visual schedules: tools for communication, organization and behavior management april 18, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Visual Schedules: Tools for
Communication, Organization and
Behavior Management
April 18, 2015
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Why are visual supports so important?
2007 : National Professional Development Center for ASD
Funded by OSEP- to determine and promote the use of “Evidence Based Practices” for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
❖Research indicates that individuals with ASD typically use visual processing as their dominant information processing mode and demonstrate a specific attraction to visually oriented materials.
❖Visual content enhances communication, helps organize daily experiences and improves school performance.
❖ Shane, H.C., Weiss-Kapp S. (2007); Cafiero, J.M. (2001); Grandin T. (1995); Althaus, M., de Sonneville, L.M., Minderaa, R.B., Hensen, L.G., and Til, R.B. (1996)
SCHEDULES...❖ tell you what regularly happens.❖ tell you about new experiences that are coming.❖ tell you about the sequence of events.❖ tell you what is changing or different.❖ provide information.❖ help you remember.❖ organize thinking.❖ reduce anxiety.
SCHEDULES…
❖are tools used to organize a sequence of events
❖are especially important for students who have difficulty understanding, processing and remembering verbal language and directions
❖help us know when to stop one activity and start another.
Macro Schedules❖ Organize the larger events or activities of
a complete time frame (e.g. daily schedule)
Micro Schedules❖ Organize the smaller steps or activities of a
shorter routine (e.g. morning routine, schedule for brushing teeth, etc.)
Daily Routines:❖ Reduce anxiety of child by providing a
structure that allows a child to anticipate what will happen next
❖ Improve child’s understanding and cooperation
❖ Increase participation and promote greater independence
❖ Reduce need for repetitive verbal prompting (which can be stressful for parent as well!)
❖ Support transitions between activities or locations
❖ Prepare for unexpected events because structure is already in place
❖ Reduce anxiety of child
❖ Help anticipate and prepare for change
❖ Improve understanding and cooperation
❖ Communicate what to expect during the activity (micro schedules)
❖ Help child understand sequence and duration of the change
❖ Communicate to the child what will follow the change (e.g. something motivating) – thereby increasing cooperation
How visual schedules help with change:
Example: Visual Schedules for Changes in Routine
Micro schedule for getting a shot
Macro schedule for going to the doctor
*Some images borrowed from public website, Google Images
WHEN IS A VISUAL SCHEDULE NECESSARY?❖Does your child have a hard time
transitioning between activities?❖Does your child have a hard time learning
sequences?❖Does your child have difficulty
understanding expectations?❖Does your child have difficulty with new
environments?❖Does your child have a hard time with
changes in routine?
Some Common Obstaclesto Effective Use of a Visual
Schedule❖The schedule is not accessible
❖The schedule is not meaningful
❖The schedule is not motivating
❖The student has learned the strategy and/or the schedule and the visual support is removed because they are being successful
Steps for Creating Visual Schedules
STEP 1: Determine the best visual format for the child based on skills (motor, reading, attention to detail), developmental level, interest, distractibility and functionality.
STEP 2: Break down the difficult routine into smaller steps
STEP 3: Represent each step visually
STEP 4: Determine how the schedule will be manipulated to show something is completed.
When beginning to use a Visual Schedule, remember these steps:
1. Give a standard Phrase “Check Schedule”2. Prompt (from behind) to go to the schedule3. Prompt the child to look at the schedule or
point to the first activity on the schedule4. Prompt to go to the location of the first activity5. When the activity is over, indicate “finished”
and give the standard phrase again and prompt him back to the schedule
Different Types of Visual Schedules
Object
Picture or Photo
Written
Object Schedule
Object schedules are most appropriate for students who have few language skills and are mostly non-verbal. The simplest way to use an object schedule is for the parent to hand an object to their son or daughter just before they are about to move the the next activity. The child then takes the object and uses it in the activity. The most difficult part about making an object schedule is developing the list of activities you would like represented and finding appropriately sized objects. This can take some creativity. ExamplesOutside = ball Drink = Sippie Cup
Bath = duckyBathroom = diaper Snack = Baby doll plateLunch = spoon Dinner = spoonPlay inside = toy car Watch TV = DVD case
These are a few simple object
schedules.
Picture or Photo Schedules
It is important to know if your child can consistently match pictures of photographs to determine if they are ready for a picture schedule. Some children do better with real photos and some do better with simple line drawings. There are computer generated programs that can help with these types of drawings. These can be horizontal or vertical but it has been suggested to use horizontal for readers and vertical for pre-readers.. The child will pull off the first picture and go to the activity represented. It often helps to have a matching picture in the area designated and have the child place his picture next to the one mounted...with velcro. For example, if the child has a picture to represent bathroom. He pulls the picture off and goes to the bathroom and places it next to the one you have mounted on the door frame. If a child can move across the environment and complete the steps of the schedule more independently then they move their photo to a finished column or basket (any designated area) and walk to the next task.
This is an example of a picture schedule using Boardmaker. This is a simple clipboard that was purchased at the Dollar Store. Although this particular one is being used at school you can see how a schedule could be used at home. Picture schedules can be used on ANYTHING.
Poster BoardClip BoardsPaint Sticks
Nothing fancy required!
Done with simple paint sticks...you don’t have to paint them. But you could color code your paint sticks for various home activities if needed and these could be used as micro schedules as well.
Written Schedules
These schedules are best for readers. If your child is learning to read, you can add some pictures in with words. You can follow the guidelines above for a picture schedule or you can simply have them mark them off when done or put a check indicator. Simply laminate your paper and it is completely reusable.
These can be hung on the inside of kitchen cabinet doors, on bathroom mirror, on clipboards, or on the wall. One thing I like to do is slip it in a plastic sleeve and teach my children to mark it off with a dry erase marker. I can reuse these daily and replace paper quick and easy without re-laminating. You can also use stickers or stamps if needed.
Helpful Websites
www.do2learn.comwww.objectsymbol.comwww.handsinautism.orgPintrest has great examples!
Questions?