Visual Schedules: A Practical Guide for Families

Katherine Havlik

Superheroes Social Skills Training, Rethink Autism Internet Intervention, Parent

Training, Evidence-Based Practices Classroom Training, Functional Behavior
Assessment: An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Evidence-Based Practices Training Track for School
Psychologists

US Office of Education Personnel Preparation Project Grant H325K120306

University of Utah

Department of Educational Psychology

School Psychology Program

VISUAL SCHEDULES
 A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR FAMILIES

Who can benefit What is a visual schedule?

from visual
Visual schedules are an intervention that can help
schedules?
individuals with autism follow a routine, transition
between activities, develop new skills, and reduce
Visual schedules are a
useful tool that can be used
dependence on caretakers when completing daily
by most activities. A visual schedule is a sequence of
populations, but they are photographs, videos, line drawings, symbols, text, or
particularly helpful for other visual format that is used to show its user what he
individuals with autism. or she is expected to do. The series of visually presented
Research has found that
tasks are arranged in the schedule in the order they are
individuals with autism may
be more responsive when to be completed. This provides the schedule’s user with
information is presented a visual template and a predictable list of expected
visually in a step-by-step behaviors. Visual schedules can include a series of
manner than when it is separate tasks that are part of a routine, or they can be
presented in an auditory
used to teach a new skill by breaking down a single
manner.
activity into smaller steps.
Visual schedules have
been effectively used with
people of all ages, from
Example of a visual schedule used to facilitate a
toddlerhood through
adulthood. However,
research demonstrates
that visual schedules are
most effective for
individuals with autism
from late childhood
through adolescence.
daily routine

Uses for visual schedules

Visual schedules can be used in a variety of ways and in a variety of
settings. They can be used as a visual template for a daily routine,
or to teach new skills by breaking an activity down into simple steps.
Visual schedules are useful for increasing an individual’s
independence during
targeted activities. Specific uses may benefit from using multiple schedules with fewer steps.
for visual schedules include: Choose a length you think will be appropriate for your child and
• Improving functional living adjust as necessary.
skills such as cleaning and
• Select an appropriate visual format for the schedule. Research has
cooking
found schedules that use photographs, videos, or a combination
• Teaching academic, play, and
involving either of these elements to be more effective than
social skills
schedules that use line drawings or text alone.
• Increasing on-task behavior
• Consider personalizing the schedule by using images of your child
• Decreasing tantrums and
successfully completing the steps of each activity.
other disruptive behavior

• Facilitating transitions
• Teach your child how to follow the schedule. Many individuals
require physical or verbal guidance to follow the schedule and
Tips for creating an complete activities appropriately, particularly when they are first
effective schedule introduced to the schedule. As the child learns how to follow the
• Identify the skill or routine schedule, these prompts can be faded.
you want to target.
• Include a way for the child to indicate when steps have been
• Break the activity into simple
completed, such as filling in a check box or moving images from the
steps that the user can easily
“to do” side of the schedule to the “done” side of the schedule.
understand.
• If a child struggles to master a specific step within the schedule,
• Determine the length of the
consider simplifying the step further by breaking it down into
schedule. While some
smaller parts.
individuals are able to use a
longer schedule that spans • Provide reinforcement when your child completes the schedule

the entire day, other users appropriately. This could be praise, a treat, time to engage in a
preferred activity, or anything else that motivates your child!

Resources for creating visual schedules

The following list includes several websites and apps that can be used to create
personalized visual schedules. Additionally, a sample schedule is included following this list that
can be customized and printed.

APPS:
• Children with Autism: A Visual Schedule App for Apple Watch ($12.99): An app that can be
easily accessed via Apple Watch. Schedules can be created using 14 default event icons
relating to school and home, or customized with your own photos. The app provides the child
with cues indicating what activity they are currently doing, how long the scheduled activity
will take, how much time is left for the activity, when to get ready to transition, and when the
next activity will begin.

• Choiceworks ($6.99): An app for building your own daily schedule using over 180 images and
audio clips, or custom audio clips recorded by the user. Choiceworks includes a setting to have
your phone or tablet read the schedule aloud. The app allows users to create multiple profiles
for multiple individuals and create an unlimited number of schedule boards that can be
printed and used nonelectronically. In addition to the visual schedule features, the app also
includes features to teach waiting skills and emotions.

• First Then Visual Supports ($9.99 Basic, $14.99 HD format with extra features): An app that
allows users to create a variety of visual supports, including “first, then” boards, visual
schedules, task analyses, social stories, and visual models. Visual supports can be created
using photos taken on your device, images found on the internet, or stock images provided by
the app. The app includes multiple templates to choose from or the option to create your
own format.

