About Orkid Ideas
TomTag visual supports. Visual schedule, visual timetable, picture checklist, reward chart, visual reminder. For autism, ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia.
Primary Teacher Awards 2019 - SEN category 4* winner
Orkid Ideas Description
Hi, we’re Clare and Deborah – the Orkid Ideas team. We're passionate about helping to improve lives with visual supports that work for you, not that make work for you.
Our unique system, TomTag, is named after Clare's son Tomas. Visual supports played a large part in helping Tomas to cope with everyday life after his diagnosis aged 4 of autism, a language disorder and sensory difficulties. They helped develop his understanding and communication, giving him a voice and having a positive effect on his behaviour.
Whether you're looking for a personalised visual schedule, timetable, checklist, prompt, choice board, reward chart or reminder, TomTag has it all in one unique system. Using colourful, sturdy tags and click-in symbol buttons, it’s quick and easy to make visual supports for all your needs and every day. Pick, stick, click and you’re ready to go. It really is that easy – robust and portable with no printing or laminating and no bulky books to carry!
We’re here to help and support any child, young person or adult who could benefit from using visual supports, just as Tomas himself has done.
Reviews
There’s a traditional rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Not least in the TomTag team - Deborah (team Yorkshire) and Clare ( team Lancashire)!😄
But here on the Lancashire side we’ve got to admit Sunday dinner wouldn’t be the same without homemade Yorkshire puddings 🍽Made today by Tomas with a little help from a TomTag checklist 📝
Share how I feel minikits are IN STOCK!! If you have been trying to buy these from our website and found them showing Out of Stock, this technical hitch has now been corrected. All of our products are available and in stock 🙂 Happy weekend!
📣 All aboard! 📣
The moment you realize why those many hours spent over the last 15 years supporting and engaging with Tomas’s special interest in trains wasn’t in vain...
A proud day watching him in action on guard duties during his work placement at the East Lancashire Railway🚂💕
Today is officially the longest day 🌅
It might feel like that for my daughter who is on her D. of E. expedition! 🥾🥾
At least she has all her essential kit thanks to a little help from a handy TomTag packing checklist📝 created from our ‘ I know what to expect - going away’ set ( link in comments)
TomTag is on the road again! 🚗
We’re thrilled to be exhibiting at Bigger And Better In Leeds - a FREE autism information event on Tuesday 25th June.
Hope to see you there!
We’re delighted that TomTags are now available at To The Moon and Back - a unique sensory toy and resource shop in Billericay, Essex. So if you missed us at the London Autism Show why not pop in! They also stock the wonderful Home/ School communication book from That Beautiful Mind 😁
Did you know ... we now stock TomTag lanyards in 3 colour options? Rainbow was our best seller at the Autism Show and they’re all perfect for taking TomTag out and about now that summer might (finally, hopefully!) be here!!
Such a great video of what to expect at the Autism Show from Autism Mum Tips & Ideas- can you spot our stand?👀
And the winner of the London Autism Show Goody Box is ...
Claire Cross Brown👏👏
Thank you to everyone who took part
Just wanted to say a huge thank you to all those who visited us over the last couple of days at the Autism Show - what a great crowd you were! Clare got some really lovely feedback about her talk which attracted a large audience and seemed to be just the hopeful message many people were looking for. If you entered our goody box comp, watch out later this evening when we’ll be announcing the lucky winner 🤞
We’re open for business - stand D17 London Autism Show. Come and say hello! 🤗
Car packed and waved off by Tomas - it’s been a long day but we’re all set up, ready and excited for the The Autism Show in London tomorrow 😊
Inspiring
Seamless socks for sensory sensitive feet 🧦🧦
Anxiety, sticky thoughts and unhelpful feelings - topics Clare helps Tomas cope with on a daily basis. Clare will be sharing her insights and advice on how to deal with these difficult feelings in her talk at the Autism Show in London this Saturday at 13.40 in Hub Theatre 2.
Fancy bagging a free ticket to the show? We've got one more pair of tickets to give away this week - just comment below with a topic you're hoping to come away from the show knowing more about and we'll pick a winner on Wednesday evening.
What goes round comes round... many nights spent making visual resources for Tomas ... now he’s making them for me ❤️