A picture schedule is a tool that helps children with autism understand what is going to happen that day by using a series of pictures, symbols, and simple words. It is a visual representation to help the child understand what is happening, the sequence of events, what changes may be occurring, or when it is time to stop an activity and move on to another. 

Picture schedules can include meals, academics, play time, appointments, chores, and are customized to each individual. They can include photos of family members, service providers, teachers and places in the community.

Some picture schedules are created and organized by what time it is.  Others, are organized only by the sequence of activities.

I homeschool my son and find that we thrive best when the picture schedule is created to show the order of activities and not what time the activity occurs. It allows for the most flexibility. It works well with our homeschool loop schedule.

I used a picture schedule that was organized by the time, like the one pictured below, while he was learning how to tell time. It was helpful. But, once that skill was mastered, I returned to our usual picture schedules which simply show the sequence of activities.

I also used schedules organized by time, when I was teaching in a school. It was helpful, because our schedule was based on time. I used strips with symbols, words and clock faces that were kept on the white board with magnets (like the ones pictured below).

I have seen a few things, here and there, regarding a concern about the over reliance on picture schedules that may develop from using them. It is not a concern for me. I have a planner that contains my schedule, my son’s homeschool schedule, my budget, birthdays, meal planning and more. I also have an app (Cozi) on my phone that does much of the same. One could say that I have an “over reliance” on my planner and app. In fact, my husband says that my planner is my hobby. I would forget all my appointments and be a hot mess without them. But, they didn’t create that scenario. It existed before I implemented their use. In fact, that is precisely why I have them. They are tools that help me to manage my schedule. I don’t ever plan or aspire to be organized enough to not have to need them. I know I need them.

My son may someday transition from picture schedules to a planner. My hope is that he continues to use some type of scheduling tool. I think we all may know someone who we wish would use one. So, I don’t see it as a potential problem of over-use.