How to Use Visual Schedules for Children With Autism
Many children with autism have difficulty processing auditory information. Visual schedules provide these children with a visual road map of their day. This helps them know what to expect, provides structure, relieves anxiety and reduces trouble with transitions. Provide your child with support when you use a visual schedule.
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Things You'll Need
- Objects, picture cards or word cards
- Three-ring binder, clip board or note book
- Velcro
Instructions
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Choose the appropriate visual. Visual schedules for children with Autism can be made with objects, picture cards or word cards. If your child is at a very concrete level of thinking, he may need an object schedule. If your child understands pictures, use picture cards in his visual schedule. If your child can read, word or phrase cards may be most appropriate for his schedule.
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Find an object, picture card or word card to represent each part of her day. If your child needs an object schedule, a spoon might represent breakfast, while a toilet paper roll represents a restroom break. If your child needs a picture schedule, use clip art, pictures from magazines or find pictures symbols online at Mayer Johnson. If your child reads, type and print words and phrases from your computer.
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Assemble the visual schedule. There are many ways to put your child's visual schedule together. As a general rule, schedules should be practical, easy to use and portable. Bind the schedule into a three ring notebook, assemble it on a clipboard or assemble it in a folder using Velcro. If you assemble the visual schedule in a horizontal orientation, make sure the objects or cards are arranged from left to right. If you assemble the schedule in vertical orientation, make sure the objects or cards are arranged from top to bottom. This correlates with the directions in which your child will learn to read. See many examples of visual schedules at Special Education Technology (see Resources).
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Introduce the visual schedule to your child. Go over it with him at the beginning of each day to give him a preview of the day's activities. As you transition your child from activity to activity throughout the day, have him check is visual schedule first. This helps him understand what comes next in his day. Get more information about visual schedules at Special Ed (see Resources).
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Tips & Warnings
Visual schedules are only effective if used consistently. Use the visual schedule every day to benefit your child most.
