Beyond the Behavior Plan: Visual Schedules
Hi there! How are you? It’s so nice to see you here!
Welcome to our series here at Coffee Mugs & Clipboards called “Beyond the Behavior Plan”
This series is going to take us beyond what those documents often describe and really tell us what those supports, interventions and replacement behaviors mean.
And as always “the why.”
Our discussion this week is going to introduce us to visual schedules, specifically, why do we use them, what types are there, how to use them and fade them.
If you’re curious about visual schedules, you’ve come to the right place!
What are visual schedules?
Visual schedules represent a way of visually displaying a specific sequence of events, steps, activities within a learner’s day.
Visual schedules are a really adaptable tool and can include many different ways of representing those daily tasks or steps. They can use:
Symbols
Realistic pictures
Video clips (for video modeling)
Words
Phrases
And, of course, any combination of the above to the extent that is most appropriate for your learner.
Is a visual schedule right for you or your learner??
A few questions to ask yourself are:
Does my learner do well with predictability, structure and routine?
Does my learner have the skills to visually scan an image (text, etc. depending on your learner’s skill level)?
Does my learner require prompting and proximity (your being there with your learner) to complete routines and navigate day-to-day activities?
How does my learner learn best (images, video modeling, etc.)?
If you answer yes to these questions, a visual schedule may be a support to use for your learner especially if they crave that predictability and routine, they can visually scan an image (or text) and are currently needing your support (to their appropriate extent) for completing day-to-day activities.
BUT - knowing how your learner learns best will only empower you to choose the best way to represent their visual schedule.
What type of schedules are there?
Once you know the way to type of visual your learner could successfully use to learn best, next is to look at the different types of schedules available to support your learner.
First/Then
First/Then schedules break down tasks into really discrete parts.
Great for a learner that needs larger activities or events broken down into a single step presented one at a time with reinforcement built in once they complete that singular step.
When creating a visual schedule, you can even put them into either a digital or paper schedule too. (Similar to having either a paper calendar or using your digital calendar on one of your devices.)
Daily Visual/ Picture Schedules
Daily Picture schedules break down a learner’s entire day (or into segments such as morning/afternoon/night) to represent the various events coming.
This type of schedule can include as many or as few pictures as the learner is able to understand and functionally access.
Picture schedules have moving pieces, which means the learner has the option of taking the item off of the schedule to represent its completion.
You can teach the learner task categories such as “To Do” and “Done”.
Represent tasks in daily form (morning/afternoon/evening), weekly or monthly (great for appointments or big events.).
Use picture schedules as a checklist where the learner checks or crosses off the completed task as they go.
Picture schedules can be transitioned to written schedules by including a word or phrase that goes along with the image shown. Gradually the text can increase in size and the image can decrease in size until all that is remaining is the text.
Written Schedule
Written schedules provide daily tasks or events broken down by phrases or single words (depending on your learner’s skill level.)
This type of schedule can include as many or as few words or phrases as the learner is able to understand and functionally access.
Written schedules can function very similarly to a picture schedule where the learner can move the word or phrase off of the schedule.
This type of schedule can be taken a step further where the learner can cross of tasks or activities that are completed to represent their completion. (Similar to a “checklist” or a “to-do list”.)
Written schedules can also be used in daily form (morning/afternoon/evening), in weekly form or as a checklist as well
The possibilities are endless!
Digital & Paper Schedules
In this digital age, a schedule can be at our finger tips in mere seconds! With the abundance of apps out there, you can easily go into the application store for your device and find an array of scheduling apps. But how do you know which way to go?
Here are a few things to start with to keep in mind:
Digital schedules are a great option for your learners who are familiar with how to use a schedule and can navigate a device as a tool, not a toy. Digital schedules tend to be more abstract.
Digital schedules are also a great option for accessing the schedule on the go without all of the “extra parts” a paper schedule can need.
Paper schedules are a great concrete option for a learner who needs something more tangible they can move around to build understanding for how parts of a schedule work.
Paper schedules are also great for learners that need a less visually stimulating way to show those events and activities.
How to create a visual schedule?
With so many ways to create a schedule, let’s break down some quick questions for how to start!
Did you identify if the visual schedule is right for you?
What type of activities, tasks, or routines does your learner need the most support with (morning routine, getting ready for school, meal time, bed time, brushing teeth, getting dressed, packing up backpack, washing hands, toileting, etc.)?
What type of schedule are you needing (first/then, daily, weekly, monthly, written, etc.)? This will also help you know how many visuals you will need or how long the visual schedule will be.
What types of visual(s) does your learner need or would have the most success with (based on their skill level)?
What order do the visuals need to be in?
How are you going to teach your learner the schedule?
How will you keep your learner engaged and motivated with using the schedule? What type of reinforcement will you use?
Where and when can you use a visual schedule?
The beauty of visual schedules is they can be used any and every where. From the bathroom, to the kitchen, from a transportation vehicle, to the community and beyond.
Events, activities and tasks occur around us consistently and continually.
Take a step back and be an observer of your learner. Take note of what times of day, locations even daily tasks your learner uses support with.
And ask yourself - “Could my learner benefit from greater predictability, routine and learning a skill with increased independence?”
If yes - there’s no better time that the present to begin!
I would love to support you and your family in crafting collaborative, sustainable behavior and academic supports at home through a free 15-minute Coffee Break to find out just what your cup needs.
Be sure to follow us this week on Instagram @coffeemugsandclipboards as we bring this weeks information to life!
