2. Using Apps for Social Stories and Visual Schedules
SD 34 Abbotsford
May 19, 2017

3. Introductions Who am I ? Fran Raab – SET BC provincial teacher
-elementary teacher
-education assistant

4. …Who are you? What is your experience with visual schedules and social stories?

5. Agenda Visual Schedules and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Why & How of Visual Schedules
Social Stories and their applications
Exploring Visual Schedule and Social Story Apps
Time to explore the apps of your choice
Visual Schedules and UDL
Why & How of Visual Schedules
Social Stories and their applications
Exploring Visual Schedule and Social Story Apps
Time to explore the apps of your choice

6. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Connection
UDL creates an environment so that all students can access the curriculum
Provide options for self-regulation
Provide options for sustaining effort and persistence
Provide options for recruiting interest (provides choice).
UDL creates an environment so that all students can access the curriculum
I’d like to introduce this slide by reviewing what UDL is in the new curriculum and how visuals support student engagement.
UDL basically involves three ideas; student Engagement, differentiated ways of Representation by the educator and supporting various means of student expression.
The connection for our students who benefit from visual schedules and social stories is through Engagement.
visuals support engagement by providing options for self regulation, sustained effort and sustained interest in learning.

7. Visual Schedules Why use visual Schedules?
Who should be preparing visual schedules
How to use a digital Visual Schedule
Exploring Visual Schedule Apps
The next few slides we will cover:
Why students need visual Schedules
How to use a Visual Schedule
Who should be preparing visual schedules
Exploring Apps

8. Why use Visual Schedules?
Teaches organization
Provides structure
Provides predictability
Makes connections for abstract time concepts
Supports difficult transitions or changes in the regular schedule.
Provides a point of reference for those who have difficulty focusing
There are many good reasons for using visual schedules with children who have
disabilities. A visual schedule:
provides structure and predictability (which can be VERY effective in decreasing
undesirable behaviors, especially with children who have Autism Spectrum
Disorder).
makes abstract time concepts, such as “later”, “next”, or “last”, more concrete.
can be used to learn new vocabulary & language concepts. can help the child with unexpected changes in the regular schedule.
can be used as a task analysis schedule to teach new skills ( as in mini schedules)
can help the child transition from one activity to the next.
increases independence!
teaches the importance of organization.
provides a point of reference for children with a poor attention span.
helps make inclusion in the general education classroom more successful!

9. Who should be making the Visual Schedule?
When possible, the student should be collaborating to create visual schedules
Before using Visual Schedules apps it’s important for the school team – Education Assistant, Teacher, Student, student peers, and parents to learn how to use the app and how to implement the visual schedule so that it works for the student
Always have a low tech/hard copy of the same schedules in the event of technical problems
Whatever the reason we have to have supports in place and provide guidance in building their resilience.
The following apps are suggestions. Each individual student will need to explore the different apps and perhaps ones not even mentioned today and CHOOSE which ones work for them.

10. How to use a Visual Schedule
Give the direction. (“Check schedule”)
Wait.
Use a gesture (prompt)
Use a physical prompt. Hand on iphone/ipad.
Wait
Hand over hand.
When using a digital calendar or visual schedule , the following steps may be helpful to implement it as it is not a paper copy it can be challenging for the student to have buy-in.
Give a standard phrase: (e.g., “Check schedule”)
Prompt the individual to go to the schedule, this may also include physical gesture like pointing or manipulation.
Prompt the individual to look at or point to the first activity
Prompt the individual to go to the location of the first activity
When the activity is over, start again
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11. How… Teach One Schedule at Time
Its important to Keep it simple and organized.
If it is confusing then the student may become dependent on the Teacher, Education Assistant, or Parent and the goal is independence

12. Assign one person who is responsible for supporting the use of the app.
To be successful using electronic schedules, select one staff member who is responsible for teaching the schedule to the student
 It is beneficial to the student to be consistent

