something new to your sessions, these cards are a go-to resource.
“This is my go-to 2 step direction resource for my younger students. The children really like the movement based directions!”- Mia W.
Get Started with Autism Speech Therapy Two-Step Directions
If your goal is to help young children learn to follow directions with confidence, this visual resource is a simple, effective place to begin.
And if you’re not sure what language skills to target next, you can grab this free guide that helps you figure out exactly where your child or students are—and what to work on next.
👉 Check out the Autism Speech Therapy Two Step Directions set here!
Be sure to also check out:
Autism Speech Therapy One Step Directions
Preschool Language Concepts – Speech Therapy
If you use visual supports in your classroom or home, you are going to want to sign up for this free Visual Supports Starter Set ASAP! Click here to have one sent to your inbox. Also, be sure to read more about visual supports and how they can help autistic children here.
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