visual supports and literacy strategies for people with disabilities in employment

Visual supports and literacy strategies to

support people with disabilities in employment

twitter.com/chacullen

E charlenec@spectronics.com.au

spectronics.com.au/blog/tools-and-resources/sett

Carole Zangariwww.praacticalaac.org

No Single ‘Best’ AT option

Carole Zangariwww.praacticalaac.org

It all depends…

on what the

individual needs!

Barriers to employment• Learning new tasks and

processes• Problem solving• Understanding others and

expressing themselves• Concept or understanding

of time and time management

• Travelling to and from work independently

Improving transition to work

Engage interests, skills and potential

Provide structure and

support to individual and employer

Workplace adjustments• Learning small steps through repetition

• Develop a 'work buddy' system

• Use pictures and other prompts

• Provide disability awareness training

Response time

RephraseCheck

understanding

Visual supports

Explain changes in

advanceSpeak clearly

Allow time

Short questions

Things that we SEE to enhancethe communication process

Visual supports

• Sometimes verbal instructions are not enough

• Information presented visually helps some people to learn

• More concrete and stable

Why use visual supports?

• Calendars• Schedules or Checklists• Timers• Social stories• Video modelling

Types of Visual Supports

Calendars

• Remind us what is happeningShow • regular events• new activities• changes to routine

Calendars

• Software: MS Publisher, Boardmaker Studio, Boardmaker Plus, Matrix Maker

• Online: Google Calendar, Outlook, Boardmaker Online

• Apps: MemoCal plus, Activity Planner

Calendars

MemoCal Plus

Activity Planner

Schedules

• Increase understanding

• Decrease surprises, reduce anxiety and distress

• Improve behaviour

• Allow people to function more independently and feel confident

Schedules

• Software: Boardmaker Studio, Boardmaker Plus, Matrix Maker

• Online: Boardmaker Online, Visuals Engine

• Apps: FTVS HD, 30Hands, Tools2Talk

Schedules

• Cover only one activity

• Map out the steps• Allow the person

to become more independent

Mini Schedules

FTVS HD

30Hands

Go low tech

Visual Timers

• Give a visual reminder about time left for an activity

• Help with transition to a new activity• Reduce frustration• Improve independence through self

monitoring and time management• Help keep individuals focused

Visual Timers

Software: Boardmaker, Time Timer

Online: www.online-stopwatch.com, 1-click timer

Settings: In built Clock on iPad

Apps: Wait4it, Time Timer, Bang Boom BuzzerVisual Timer HD

Visual Timers

Low tech

Social Stories

Visual, video, photo stories created for specific learning of

specific behaviours

Originally developed by Carol Gray www.thegraycentre.org

Social Stories

Teaching a required social skill

Prepare for new events and experiences

Teach a positive behaviour

Teach a new skill

Let's be socialApps by Touch Autism - shopping- compliments- turn taker- using money and saving- manners

Apps with readymade stories

PictelloBook CreatorStrip Designer

Sonic PicsPixnTell30Hands

Apps for creating stories

Book Creator

Video Modelling

Models target skills

Desirable behaviours are learned by watching a

video & imitating

Videos of others

Video self-monitoringPoint of view modelling

Online: WeVideo App (edit), Screencastify(recording)

Apps: iMovie, Aurasma, Capture

Video Modelling

iMovie

Aurasma

Settings: Speak SelectionSymbol Support

Widget GO

Other literacy supports

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