What Is A Visual Diary With Pictograms?
The visual diary with pictograms is a very useful tool for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Do you know how to use these types of agendas? We will explain it to you below.
But first you should know that ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized mainly by the manifestation of difficulties in two areas: communication and social interaction and flexibility of thought and behavior.
In addition, in many cases, a significant alteration in language development can also be observed, so with these children it is convenient to use pictograms as a communication system.
What is a visual diary with pictograms?
The visual agenda with pictograms is a kind of notebook in which there is space to place certain images or illustrations that represent, in a simple and clear way, objects, people, actions, feelings, situations, etc.
These pictograms can be extracted from the Portal Aragonese Portal for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems (ARASAAC), which has a multitude of graphic resources of this type. Likewise, you can use photos that are familiar and familiar to the child (photos of family members, teachers, personal belongings, etc.).
The purpose of the visual agenda is to visually anticipate the activities that will be carried out during a specific moment. Which is ideal for many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, since, due to the mental rigidity that characterizes them, they usually have the need for anticipation and planning, to better understand what is happening in the environment.
Thus, these agendas can be used in various contexts of the child, such as:
- Home : to anticipate all the tasks that have to be carried out during the daily routine (showering, having breakfast, brushing teeth, going to school, etc.).
- The school : to anticipate those activities that take place during the school day.
- Therapy : to anticipate what will be done and the aspects that will be worked on in the session.
Procedure for use
To use the visual calendar with pictograms correctly, the following steps must be followed:
- Spend a few minutes using the agenda at the beginning of the day, the school day or the session, depending on the context in which it will be used.
- As a mother, father, teacher or therapist, choose, together with the child, the pictograms that represent the activities to be carried out during the day, academic day or session.
- Place the pictograms on the agenda.
- Read the pictograms out loud so that the child knows well the order of activities to be followed.
In this way, the little one structures the information in his head and can be sure of what is going to happen at all times. Which, in children with ASD, is very positive for their peace of mind and good functioning. Do you want to see some examples to know how to prepare this type of agendas? Well, click here.
Other utilities of visual agendas with pictograms
Visual agendas with pictograms can be used for other purposes, such as:
- Put the date and the weather.
- Represent important events that occur that day (birthday, holidays, etc.)
- Allow the child to transmit and express their emotions and feelings at a certain time of the day.
- Anticipate what will be done throughout the week.
- Anticipate the food dishes that will be on the same day, both at lunchtime and at snack time or dinner.
- Represent the school supplies that the child has to keep in the backpack, according to the subjects established in the schedule for that day.
