Special Education: Visual Supports for Autism Kim Myers M.S. CCC-SLP Alyce Weimken M.S. CCC-SLP.

Special Education: Visual Supports for Autism

Kim Myers M.S. CCC-SLPAlyce Weimken M.S. CCC-SLP

Let’s Get Visual!

Autism…DefinedO Autism is one of a group of serious

developmental problems called autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that appear in early childhood — usually before age 3. Though symptoms and severity vary, all autism disorders affect a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.

O Children who present with autism spectrum disorder are often visual learners.

Visual SupportsO Visual/written Schedules: Using visual

schedules help support children with autism to efficiently communicate information that allows children to better predict and plan within their environment. They also help with changes in routine.

O Visual schedules facilitate communication and therefore may minimize behavioral problems.

O Visual schedules help to increase independence and on-task behavior

Visual Supports Cont.O Pairing a visual with the verbal will

increase comprehensionO By simply pointing to a visual

support (i.e., task analysis) instead of offering a verbal direction, you are lessoning the dependence the child has on you to complete the task

O Must be individualized to meet his or her skill level, interest, and age

Visuals: ExamplesO Visual recipesO Sequence of activities: Getting ready for

bed, brushing teeth, washing hands, etc.O Written rules for playing gamesO Writing out questions or directionsO First…then scheduleO Video modelingO Motivational Systems (e.g., PEGS/STAR

Chart) O Visual Activity Schedules

Visuals: ExamplesO ChecklistsO Graphic OrganizersO Social Stories (Gray 2002)O Comic Strip ConversationsO Power Cards (Elisa Gagnon)O Calendars O Task Analysis (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)

Boardmakershare and Boardmaker Studio

O Simple, Fast, adaptable, easy to modify, high tech and low tech

O EdmarkO STAR chartO Songs, Sorting, thematic units,

expanding curriculum, continued practice, storybooks, and etc.

O WebsiteO Examples.

Intellitools O Easy, Easy, Easy!!!O Themes, individual skills, expanding

curriculum, continued practice, storybooks, and etc.

O WebsiteO Examples.

SmartBoardO Easy to modify and adaptO Examples.O Website

IPAD/IPODO Fun, easy to use, Free AppsO First…then Schedule O Proloquo2GoO Apps that are FREE and Great!!!O ABA Free Apps in April each yearO Phone number app

Are you using any great apps to share with the group?

Other Stuff…O Video ModelingO Low Tech examples.

O Task AnalysisO Recipes (News2You)O Social Stories (Gray 2002)O PEGS/STAR Chart (motivational system)O Mini-SchedulesO Visual SchedulesO GamesO Spinner with velcroO Language Master

Let’s Get Visual...O Check out the

high tech and low tech examples

O IPAD/IPODO SmartBoard

SoftwareO BoardmakerO Intellitools

Make it and take it…O You can spend your remaining time

exploring, borrowing ideas, collaborating to create new or adapt already created materials.

O Questions.

WebsitesO www.cindyautisticsupports.comO http://kidscandream.webs.comO http://jillkuzma.wordpress.com

O YouTubeO Harry Kindergarten