Energy Discovery Cards
Energy Discovery Cards: A Free Visual Resource Inspired by the Autism Level UP! Energy Framework
Understanding regulation is not simply about helping someone become calm. Regulation is about recognising, understanding, and responding to our unique energy needs in ways that support participation, wellbeing, learning, and self-advocacy.
For many years, one of the regulation frameworks I have used both personally and professionally is the Autism Level UP! Energy Framework. It is the framework I use daily to support my own children, and it is the framework I routinely recommend to families, educators, therapists, and professionals supporting Neurodivergent individuals.
Today, I am delighted to share a free downloadable resource called Energy Discovery Cards, created to accompany and support the use of The Regulator, a component of the Autism Level UP! Energy Suite.
Why I Created The Energy Discovery Cards
The energy discovery visual supports were originally developed for my teenage son Jack, who is Autistic, has an intellectual disability, and has a PDA profile. Like many Autistic individuals, Jack benefits from visual information that helps make abstract concepts more concrete and accessible.
The Energy Discovery Cards provide visual representations of activities, experiences, sensory supports, environments, and tools that may influence energy and regulation. Rather than telling someone what they should do, the cards support curiosity, exploration, self-awareness, and self-discovery.
Importantly, these cards are not intended to identify universal regulation strategies. Regulation is deeply individual. What helps one person power up their energy may help another person power down. What feels supportive for one individual may feel uncomfortable or inaccessible for another.
A Visual Companion to The Regulator
The Energy Discovery Cards were created specifically to be used alongside The Regulator from the Autism Level UP! Energy Suite.
The concepts, activities, and ideas represented throughout the resource are derived from The Regulator and are not original to this resource. The Energy Suite, The Regulator, and the Energy Meter remain the intellectual property of Autism Level UP!, and users are strongly encouraged to access the original resources, training, and guidance to fully understand and implement the framework as intended.
My goal was not to recreate the framework. Instead, I wanted to create a personalised visual companion that could help Jack engage with the concepts in a way that matched his communication style and learning preferences.
Inside Jack's Energy Regulation Folder
In the accompanying YouTube video, I share Jack's personalised Energy Regulation Folder and demonstrate how we use it in everyday life.
The folder includes:
• The Autism Level UP! Energy Meter
• The Energy Check visual scales
• Power Up, Maintain Energy, and Power Down supports
• Personalised Energy Discovery Cards selected specifically for Jack
• Visual supports that encourage reflection, communication, self-awareness, and self-advocacy
The folder is not designed to tell Jack how he should feel. Instead, it supports him to notice what energy he currently has available, what energy an activity might require, and what supports may help him bridge that gap.
This approach moves away from compliance-based regulation models and instead supports autonomy, understanding, and self-determination.
Examples of Energy Discovery Cards
The free downloadable pack includes visual representations of a variety of supports and experiences, including:
• Therapy ball
• Ear defenders
• Push-ups and wall push-ups
• Heavy work activities
• Reading
• Music
• Sensory play
• Yoga
The list is non-exhaustive.
These visuals can be used to support conversations about energy, preferences, regulation, sensory needs, and self-advocacy.
Learn More About the Autism Level UP! Energy Framework
If you would like to learn more about the thinking behind the Energy Framework, I recently had the privilege of welcoming Dr Amy Laurent and Dr Jacquelyn Fede, founders of Autism Level UP!, onto The Unfiltered Autistic Podcast.
During our conversation, we explored the Energy Framework, The Regulator, energy awareness, self-advocacy, and why regulation is about understanding energy rather than simply seeking calm.
The podcast is available in both audio and video formats, and I highly recommend listening if you want a deeper understanding of the framework and how it can be applied across home, school, and community environments.
A Special Discount for Families and Professionals
The team at Outside the Box Learning Resources have generously provided my community with a 10% discount on the Autism Level UP! Energy Framework materials.
Discount Code: Little-10
This discount is available through Outside the Box Learning Resources and is valid until 31 July 2026. The Energy Framework is one of the resources I most frequently recommend to families and professionals supporting Neurodivergent individuals.
Download Your Free Energy Discovery Cards
The Energy Discovery Cards are available as a free download from Little Puddins.
Please remember that these visuals are intended to complement, not replace, The Regulator and the wider Autism Level UP! Energy Framework.
The most meaningful regulation supports are always personalised, collaborative, and centred around the experiences of the individual themselves.
I hope these visuals provide inspiration for creating your own personalised regulation supports and help more Autistic individuals develop greater self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-advocacy around their unique energy needs.
