ECTAC Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
This share site is our attempt to facilitate an exchange if ideas
and resources to more easily support young children with
disabilities to receive services in the same settings as their
non-disabled peers. You can upload activities you have created
and use and download activities others have shared.
Mayer Johnson, now a division of Dynavox Industries, sponsors a great site for sharing Boardmaker activities at Adapted Learning.com click here to link
Mayer Johnson, now a division of Dynavox Industries, sponsors a great site for sharing Boardmaker activities at Adapted Learning.com click here to link
I have great things I want to
share (even if you don't think
they're great we probably will).
Download Pages
Transitions can be difficult. These resources are designed to support smoother transitions between activities and
locations.
Strategies and Considerations…..
Transition Kits
o Collection of visual supports to help kids with unexpected transitions and prevent escalation of inappropriate behaviours. Your Transition Kit should be portable and accessible when it's needed.
Prepare and Practice
o Visual supports that help students prepare for what's coming during predictable transitions and routines.
o Practice routines or social stories so the element of surprise is diminished.
What Format will be most Effective?
o Schedules
o Social Stories
o Cue Cards
o Communication Boards
Strategies and Considerations…..
Transition Kits
o Collection of visual supports to help kids with unexpected transitions and prevent escalation of inappropriate behaviours. Your Transition Kit should be portable and accessible when it's needed.
Prepare and Practice
o Visual supports that help students prepare for what's coming during predictable transitions and routines.
o Practice routines or social stories so the element of surprise is diminished.
What Format will be most Effective?
o Schedules
o Social Stories
o Cue Cards
o Communication Boards
Transitions
First - Then boards
First - Then boards are used to communicate a sequence of events or to reinforce completion of an activity. First - Then boards are
based on a "first-then" strategy; that is, "first you do ___, then you do ___", rather than an "if-then" approach (i.e., "if you do ___, then
you can do___"). A First - Then board can be used in a variety of ways:
o Assist with transition from one activity to another, e.g. . First "circle time" - Then "recess".
o Assist in completing non-preferred tasks by reinforcing with a preferred activity, e.g. First "clean up" - Then "change centers".
o Breaking a large schedule or sequence of events into smaller steps, e.g. . First "flush" - Then "wash hands".
First - Then cards are easy to make, but if you choose to download our First - Then card, itis available in Boardmaker and PDF version with two First - Then cards on page one and 20 sample activities to use on page two.
o Assist with transition from one activity to another, e.g. . First "circle time" - Then "recess".
o Assist in completing non-preferred tasks by reinforcing with a preferred activity, e.g. First "clean up" - Then "change centers".
o Breaking a large schedule or sequence of events into smaller steps, e.g. . First "flush" - Then "wash hands".
First - Then cards are easy to make, but if you choose to download our First - Then card, itis available in Boardmaker and PDF version with two First - Then cards on page one and 20 sample activities to use on page two.
Visual Schedules
Schedules and routines are important for children because they need to know what's coming next. If the schedule is consistent, children
learn the pattern.
Visual schedule systems are an easy way to provide students with consistent cues about their daily activities. They provide a structure that allows a student to anticipate what will happen next, reduce anxiety by providing the student with a vision of his/her day and promote calmness between transitions. They are especially important for students who have a profile that includes difficulties with the understanding of oral language and directions.
The consistency provided by a visual schedule is crucial in establishing an atmosphere of trust and security. When that breaks down students may cry, become irritable, or otherwise exhibit problematic behaviors. Visual supports can also provide motivation to work through a less favored activity knowing a favored activity is to follow. First / Then cards are examples of mini-schedules related to two consecutive activities.
Visual schedule systems are an easy way to provide students with consistent cues about their daily activities. They provide a structure that allows a student to anticipate what will happen next, reduce anxiety by providing the student with a vision of his/her day and promote calmness between transitions. They are especially important for students who have a profile that includes difficulties with the understanding of oral language and directions.
The consistency provided by a visual schedule is crucial in establishing an atmosphere of trust and security. When that breaks down students may cry, become irritable, or otherwise exhibit problematic behaviors. Visual supports can also provide motivation to work through a less favored activity knowing a favored activity is to follow. First / Then cards are examples of mini-schedules related to two consecutive activities.
Articles on creating and using visual schedules
Why use a visual schedule?
Stefanie Olson, M.S., CCC-SLP Oklahoma Assistive Technology Center
SUPPORTED INCLUSION
CITY OF TORONTO | EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES TEAM
Visual Schedule Systems
SET-BC (Special Education Technology - British Columbia)
Tips and Ideas for Making Visuals to Support Young Children with Challenging Behavior
The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, Vanderbilt University
Why use a visual schedule?
Stefanie Olson, M.S., CCC-SLP Oklahoma Assistive Technology Center
SUPPORTED INCLUSION
CITY OF TORONTO | EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES TEAM
Visual Schedule Systems
SET-BC (Special Education Technology - British Columbia)
Tips and Ideas for Making Visuals to Support Young Children with Challenging Behavior
The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, Vanderbilt University
This example of a visual schedule presents up to ten activities. The current activity, Now,
is moved to the top of the schedule. As activities are completed they go into the Done bin,
an envelope or small container velcroed to the bottom gray section. Removing the finished
activities reinforces an activity is Done and the diminishing set of activities as they are
moved to the Now section reinforces movement through the day.
The 3-page files are available in Boardmaker and PDF and each features the schedule, a sample set of 24 activities and 24 blanks.
The 3-page files are available in Boardmaker and PDF and each features the schedule, a sample set of 24 activities and 24 blanks.
These visual schedules were made for all the children in this teacher's class. She made these cards to hang on the children's cubbie because as students would enter her
classroom and they would want to play and got distracted from what they were to do. She reported instant success once she implemented these cards. The End of Day
schedules feature both a bus and backpack for those students who ride a bus or walk or get picked up.
Arrival and Dismissal Chores/Routines