Picture scheduling, I have no idea

[GoofyG]

So my DD5 developmental pediatrician is wanting me to use picture schedules with words. I'm so overwhelmed, does any one else use this? She wants visual cues demonstrating with sample sentences too. Etc, home, school, also a list of activities with pictures.

Also, if you have used this. Does anyone have an idea for traveling or just when we are on the go?

She had a major meltdown today in a store. I think it may be time to look at getting a weighted stuff animal.

 

[Piper]

I've used this with my whole class (and then had some individual schedules for some of my special students.)

I took actual photographs of the child(ren) doing the activity and mounted it on sentence strips (my dollar store has them or you can get them from a teacher's supply) I used a pocket chart and in the morning, we would put the pictures for the day up and go over what we would do and discuss it. I did write a short sentence (go to the library. read a book. have Math Circle. etc.) I had "We will" above the pocket chart.

You could have: wake up, brush teeth, potty time, eat breakfast, go grocery shopping, play time, etc. Try to involve her (and her siblings) in the pictures and the planning.

I also had the time posted, but that was because we followed a pretty strict schedule. It really helps provide structure and I didn't have kids asking me what we would do next. I also used it at the end of the day to review what we had done that day. I also didn't have to constantly tell the kids what to do. It gave them a sense of control. If they were in workstations and the bell rang, they would clean up and go to the carpet with a book until the rest of the class was finished--I didn't say a word.

Now it did take time and effort at the beginning of each year to establish the routines, but it was well worth the effort. I not only taught the schedule, but I taught them how to clean up the workstations, how to line up, how to walk in the hall, etc. If we were doing something different (like a program, etc) I also outlined my expectations of their behavior. We discussed everything.

Actually, I wish I had known how to do this when my own kids were little. We often say "clean up your room" and don't realize how overwhelming it can be if they don't know how to do it! (think about how overwhelmed you feel when the house is messed up--and you know how to clean!) Or go somewhere without really teaching them our expectations of their behavior or providing them with something to do. (Again, think about how unsure and stressed it feels to be in a new situation.) It would have saved both me and them a lot of stress!

Another thing, at the grocery store, could you give her a "job?" Maybe 3 or 4 items she is to help you find. Pictures of 6 apples, 2 cans of pork and beans, 1 bottle of Dawn. You can find pictures in advertisements that are sent in the mail or magazines. Having a job to do might help focus.


Sorry if this was TMI. I learned more in actually working with my young and special needs classes than I did getting degrees in both Child Development and Early Childhood Education! Nothing beats experience!! I didn't go back to school and get my degrees until my kids were out of high school....

 

[KrysiaG]

We use picture charts for my 6.5 year old Autistic son. It has helped him since starting preschool at age 3. His teachers and therapists have made him a picture with word/sentence for every task (hang up coat, put coat on, grab your backpack, put your backpack away, circle time, song time, book time, clean up time, etc.)

We have one at home as well. He doesn't NEED it as much as he did from age 3-5, but we still use it on occasion if he is having a really bad day.

 

[kirstenb1]

Does your dd have special ed teachers who could help with this?

Our nearly 6 yr old was in SPED preschool for three years. Her teachers all used picture cues as part of their day. It was especially helpful during half days, or anytime the routine was changed.

One of her teachers made us pictures on a keyring to use at home. She made ones for morning, and then nightime routines. That way, you can show them, it's time to get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes etc. Our dd seems to do well when she thinks something is a "rule". And the picture cards seem to stand out as a rule in her mind.

 

[GoofyG]

Does your dd have special ed teachers who could help with this?

Our nearly 6 yr old was in SPED preschool for three years. Her teachers all used picture cues as part of their day. It was especially helpful during half days, or anytime the routine was changed.

One of her teachers made us pictures on a keyring to use at home. She made ones for morning, and then nightime routines. That way, you can show them, it's time to get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes etc. Our dd seems to do well when she thinks something is a "rule". And the picture cards seem to stand out as a rule in her mind.

Do you have a picture of the key rings? That sounds like it would be perfect for traveling. She just has a speech teacher at school. She only goes half a day. But she is on summer break till mid Aug. Our school district isn't the best with recognizing SPD.

 

[bookwormde]

This is very common for our kids who have EF (executive function) issues. Our kids minds preference is for non linear processing (like visual items eg pictures) and this help them build a library that they can retrieve much more efficiently than linear information like words. If in a prominent place it is a "reminder". Laminating daily check list reminders and having check boxes with the pictures is very helpful also.

Linking works with pictures is a way that ASD kids can enhance their speech and reading skills, but is now being used to accelerate learning in very young children also.

You really need to go back to your ped and have a deeper discussion about the "why" of the recommendation, and the broader Aspergers issue. It is very common for clinician to "dance around" this necessary discussion if they feel the parent is resistant and it keep our kids for getting the supports that they need to adapt for their limitation and to develop their gifts. If you open the discussion they are much more likely to be "honest". With girls it is common for clinicians not to formally diagnosed till later unless the social deficits are gross, since they do not as easily fit into the male model of HFA/Aspergers. It is often better just to talk about "autism (Aspergers) genetics" if every piece of the puzzle is not clear yet, since a diagnosis is only a label used to get clinical and educational services.
bookwormde

 

[SueM in MN]

I only have a minute to post, but this site is an excellent resource:

http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/visual-schedules.html

It has examples of visual schedules and also tells how to make them.

If you have an iPhone or an iPod touch, there are also apps for that. Look for visual schedules or autism.
A couple people have found useful are iCommunicate ( which is more expensive, but is also a simple communication device) and Pictello ( which is a story making app that was developed for making social stories ).

 

[kirstenb1]

Do you have a picture of the key rings? That sounds like it would be perfect for traveling. She just has a speech teacher at school. She only goes half a day. But she is on summer break till mid Aug. Our school district isn't the best with recognizing SPD.

Not at the moment. But I'll see what I can do (not very good with technology, and loading camera images!!)

In the meantime, Zoe's teachers use a program called Boardmaker. They're very rudimentary black and white pictures. Some people use PECs. Anyway, they're about 2 in by 2 inch squares. Her teachers laminated them, and put them on a ring. You're exactly right, it's perfect for traveling.

You could even just draw these using a Sharpie and flash cards cut in half. Because the pictures are very rudimentary, her teachers said they don't work for every kid. Very literal children had a hard time making the leap to something that "looks" like the activity, but not exactly. For these kids, photos of the child doing the activity is another option. For those, you could mount them in a mini photo album.

 

[GoofyG]

DD5 also has speech delays. She had a submucous cleft palate that was fixed a yr ago. Because of her palate she has minor hearing lost. She has a ling way to go with speech. She signs a lot too. She goes back to the developmental pediatrician next week.

 

[Brer Shay]

My DS had great experience with the visual schedule. His speech instructor in Kindergarten actually started him on it. She used the PECs system which, as I understand, has a database of images that match 100's of activities. He used them in school and somewhat at home regularly through third grade; on bad days he used them until fifth grade. We also used a keying version at home or as we traveled. We made that ourselves with clip art images we found online.