TEACCH Tip#11 – The Power of the “Pause” Card

This brief article explains the strategy of using pause cards to help autistic people transition between activities. It describes autistic people’s difficulties with leaving a preferred activity and suggests that caregivers use small cards with pause symbols on them to indicate when it is time to move to another activity. Placing the pause card on top of the current activity indicates that it is not time for the activity now, but it can be resumed later. Links to printable pause cards are included.


Additional Details

Subjects: Skill developmentEmotional regulationExecutive Function

Author: TEACCH® Autism Program

Publication Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Publisher: TEACCH® Autism Program

Format: Online Article

Age Range: All Ages (0-100)