Visual Supports Are For All Learners Dwain Stone Speech Language Pathologist & Daydra Dietrich Occupational Therapist November 2010 Visual Supports Are For All Learners Dwain Stone Speech Language Pathologist & Daydra Dietrich Occupational Therapist November 2010

"We can't teach the students we used to have, or those we wish we had. We must teach the students we do have." ~ Linda Albert ~

Outline Definition What are visual supports? Why do we use them? When do we use them? Where will they be of use? How do we use them? Behavior Management Definition What are visual supports? Why do we use them? When do we use them? Where will they be of use? How do we use them? Behavior Management

Definition Visuals Visual tools, strategies, and supports are things we see that enhance our organization, comprehension, and communication. Visual tools are signs, objects, printed words, post-it notes, symbols, drawings, or colors. Anything that gives a message and often simplifies it for easier access is a visual tool. Visuals Visual tools, strategies, and supports are things we see that enhance our organization, comprehension, and communication. Visual tools are signs, objects, printed words, post-it notes, symbols, drawings, or colors. Anything that gives a message and often simplifies it for easier access is a visual tool.

What visual supports have you seen or used with children?

Common Materials PECS book Big Mac Sentence Strip Social Stories Visual Schedules First/Then Cards Centertime activity pictures Activity strip PECS book Big Mac Sentence Strip Social Stories Visual Schedules First/Then Cards Centertime activity pictures Activity strip

What type of learner are you? Auditory Visual Kinesthetic/Tactile Auditory Visual Kinesthetic/Tactile

Facts Research about communication shows communication is: 55% visual (gestures, body movement and posture, handouts, calendars, or environmental cues). 37% vocal (intensity and tone of your voice, or rate and volume of your speech). 7% the actual message. Research about communication shows communication is: 55% visual (gestures, body movement and posture, handouts, calendars, or environmental cues). 37% vocal (intensity and tone of your voice, or rate and volume of your speech). 7% the actual message.

Chinese Proverb I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Why use visual supports? Quiz: Because they work!! Demonstration Quiz: Because they work!! Demonstration

Why we use visuals….. Visual strategies help individuals in many ways. We use visual strategies to help us communicate information TO individuals. Visual tools help students organize their thinking. Visual supports are used to give choices or communicate rules. One of the most important uses for visual strategies is to give information such as what is happening, what is not happening, what is changing, etc. Structure supports self-regulation

A day without visual supports… Somehow, somewhere, your day spun out of control. You missed a dentist appointment, got lost going to a new area of town, and could not remember the name and phone number of the person you were supposed to meet after school. At the grocery store, you forgot what you had to buy for dinner and took 10 minutes looking for the car in the parking garage because you forgot to look and see what level you were parked on. It was an awful day. It all started when you left your day planner at home!! Somehow, somewhere, your day spun out of control. You missed a dentist appointment, got lost going to a new area of town, and could not remember the name and phone number of the person you were supposed to meet after school. At the grocery store, you forgot what you had to buy for dinner and took 10 minutes looking for the car in the parking garage because you forgot to look and see what level you were parked on. It was an awful day. It all started when you left your day planner at home!!

Children who may benefit…. Autism Asperger's Syndrome PDD Sensory Processing Difficulties Attention Deficit Disorders Learning Disabilities Down Syndrome Hearing Impairment EAL FASD Autism Asperger's Syndrome PDD Sensory Processing Difficulties Attention Deficit Disorders Learning Disabilities Down Syndrome Hearing Impairment EAL FASD Emotional Difficulties Communication Disorder Behavior Disorder Cognitive Impairment Developmental Delay Multi-handicapped And many more...

What if the students already talk? Sometimes people question using visual strategies for students who already talk. Traditionally, communication boards and other AAC supports have been used to help non-verbal students or those with limited verbal ability to express themselves better. The current use of visual strategies for supporting understanding has shifted that focus. The important thing is to remember why we are using visual tools. Sometimes people question using visual strategies for students who already talk. Traditionally, communication boards and other AAC supports have been used to help non-verbal students or those with limited verbal ability to express themselves better. The current use of visual strategies for supporting understanding has shifted that focus. The important thing is to remember why we are using visual tools.

