Accessible schedule displays are visual representations of the major activities of the school day. Much like our own daily calendars, they help students predict upcoming activities and to prepare themselves for their day. Knowing upcoming events, and the events that follow, allows students to tolerate less desired activities by anticipating ones they enjoy! Most visual schedules are designed to be interactive so that students have the satisfaction of "checking off" items they have completed. This may be accomplished by moving the representative symbols or word cards to an "all done" location.
Visual schedules which are permanently placed in a specific area of the classroom help students transition between activities by giving them a predictable routine between each activity. The predictability makes it easier for students to move into the next, even unfamiliar activity. The schedule "routine" provides students with a defined end to one activity and beginning to another. This can be particularly helpful when a student has a challenging activity or time of day. By successfully moving through the familiar schedule routine, the student experiences the comfort and satisfaction of successfully completing an expectation!
A second benefit of the visual schedule is that it can be a means of introducing new symbols/words to a student by attaching meaning through pairing the symbol with familiar activities. For example, I know to go to the table for snack time and I see the "snack" symbol each time I go to the table for snack. This helps me learn that the symbol "means" snack time!
Finally, scheduled routines give students a construct on which to "hang" new habits and behaviors. You can tie new habits to established routines and they are statistically more likely to be learned and become routine themselves.
Sometimes students need supports to help them transition between activities with decreased stress. These students may benefit from TRANSITION SUPPORTS. These "comfort" items can be particularly helpful for students with Autism, who may struggle ending an activity and moving to the next.
Supplies: velcro, laminating machine or contact paper, camera and printer for photos, iPad & apps for high tech
Finding Symbols and Schedule Templates:
Learning Resources:
Visual Schedule Planner, by Good Karma Applications:
Choice Works
Schedule applications can be super helpful for on the go scheduling that requires nothing more than your ipad. They can also be very motivating for students. A WARNING though, the opportunities to move items around and play with the features may be distracting for your students. We find a combination of high tech and light tech schedule options typically works best!
