Students with severe disabilities benefit from set schedules
and routines. These students misbehave, display outbursts, and get anxious when
their schedules are off or an event occurs unexpectedly. The use of technology,
specifically visual apps on the iPhone, iPod touch, and other handheld devices
allow parents and teachers to set schedules and reminders for students to use
and operate. These pictures of activities and tasks will help students remember
what transition is next or what activity should occur later in the day. The
step-by-step picture schedules and activities will not only help students in
the school setting but will also guide individuals in an occupation. In addition to the pictures that will assist students, some of the
apps will provide audio to supplement the visuals. Some of the resources I found
helpful for making and implementing visual activity schedules are: Boardmaker,
Pogo Boards, iPrompt (app available on IOS devices), iCommunicate, First-Then,
and Picture Planner. Be sure to add those to your “AT toolkit”!
Below is a video I found that gives a short review of the use of visual schedules on the app iPrompt.
Reference: Dell, A., & Newton, D. (2008). Assistive technology in the classroom: Enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eOOKBrb0Ew
Christina, I really like that you provided this video about the app iPrompt. It was really neat seeing that the app is capable of displaying the schedule in so many different ways! It can show the picture schedule horizontal or vertical or it can display it as a list which has words next to each picture. These apps are so important to have for autistic children because it really does help them to know what their schedule will be like for the day. Many of the students I've had always had a tangible schedule that they kept on their desk or carried around with them. I've never had the opportunity to use these apps with students but I think they are amazing and would do so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks Erin,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great app and I always need a visual like this video to help me truly understand how it will help my students to make sure it is worth the download or purchase. Like you I always used visual cue cards around the classroom and on the student's desks. It is crazy how much technology has evolved to make things such as a schedule so much easier for students to use and navigate. The only problem now is having access to an ipod or ipad for every student. How nice would that be?
Christina