Sensory Processing Environments may not match the child’s arousal level Overstimulated vs. Understimulated Promotes independence for self- regulation Environments may not match the child’s arousal level Overstimulated vs. Understimulated Promotes independence for self- regulation

Multi-modality Presentation Visual and tactile stimuli Capitalize on routines Demonstrate rather than explain Visual and tactile stimuli Capitalize on routines Demonstrate rather than explain

"A picture is worth a thousand words" The adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" refers to the idea that complex stories can be described with just a single still image, or that an image may be more influential than a substantial amount of text. It also aptly characterizes the goals of visualization where large amounts of data must be absorbed quickly.adagevisualization The adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" refers to the idea that complex stories can be described with just a single still image, or that an image may be more influential than a substantial amount of text. It also aptly characterizes the goals of visualization where large amounts of data must be absorbed quickly.adagevisualization

WHY?

Top Ten Reasons To Use A Visual Schedule!!

Top ten reasons… 1. Visual schedules increase on-task behaviour and therefore increase Academic Learning Time. 2. Teaches Delayed Gratification 3. Visual schedules teach the importance of organization in a day. In other words, the schedule becomes a way for the child to learn to be proactive in managing his own behaviour. 4. Visual schedules teach patience and persistence 5. Once the student knows how the visual schedule works, he or she will be less dependent upon consistency of staffing in order to function. 6. As the child gains independence in using his visual schedule, his instructional assistant also gains independence. This “found time” can be used to prepare instructional and support materials and to make careful observations and notes regarding student successes and difficulties (particularly in the important area of social functioning) which will later assist in determining new instructional goals and learning outcomes. 1. Visual schedules increase on-task behaviour and therefore increase Academic Learning Time. 2. Teaches Delayed Gratification 3. Visual schedules teach the importance of organization in a day. In other words, the schedule becomes a way for the child to learn to be proactive in managing his own behaviour. 4. Visual schedules teach patience and persistence 5. Once the student knows how the visual schedule works, he or she will be less dependent upon consistency of staffing in order to function. 6. As the child gains independence in using his visual schedule, his instructional assistant also gains independence. This “found time” can be used to prepare instructional and support materials and to make careful observations and notes regarding student successes and difficulties (particularly in the important area of social functioning) which will later assist in determining new instructional goals and learning outcomes.

Top ten reasons… 7. Visual schedules minimize the need to write as the daily agenda is being established 8. Once the child has a visual schedule, his or her behaviour will settle. Thus, a schedule does not make the child appear to be different; it helps him appear to be more the same. 9. Visual schedules provide independence by removing the need for the student to ask others (particularly adults) about what schoolwork has to be done. The fact that the student functions more independently (“normally”) can increase his or her acceptance by other students. 10. Because they provide a means for the child to anticipate upcoming events, visual schedules help to ease the student through transitions. Thus, they are a means of reducing rigid behaviour. In fact, they promote flexible behaviour. 7. Visual schedules minimize the need to write as the daily agenda is being established 8. Once the child has a visual schedule, his or her behaviour will settle. Thus, a schedule does not make the child appear to be different; it helps him appear to be more the same. 9. Visual schedules provide independence by removing the need for the student to ask others (particularly adults) about what schoolwork has to be done. The fact that the student functions more independently (“normally”) can increase his or her acceptance by other students. 10. Because they provide a means for the child to anticipate upcoming events, visual schedules help to ease the student through transitions. Thus, they are a means of reducing rigid behaviour. In fact, they promote flexible behaviour.

Purpose Think of the purpose of a visual tool. What does the student need to understand? What would help him participate better? Defining the need guides the decision about what kind of tool to use. Identifying the purpose of a visual tool helps us know how to use it.

Keys for Successful Implementation of Visual Tools Student participation. Involve the student in the design of the tool. Have him choose colors, pictures (especially to describe emotions), the style, size, and so on. The more involved he is in the design, the more apt he is to enjoy using it. Format selection. There is no standard template for visual tools. Some students want only words or pictures that don’t look too young and some students need photos or concrete items instead of drawings. It’s important to consider the size and how easy it is to use in all settings (ie. recess, PE, lunch room, chemistry lab). Student participation. Involve the student in the design of the tool. Have him choose colors, pictures (especially to describe emotions), the style, size, and so on. The more involved he is in the design, the more apt he is to enjoy using it. Format selection. There is no standard template for visual tools. Some students want only words or pictures that don’t look too young and some students need photos or concrete items instead of drawings. It’s important to consider the size and how easy it is to use in all settings (ie. recess, PE, lunch room, chemistry lab). Imbedding choices in the tool. Take into account the student’s interests and preferences such as what things he wants to do when he’s angry or what order he would like to get things ready for a class or activity. Ask yourself, “how am I empowering him to use the tool?” The routine for using the tool. Consider where the tool will be kept, when the tool will be used (in the hallway or at a desk), and what other activities the student will be doing at the time.