• DayCape - Daily Visual Planning (free): An app designed to help children understand
structure and time. The app displays images of events along with what time each event will
occur. Parents or teachers can use their own device to add events that will show up on the
child’s device.

• My Routine Schedule ($4.99): An app that allows you to build visual schedules using stock
images from the app or use your own photos. There is a voice recorder feature to add sounds
to each step, as well as a timer feature to set a time limit for each step. Users can pause,
repeat, or skip schedule steps, or lock the screen so the child cannot alter the schedule.

• My Visual Schedule Lite (free): An app designed for iPads that allows users to create daily
schedules for multiple users. Users can customize schedules by selecting photos or symbols
and adding auditory output to each schedule step.
• Picture Me Calm ($2.99): An app that allows users to create unlimited schedules, designed to
reduce children’s anxiety surrounding routines. Users can customize schedules with photos of
their child performing activities. Children are rewarded for completing schedules via a sticker
chart feature.

• See Time Visual Calendar ($1.99): An app to help children conceptualize how much time is
left until an event happens, or how much time remains until an event is finished. Users can
create a customized list of events and input the corresponding amount of time. The time
remaining for each event is displayed in a visual chart that updates as time passes.

• Visual Schedule HD ($3.99): An app that allows users to create customized visual schedules
using their own photos and audio recordings. A list of photos appear in order along with
corresponding audio clips that play when touched. When each step in the schedule is
completed, the user can press the “done” button and it will disappear from the list. The app
allows users to save and reuse old schedules or create new ones.

• Visual Schedule Planner ($14.99): An app that allows users to create visual schedules and
calendars. Users can view events by day, week, or month. The app includes custom images
and sounds as well as a checklist feature, a timer for completing schedules, and reminders.
Additionally, the app includes video modeling clips to demonstrate how steps in the schedule
should be performed.

WEBSITES:

• abaresources.com : A website with several free printable schedule templates. The website
also includes links for other practical products, tips for families, and an interactive message
board.

• buildingblox.net : A website with free printable images that can be used to create a visual
schedule. The website also has a printable “first, then” schedule board as well as other
printable resources.

• child-autism-parent-cafe.com : A website with several printable examples of visual schedules.

The website also includes additional information and resources for families of children with
autism.
• connectability.ca : A website that allows users to create customized visual aids including
visual activity schedules. Users can choose how many images to include in a sequence and
how the images will be organized on the page.

• do2learn.com : A website that provides tips and allows users to build their own visual
schedules. The website includes some free resources as well as extra features for purchase.
Features are organized by the suggested age of target users.

• schkidules.com : This website provides multiple formats of magnetic visual schedules for
purchase, as well as categorized packets of images (school, home, emotions, etc.) to use with
the schedules.

• visualaidsforlearning.com : A website with free printable images, organized by theme, that

can be used to build visual schedules. The website also includes a list of books geared towards
parents of children with autism and Down Syndrome.

• visuals.autism.net : A website with printable blank schedules as well as printable images that
can be used to customize schedule templates. The website also includes videos with tips for
creating schedules. All resources are available in both English and French.
 References

Banda, D. R., & Grimmett, E. (2008). Enhancing Social and Transition Behaviors of Persons
with Autism through Activity Schedules: A Review. Education and Training in Developmental
Disabilities, 43(3), 324-333.

Heflin, L. J., & Simpson, R. L. (1998). Interventions for children with autism: Prudent Choices in a
world of exaggerated claims and empty promises. Part 1: Intervention and treatment options
review. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 13, 194-211.

Knight, V., Sartini, E., & Spriggs, A. D. (2015). Evaluating Visual Activity Schedules as Evidence-
Based Practice for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders, 45, 157-178.

Lequia, J., Machalicek, W., & Rispoli, M. J. (2012). Effects of activity schedules on challenging
behavior exhibited in children with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Research in
Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 480-492.

MacDuff, G. S., Krantz, P. J., & McClannahan, L. E. (1993). Teaching children with autism to use
photographic activity schedules: Maintenance and generalization of complex response chains. Journal
of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 89-97.

Quill, K. A. (1995). Visually cued instruction for children with autism and pervasive developmental
disorders. Focus on Autistic Behavior, 10, 10-20.

Simpson, R. L. (2005). Evidence-based practices and students with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on
Autism and other Developmental Disabilities, 20, 140-149.

This guide was created as part of the University of Utah’s

Superheroes Social Skills Training, Rethink Autism Internet Intervention, Parent Training,
Evidence-Based Practices Classroom Training, Functional Behavior Assessment: An
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Evidence-Based Practices Training Track for School Psychologists

US Office of Education Personnel Preparation Project Grant H325K12306