Charting the Cs logo. Cooperation, Communication, Collaboration. Charting the Cs Conference 2025: To Literacy and Beyond Cooperation Communication Collaboration Unlocking the Power of Using Visual Tools: Why Visual Schedules, First/Then, Timers, and Social Scripts are essential! April 2025 Laura Kleffman, Occupational Therapist Jen Jaros, Early Childhood Family Education Coordinator Universal Design for Learning Universal Design for Learning website Guidelines that offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities. UDL aims to change the design of the environment rather than to situate the problem as a perceived deficit within the learner. Implications for the Early Childhood Environment… Universal Design: Providing support for more people rather than fewer. How many times have ramps prevented someone with independent mobility from physically accessing a desired location? How many times have stairs prevented someone who relies on wheeled mobilityfrom physically accessing a desired location? A man sitting in a wheelchair at the bottom of many stairs. A woman is rolling up a ramp in her wheelchair. Universal Design: Providing support for more individuals rather than fewer. How many times have people without hearing loss used Closed Captioning to support the message of the spoken word? How many times have people with hearing loss missed out on the message of the spoken word without Closed Captioning? The Closed Captioning Symbol in black and white. A still image of a video using closed caption. Consider how pictures can be a Universal Design tool to promote independence and increased understanding… Point: the use of a visual picture tool provides access in a way that honors an individual’s strengths and comprehension Be aware of the messaging, and how it’s being sent and received. How does the message sent find a useful spot to land? Cartoon icon with label "How to teach visual learners" A first/then chart with Math as the first picture and Legos as the last picture. DUAL CODING THEORY By Allan Paivio Picture of The Dual Coding Theorist Allan Paivio The theory, developed by psychologist Allan Paivio , is based on the understanding that our memory utilizes two separate channels to store information: visual and verbal. While these channels function independently, they can also work together to establish connections between words and images. The Pyramid Model 1.The Pyramid Model (AKA Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is a framework for early childhood education and care that uses visuals to promote social - emotional learning and behavior in children. 2.Visuals are used at all levels of the Pyramid Model to support these needs and aid in mutual understanding amongst the group or the individuals who need the targeted intervention. A colorful pyramid with 1. Effective Workforce as the base, 2. Nuturing and Reponsive Relationships High Quality Supportive Environments as the next step up, 3. Targeted Social Supports on the third step up, 4. Intensive Intervention as the top of the pyramid Early Childhood Literature and the use of Pictures -WHY? Zhihui Fang of Purdue University in 1996 concluded: In summary, illustrations in picture books are meant to delight, to capture attention, to amplify or tell a story, to teach a concept, and to develop appreciation and awareness in children. Given the important role illustrations play in children's picture books and in children's language and literacy development, it is imperative that teachers, textbook writers and illustrators become more sensitive to the information conveyed through the delicate interplay of print, pictures, and the child reader. Autism and Use of Visuals Brain Processing:Research indicates that autistic individuals may process language through visual areas of the brain, leading to a preference for visual information. Concrete Understanding: Pictures provide a concrete representation of concepts, which can be easier to grasp than abstract spoken language, especially when dealing with complex ideas or social cues Reduced Cognitive Load: Interpreting spoken language often requires additional processing to understand nuances like tone and body language, which can be challenging for people with autism; visuals bypass this extra cognitive load Autism and Use of Visuals, References Kasari , C., Brady, N., Lord, C., & Tager - Flusberg , H. (2013). Assessing the minimally verbal school-aged child with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 6(6), 479– 493. doi : 10.1002/aur.1334.Review. Retrieved November 8, 2016, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24353165/ Tager - Flusberg , H., & Kasari , C. (2013). Minimally verbal school - aged children with autism spectrum disorder: the neglected end of the spectrum. Autism Research, 6(6), 468 – 478. doi : 10.1002/aur.1329. Review. Retrieved November 8, 2016, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24124067/ https://www.verywellhealth.com/visual-thinking-and-autism-5119992 Additional Resources Used for this Presentation as it relates to the diagnosis of Autism: •From preschool aged children in a classroom, school age supports , to adults on the job site or visiting a doctor ; the use of visual tools accelerated a person’s ability to engage in a common routine, understand expectations, social norms, and functional engagement in the activity. •Preschool Aged Resources:Head Start - Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center •Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability:The effectiveness of visual activity schedules for individuals with ID; A meta-analysis. •Visual Supports and Autism from Vanderbilt Kennedy Center OK enough theory and resources….Time to Dive into Visual Tools! Common Visuals Considered and Utilized in Classrooms, Group Homes, Family Homes, Child Care Sites, Playgrounds Etc. All of these tools rely on creating a visual image or picture. When it’s visual, it doesn’t disappear like spoken words do! Visual Picture Velcro Schedule First/Then Chart Time Timer Social Script Organizing ourselves for the rest of this presentation •WHO are we focused on? •WHAT are we doing theoretically? •WHERE are these used? •WHEN do we provide visual tools? •WHY do we use these? •HOW do we get started? Colorful Circles with the words "Who, What, Where, How, When and Why" WHO is helped by visual tools? People… ●Who are learning to read ●Who might struggle with understanding spoken language ●Who have a strength with understanding language spoken to them and struggle to express themselves regularly or reliably. •Who experience hearing loss •Who are neurodiverse •Who display uneven development •Who are typically developing, and are in the stages of mastery with receptive and expressive language processing •ALL people WHAT are we doing? 