About this resource
Hand washing helps prevent illness. These visual steps show a simple sequence, from wetting hands to drying them, and remind people when to wash, with tips for teaching.
Purpose
To support independent, effective hand washing.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Disability support workers. Also relevant for educators and school support staff, occupational therapists.
Client or participant group: Children and adults learning or maintaining hand washing skills.
Practice setting: Homes, schools, day programs and supported living.
Suggested uses
- Display above sinks
- Teaching hygiene skills
- Illness prevention
- Consistency across workers
Instructions for practitioners
- Model the steps.
- Use the same words each time.
- Praise good hand washing.
- Consider sensory preferences about water temperature and soap.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Follow the pictures.
- Wash for about 20 seconds.
- Dry your hands.
Accessibility considerations
Laminate and display at eye level.
Scope and limitations
A visual support.
Research basis
Active support, which gives people real opportunities and just-enough help to take part in everyday activities, increases engagement for people with intellectual disability. Visual schedules and other visual supports are established evidence-based practices for autistic children and young people, and are widely used with others who benefit from visual information.
- Knight, V., Sartini, E., & Spriggs, A. D. (2015). Evaluating Visual Activity Schedules as Evidence-Based Practice for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(1), 157–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2201-z
- Mansell, J., & Beadle-Brown, J. (2012). Active support: Enabling and empowering people with intellectual disabilities. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Steinbrenner, J. R., Hume, K., Odom, S. L., Morin, K. L., Nowell, S. W., Tomaszewski, B., Szendrey, S., McIntyre, N. S., Yücesoy-Özkan, S., & Savage, M. N. (2020). Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young adults with autism. FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina. https://ncaep.fpg.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/EBP-Report-2020.pdf
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Symbols are original line drawings created for Practitioner Plus.
