Comparing pictorial and video modeling activity schedules during transitions for students with autism spectrum disorders

This study evaluated the differential effects of two different visual schedule strategies. In the context of an alternating treatments design, static-picture schedules were compared to video based activity schedules as supports for three middle school aged students with autism. Students used the visual schedules to transition between activities in their classroom. All participants began transition more independently after being exposed to the visual schedules. Two participants reached criteria faster with static-picture schedules while the third participant made slightly faster progress with the video based schedule. The positive outcomes for both interventions are discussed in the context of practitioners’ need for a variety of evidenced based practices to meet the needs of a diverse student body as well and that similar interventions may have different outcomes depending on the characteristics and preferences of the learner.