1. Accommodating Processing Skills The way in which information goes in, gets stored and creates a response, may take longer for some. 2. Supporting Receptive Language Tapping into someone’s understanding of language and concepts through alternative means. 3. Supporting Concrete Learners Helping the concept that is spoken and “stays in the air”and never really “lands” anywhere. 4. Did you know that 80 - 85% of our sensory input is visual? WHERE can we use visuals? •At home •In the car •At work •Dr/Dentist appointment •Restaurant •Grocery store •Trying a new activity/location •During a transition •Anywhere, they can be portable! Purple and pink background with the word "Everywhere" WHEN do we use visuals? Anytime we need to…. increase structure and predictability (which means decreasing anxiety about the future) switch our focus on behaviors of resistance TO what we’re asking that is preventing forward progress or participation measure the passage of time for those who don’t understand how to measure time on a clock or understand the concept of time being measured …create a tool that explains complex and abstract concepts. Examples: social cues interactions or social cues/norms. WHY use visual tools? •Display behavioral expectations •Develop predictable routines •Support a clear compromise •Expand play •Decrease the teaching and learning cycle for all involved •Reduce anxiety •Measure time •Tap into an individual's receptive language skills •Create a common understanding between two people regardless of skill level •Support positive reinforcement •A way to increase cooperation •Address social and emotional needs How do visual schedules relate to English Language Arts? Pre-reading Visual Skills 1.Developmentally, top to bottom visual scanning occurs first. 2.Then, left to right sequencing develops. 3.Some people don’t master the left to right sequencing and then we meet them where their skills are. Traditional Academic Instruction 1.Support Visual Perceptual Skills 2.Visually recognizing similarities and differences 3.Derive meaning from visual information 4.Provides structure for a lesson, life skills, social cues 5.Promotes independence 6.Can pair text with picture cues 7.Introduces new vocabulary 8.Story sequencing HOW to initiate and implement visual tools? Decide with your team what is needed to focus on first? •Teach or reinforce social skills •Establish a routine or daily schedule •Give choices / reminders •Positive reinforcers •Measure time Brainstorm ideas and give yourself grace! Try to predict how this will go well and how it might need revision. •On behalf of the people needing it and implementing it! •Both sides matter for successful interventions! Acquire Materials Needed! Do you need a commercial product? Can something be made? What materials or technology is needed? How much time is needed? How will this work for the long term? Is it durable? And finally, what’s the easiest way to create and manipulate this visual tool? High Tech Options… Apple/IPAD Apps To Consider •Choiceworks(top left image) •First Then Visual Schedule HD (top right) •Visual Schedule Planner (bottom left) •Time Timer (bottom right) All schedule apps are available for purchase. The Time Timer app is free. Choiceworks Application Image First Then Visual Schedule HD Application Image Visual Schedule Planner Application Image Time Timer Application Image CHROME STORE Apps 1.Visual Schedule Pro (Top image) 2.Pictogram Agenda (Bottom image) Visual Schedule Pro Application Image Pictogram Agenda Application Image Low Tech Options…. Templates can be purchased online (Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, etc) Templates are available for purchase, or can be made by reviewing othersstrategies and what is needed. (The Teaching Speechie) First Then Board Example Image Template Examples Digital Visual Schedule(Mrs. D’s Corner) Digital Visual Schedule with checkmarks Templates for multiple steps in one task. Instead of multiple tasks, sometimes we need multiple steps for one task - routines within routines. (Teaching Sensory Explorers) Example of a bathroom task schedule and using the toilet. Templates with a fold over option. (Teach, Love, Autism) Example of a visual schedule with fold over check marks in red and green. Additional Examples…. Sometimes people need to have the task that is finished moved from one side to the other. School Day example of a visual schedule More Low Tech Examples…. Sometimes having something durable, portable, or “cleanable” helps the lifespan of the visual tool. Sometimes pictures need to disappear for the individual to focus on the appropriate images. Picture of clipboards used for visual schedules with velcro Early Examples of the EZ Slide Schedule Seeing a picture, closing a door when something is completed. Doors can be closed in any order, see the bathroom images example. EZ Slide Schedule with numbers 2,3,4 showing and the first box, number 1 has the door closed. EZ Slide Schedule with pictures of bathroom tasks EZ Slide Schedule Assembly Video Play video of how to take schedule apart, insert pictures, and use schedule. Let’s practice making an EZ Slide Schedule! EZ Slide Schedule: Materials - EZ Slide Schedule, pictures, laminator (optional), scissors or cutters 1.Cut pictures (rectangles) 2.Laminate pictures (optional) and cut again. 3.Insert pictures into the schedule 4.DONE -use it right away! EZ Slide Visual Schedule Logo Charting the Cs logo Thank you! Laura Kleffman& Jen Jaros info@ezslideschedule.com