These Photographic Communication Cards act as a practical external brain, offering a calm, concrete and consistent way for a person to show what they need or how they feel when spoken language is difficult, delayed or unavailable.
 
They recognise that verbal ability can mask capacity, especially when working memory, executive load or stress affects communication.
 
“Transitions used to involve lots of repeated instructions. Now we can show one clear card, pause and give processing time. It keeps the interaction low arousal and helps everyone know what is happening next.”
 
Why a FASD-informed approach helps
Reduces executive load: provides an external-brain prompt without relying only on working memory, processing speed or spoken words.
Keeps things simple: clear pictures provide scaffolding for choices, everyday needs and adaptive functioning.
Supports affect regulation: familiar visual cues can lower uncertainty and allostatic load, helping adults support co-regulation before the person reaches their threshold.
Builds consistency: use the same cards across home, school, care and community settings to support re-teaching, sporadic mastery and easier set-shifting.
Respects all communication: a neurobehavioural approach recognises behaviour and somatic signals as communication, helping adults respond with curiosity, declarative language and environmental accommodation rather than judgement.
 
Simple to use at home and in the classroom.
 
Keep the cards visible and within easy reach.
 
Use them at home and at school to reinforce the same clear, consistent FASD-informed prompts across settings.
 
Offer one simple prompt at a time, use declarative language, allow extra processing time and avoid repeated questioning. Use the cards proactively before and during routines and transitions to support set-shifting and reduce executive load.
 
They can also provide a kinesthetic cue when a person selects, holds or hands over a card.
On days when sleep debt, sensory demands or allostatic load reduce capacity, return to familiar prompts and re-teach without judgement. There is no pressure to speak - the aim is to provide low-arousal scaffolding that makes communication safer, easier and more successful.
 
What is included:
30 double-sided picture communication cards
Realistic, easy-to-recognise images for essential daily needs and feelings
Durable laminated finish for frequent use
Each card measures 75 × 75 mm
Cards can be removed from the ring and added to a ‘Now and Next board’, helping to make routines, transitions and expectations clear and manageable.
Silicone loop key ring for quick access and easy portability
 
Feedback from our family and School testers!...
“These cards take the pressure off. They give us a clear, consistent external brain at home and in the classroom, reduce repeated verbal prompts and make transitions feel more manageable. When capacity changes or a skill is not available in the moment, the cards provide the scaffolding needed to communicate successfully.”
 
“Using the same visual prompts at home and at school has made communication much more consistent. The cards act as an external brain, so my child does not have to hold every instruction in his working memory…. gamechanger!”
 
“The cards help us remember that being able to do something yesterday does not always mean it is available today. We can reduce the demand, offer a familiar cue and re-teach without blame.”
 
“When words are hard to find, choosing or handing over a card gives us a clear starting point. It reduces pressure, supports co-regulation and helps us respond to the need rather than the behaviour.”
 
 
Every pack of communication cards sold helps our work to raise awareness of FASD and encourage the understanding, compassion and FASD-informed support that children and families deserve.
 
A practical, respectful discrete pocket size tool for everyday communication. Keep it in the car, separate and stick on the fridge or next to the sink to aid washing hands/brushing teeth routine, use at the weekends to give 10 mins notice to go shopping/park/swimming etc, pop one in your bag for reducing demand when at hospital appointments or give one to the teaching assistant.  This portable card adds to your FASD Informed toolkit and help make needs and feelings easier to share - without pressure.