About this resource
Knowing what will happen in a session helps people feel settled. This schedule shows hello, activities, a break and goodbye, with blank tiles for activities and a finished section for completed steps.
Purpose
To make therapy sessions predictable and reduce anxiety.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Speech pathologists. Also relevant for occupational therapists, allied health and multidisciplinary teams.
Client or participant group: Children and adults who benefit from predictable session structure.
Practice setting: Speech pathology and allied health therapy sessions.
Suggested uses
- Therapy sessions
- Telehealth sessions
- Group sessions
- New clients
Instructions for practitioners
- Show the schedule at the start of each session.
- Let the person move finished items.
- Offer choice of activity order where possible.
- Warn about changes.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Look at the schedule.
- Move each card when it is finished.
Accessibility considerations
Laminate and use with velcro. Add photos of real activities.
Scope and limitations
A visual support.
Research basis
Visual schedules and other visual supports are established evidence-based practices for autistic children and young people, and are widely used with others who benefit from visual information.
- 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(1), 157–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2201-z
- Steinbrenner, J. R., Hume, K., Odom, S. L., Morin, K. L., Nowell, S. W., Tomaszewski, B., Szendrey, S., McIntyre, N. S., Yücesoy-Özkan, S., & Savage, M. N. (2020). Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young adults with autism. FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina. https://ncaep.fpg.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/EBP-Report-2020.pdf
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Symbols are original line drawings created for Practitioner Plus.
