everyday skills. Find resources. A typical picture schedule uses images to show kids what they need to do to finish an activity or complete a routine. It also shows them the order to do things in. If kids miss a step, a picture schedule is an easy reminder that can prevent arguments.

Picture Schedules Activities are lined up in the sequence they will be done. Student physically moves the visual piece and matches it to the identical picture at the station they are working at. After each activity is complete, visual piece is removed.

Decide the activities that you will picture in the schedule. Choose activities that really will happen in that particular order. Try to mix in preferred activities with non-preferred ones. Put on the schedule the visuals (e.g., photos, drawings, written words) that show the activities that you have identified.

Tips for Creating a Visual Schedule Identify the skill/routine you want to focus on. Breakdown the activity into steps. Choose a suitable visual format. Photographs may be helpful for children to understand as they can easily associate the picture of an object to routine activity.

Gather Materials such as scissors, glue stick, poster board, clear contact paper, Velcro, pictures (photographs, pictures from magazines, computer programs, food labels, etc.). 2. Choose pictures for the schedule you wish to create.

Place the visual schedule in a location that is easy for the child to refer to throughout the day. 2. Prior to starting the first activity or routine on the schedule, review with the child all the upcoming planned activities. Ensure the child is looking (attending) to the visual.

Why children with autism need routines at home

1. Identify each step of a task you’d like your child to complete, and list the steps.
2. Use the steps to create a schedule.
3. Use timers or alarms to signal when the schedule will begin or to allot a certain time to a step.
4. Refer to the schedule throughout the routine.

Teaching Steps

1. Have your child choose a preferred item, treat, or activity as reinforcement for completing the schedule.
2. Place the visual schedule in the associated area or make it portable by using a visual supports app or folder.
3. Deliver your instruction (e.g., “brush your teeth”, “follow your schedule”).

These visual schedules are more like checklists but can help keep your Autistic students organized and on schedule when they keep them in their binders! Use these visual calm down cards with your schedule.

They also help your child to remain calm and reduces meltdowns or inappropriate behaviors that might happen now if you aren’t providing the support your child needs. It has also been proven that children with Autism benefit from increased structure in their lives and these picture schedule cards might be the perfect thing for your child.

Ultimately, the visual schedule can teach students that a change in the sequence of activities is acceptable because the routine of using the visual schedule is consistent and reliable. How do I implement visual schedules?

I LOVE social stories! They are the best printable visuals for Autism Units or self-contained classrooms. Plus, they are a great way to review rules and expectations with students as well as address social skills and behavior. On top of that, because they are repeated so often, they really reinforce the targeted preferred behaviors for a student.