"At Home with Sylvia Miller"

Visual Supports in Real Life

(An Excerpt from 'My Very Own Tool Supply' by Sylvia Miller)

Daily Routine and Homework

     Each of my boys has a morning schedule posted on the wall at the foot of his bed as a reminder of the morning routine.  As each activity is completed they are placed in the "ALL DONE" envelope.  A regular morning schedule includes: wake up; bathroom; breakfast; get dressed; make beds; wash face; brush teeth; comb hair.  There is even a picture to remind them when there is or isn't school.

There is a daily schedule in the family room that is posted at the bottom of our white board. Here we keep track of spelling words, days of the week and even the weather.  This daily schedule lets them know what the activities are for the day and could include: Today is...; the weather is...; take big sister to the bus; home (for mommy's coffee); playground; school; speech therapy; friend's house.  Boy do we have fun with this schedule, since my boys love to make picture decisions as to whether we go to the playground before school or not.  Yes, they actually rearrange the pictures themselves!

In the afternoon when we get home from school, there is an afternoon schedule in the hallway that keeps them organized after school.  Ours includes: empty backpack; wash hands; snack; pick up big sister from the bus; change clothes; put on shorts and t-shirt; put clothes in the hamper; check desk schedules.  I don't have the problem some moms have of backpacks, lunchboxes, books and jackets all over the floor, so you might want to try this one.

The work area is just that "a place to work" and I have no arguments about that.  There are various schedules posted at their work stations that let them know exactly what they need to do for the remainder of the day and  even directs them to their  homework.  I use the TEACCH method at home too.

By posting numbers or picture directions in the homework schedule on their desks that correspond with those on the colored baskets, they know to complete each activity and put it back in the basket.  Upon completing their homework, they know exactly what to expect since they pre-select their own leisure activity as a reinforcer or reward in response to the "first homework then ..." . 

The remainder of their day, while not carved in stone, can easily be directed by Today's schedule on their desk.  Even the time of each activity can be noted here, but depending on how the day goes, that too is up for negotiation, and believe me, they do negotiate.  Keep in mind that all this is now being done with minimal prompts (now that they are familiar with where the schedules are placed and their purpose) and without frustration!!

There is a place to list and interchange chores, and at one point, when my boys went to different schools and were involved in different activities on different days, there was also a weekly schedule.

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