13. Nonverbal prompts at first then fade them.
 When teaching a student to use a digital schedule, the goal is to minimize your words and use nonverbal prompts.  
Tell the student something like, “Check your schedule” and then use pointing, gestures and physical prompts as much as possible.  
Give them time to perform it with that assistance.  Once they have the device in their hands, you could provide some language and narration stating what the schedule says, but avoid giving directions.
avoid verbally telling them each step of using the schedule so that the student does not become dependent on your verbal directions.
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14. Assessing the visual schedule
To determine if the student’s use of the electronic schedule is effective or not you may need to be a bit patient
choose a set of transitions to monitor and take data/ or make notes at least once or twice a week.  
Use this data to see if the student is becoming more independent.  
If you think this type of schedule isn’t working Perhaps the student requires more reinforcement. You could do this by providing a paper copy for them to associate it with    
The goal is always for the student to use the schedule independently.

15. Creating Social Stories to increase understanding
There are 4 types of sentences used in social stories: 1) descriptive 2) directive 3) perspective 4) control
The next area I will talk about is CREATING SOCIAL STORIES. Please refer to the handout I provided on creating social stories. You are all likely experts on how to create a social story but this is what I found when I searched best practices:
There are four types of sentences used.
Descriptive Sentence
The bell rings for the children to come in from recess. The children go to their classroom where the teacher reads a story.
Directive Sentence
I am playing during recess. The bell rings for me to come in. I stop playing and line up to come in. I follow the other children and quietly go to the classroom. When we get to the classroom, I go to my desk and sit down. I listen as my teacher reads a story.
Perspective Sentence
When the bell rings for recess to end, the teacher is happy to see all the children line up quietly and walk to their classroom. Many children are excited that they get to hear a story. The teacher likes to see the children listen. The teacher likes it when children are quiet during the story.
Control Sentence
I remember that the bell means it's time for recess to end by thinking of a teapot. I know that when it whistles, the water is done. The bell is like the whistle; when it rings, recess is done.

16. Some things to consider with Free Apps.
The problem with free is that the program use is almost always paid for through advertising or information gathering—and it’s in those aspects where the danger often lies.
Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store do generally check each program before it’s offered for download for viruses and malicious intent.
Popular apps can be convenient and fun, but some also carry malicious software known as malware, which gives hackers easy access to your personal information.
Please note that the cost of apps is always changing in iTunes.
So lets switch gears and look at some apps
Some things to consider when deciding on free or paid apps are:
The problem with free is that the program use is almost always paid for through advertising or information gathering—and it’s in those aspects where the danger often lies.
Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store do generally check each program before it’s offered for download for viruses and malicious intent. But they don’t screen the ads for malicious behavior.
(and because so many different ads might stream from one server to any particular app, the stores’ trawlers can’t reveal all of the different security threats that might infiltrate a system)
Popular apps can be convenient and fun, but some also carry malicious software known as malware, which gives hackers easy access to your personal information.

17. Autism Apps V. 2.6 By Touch Autism
Cost: Free
Description
Autism Apps is a comprehensive list of apps separated into over 30 categories that are easy to find and have already been evaluated.
**Note that the cost of apps is not always inline with iTunes.
When you are wondering what App to start with, Autism Apps is an excellent resource that has done the app screening for you.
This is a great time saver as Autism Apps has done the online searching for you and provides reviews
I have provided a print copy of the apps associated with visual schedules or social stories however the list provided by Touch Autism is even more extensive.
**DEMO**
The apps your district installed on the workshop iPads are free ones only. I will demonstrate some others/paid apps.
You will have time later to explore them and others if you brought your own device and have an iTunes account
If you have your own device, you just need your apple id

18. Taking Care of My Device Social Story v.3.2 By Touch Autism
Cost: $2.99
Description
This app includes a nine page social story about proper care and handling of a device. The story focuses on why it’s important to take care of your device and specific rules for properly caring for and handling a device. 
A good place to start is this social story about taking care of your device:
This is a great social story to start students who are new to using a device.
This app includes a nine page social story about proper care and handling of it.
The story focuses on why it’s important to take care of your device and specific rules for properly caring for and handling a technology. 
***DEMO***