Do’s and Don’ts Start Small: Start with one or two rather than trying to use tools in every part of the day. Set the situation up to be successful with easy-to- reach first steps.! Make it easy to use, fun to look at, and meaningful to the student. Introducing it in a positive, fun way can also make a big difference. Start Small: Start with one or two rather than trying to use tools in every part of the day. Set the situation up to be successful with easy-to- reach first steps.! Make it easy to use, fun to look at, and meaningful to the student. Introducing it in a positive, fun way can also make a big difference. Make sure adults and peers are supportive and enthusiastic. Involve peers in developing, using and supporting the student in using the tool. Make sure it is easy to locate, and easy for the student to use. **Keeping visual tools in difficult to access places (in a pocket if he has trouble with fine motor skills) or difficult for the student to use (making check marks when using a pencil or pen is an emerging skill) is the quickest way for a visual tool to fail.

Behavior MGMT Proactive vs. Reactive programs Proactive Reactive Proactive vs. Reactive programs Proactive Reactive

References Bareket, Rachael Playing It Right!: social skills activities for parents and teachers of young children with autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome and autism-1 st ed. Shawnee Mission, Kan.: Autism Asperger Publishing Ernsperger, Lori. Ph.D, Keys to Success for Teaching Students with Autism. Arlington, Texas. Future Horizons, Inc. Hodgdon, Linda A Visual Strategies For Improving Communication; Practical Supports for School and Home. QuirkRoberts Publishing. Troy, Michigan Prizant, B.M., Wetherby, A.M., Rubin, E., &Laurent, A.C. (2003). The SCERTS Model: A transactional, Family-Centered Approach to Enhancing Communication and Socioemotional Abilities of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Infants and Young Children, 16 (4), Quill, Kathleen Ann Do Watch Listen Say: Social and Communication Intervention for Children with Autism. Maryland: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Inc. Richard, Gail J The Source for Autism. Illinois: Lingui Systems, Inc. Smith, Caroline Writing & Developing Social Stories: Practical Interventions in Autism. Speechmark Publishing LTD, Telford Road, Bicester, Oxon OX26 4LQ, UK Sussman, Fern More Than Words. Toronto, Ontario: Hanen Early Language Program. The Inclusion Notebook: Problem Solving in the classroom and community. Inclusive Education and Autism; Spring 2007 (Volume VI, No.1) Bareket, Rachael Playing It Right!: social skills activities for parents and teachers of young children with autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome and autism-1 st ed. Shawnee Mission, Kan.: Autism Asperger Publishing Ernsperger, Lori. Ph.D, Keys to Success for Teaching Students with Autism. Arlington, Texas. Future Horizons, Inc. Hodgdon, Linda A Visual Strategies For Improving Communication; Practical Supports for School and Home. QuirkRoberts Publishing. Troy, Michigan Prizant, B.M., Wetherby, A.M., Rubin, E., &Laurent, A.C. (2003). The SCERTS Model: A transactional, Family-Centered Approach to Enhancing Communication and Socioemotional Abilities of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Infants and Young Children, 16 (4), Quill, Kathleen Ann Do Watch Listen Say: Social and Communication Intervention for Children with Autism. Maryland: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Inc. Richard, Gail J The Source for Autism. Illinois: Lingui Systems, Inc. Smith, Caroline Writing & Developing Social Stories: Practical Interventions in Autism. Speechmark Publishing LTD, Telford Road, Bicester, Oxon OX26 4LQ, UK Sussman, Fern More Than Words. Toronto, Ontario: Hanen Early Language Program. The Inclusion Notebook: Problem Solving in the classroom and community. Inclusive Education and Autism; Spring 2007 (Volume VI, No.1)