19. Choiceworks v. 6.2 by Bee Visual, LLC
Cost: $9.99 US
Description: This app is an essential learning tool for helping children complete daily routines (morning, day, & night), understand & control their feelings and improve their waiting skills (taking turns and not interrupting).  
Support website: hhttp://
DEMO
Choiceworks by Bee Visual is great for schedules and social stories
It is a good learning tool to help children with daily routines, understand and control their feelings and improve waiting skills.
**DEMO**
Optional:
The Key Features  ■ Three boards: Schedule, Waiting, and Feelings  ■ Three Companion Books supporting each board ■ Image Library preloaded with over 180 images and audio  ■ Add your own images and record your own audio for limitless customizability  ■ Attach video to any board image ■ Easily create profiles to personalize and manage multiple users ■ Save an unlimited number of boards for multiple children or different routines  ■ Speaks boards out loud with professionally recorded audio  ■ Time saving essentials like search and auto-save ■ Share boards by or iTunes File Sharing with other Choiceworks app users  ■ Ability to print boards or save as PDF

20. iTouchLearn Life Skills (free)
Combines both visual schedule boards, reward charts, social stories and training to reduce anxiety while mastering new skills
Combines both visual schedule boards, reward charts, social stories and training to reduce anxiety while mastering new skills
Achieving life skills becomes more rewarding and memorable with one easy to use app
**ACTIVITY**

21. Social Story Creator By Touch Autism (free)
Amazing app for easily creating, sharing and printing educational social stories, visual schedules and beautiful memories
A good app for easily creating, sharing and printing educational social stories, visual schedules and beautiful memories
**DEMO**

22. Touch and Learn Emotions
By Innovative Mobile Apps
free
Helps students read body language and facial expression to increase understanding of emotions
Helps students read body language and facial expression to increase understanding of emotions
Students look at real life pictures to determine the expression
A great feature is that personal Photos can be added
**DEMO**

23. Book Creator Good option for social stories
Red Jumper Limited
Create and publish eBooks, pdfs and comics by
Good option for social stories
Book creator is easy to use and is a good option for producing social stories.
The student can add to the story by inputting text, create a video, or importing an already existing video or photo
The story can therefore be very personalized
**DEMO**
**ACTIVITY/ TASK CARD**

24. Visual Schedule Planner v. 2.8.2 By Good Karma Applications, Inc
Cost: $20.99 US
Description: Visual Schedule Planner is a completely customizable audio/visual schedule iPad app that is designed to give an individual an audio/visual representation of the “events in their day". In addition, events that require more support can be linked to an “activity schedule” or “video clip” to help model the task even further.
This is a good app for use by older students. It offers many features like:
A Visual Schedule Planner which is a completely customizable audio/visual schedule iPad app that is designed to give an individual an audio/visual representation of the “events in their day".
In addition, events that require more support can be linked to an “activity schedule” or “video clip” to help model the task even further.

25. Pictello
By Assistive Ware $19.99
Create books, social stories or visual schedules
Each page created in a Pictello story consists of a photo or video and some text.
Text can be read aloud by the Text to Speech voice or our own recorded audio
Speech to text is an option for creating the story
Create books, social stories or visual schedules
Each page created in a Pictello story consists of a photo or video and some text.
Text can be read aloud by the Text to Speech voice or our own recorded audio
Speech to text is an option for creating the story
YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THE BUILT IN ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES, VOICE RECORD/SPEECH TO EXT AND SAVE IN NOTES. THEN TRANSFER TO BOOK CREATOR.

26. How to access the camera app.
When personalizing a students visual schedule or a social story, it will be important to operate the camera and take photos.
* demo ** this with an iPad*
When instructing the student to use the iPad’s camera features, open the Camera app by:
tapping the Camera app icon on the Home screen
the easiest is to SWIPE LEFT FROM THE LOCK SCREEN
Its best to turn off the flash
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27. Please go to the above link to access my AfterShare resources
Please go to the above link to access my AfterShare resources