Visual Schedules for Neurodiverse Kids

Sometimes kids with neurodiversity struggle with their need for structure and want to know what comes next. A visual schedule can help kids and adults reduce stress by helping them manage time.

Think about how you organize your time. I’m sure most of you keep a calendar, either a physical calendar like my mom does, or a digital calendar ike the one I keep on my phone. On the next level, you may have a daily schedule that helps you remember what time your meetings or appointments are each day. Some of you may keep a bullet journal to help you manage your time.  Often when you attend an event or a retreat, you will receive a program that tells you what is happening when.  Even on Sunday mornings, many churches provide a bulletin with an Order of Worship.  This helps you know what is happening and what will happen next. Kids benefit from the same kind of help, especially those who need more structure.

A visual schedule uses images or pictures to represent the events planned.

• Sometimes words are included, sometimes not.
• The images are posted in the order they are expected to happen.
• Sometimes times are included, sometimes not.
• If your schedule is dependent on time, it makes sense to list the times, but if you have a more flexible schedule  (for instance story time may usually last for five minutes, but sometimes takes longer) then just posting the activities in order will suffice.

Example of a visual schedule for Teaching Differently:

The point is, everyone in the room can tell just by looking, what will happen next. There are several different ways to display a visual schedule. I have used cards with Velcro posted on a time line.

Here are some links to different sites with instructions and ideas about using visual schedules:

• Children's Ministry Visual Schedule  - free download of  schedule and clipart to paste/copy to schedule from Teaching Differently.
• 4 Steps To Create a Visual Schedule for Sunday School & Why You Need One

Blessed Children

(as requested, here is the poem I used at the beginning of the presentation. You are welcome to share as long as you credit me.)

Blessed are the children who will not be quiet, for they have much to say.

Blessed are the children who cannot sit still, for they will move mountains.

Blessed are those who cry, for they will comfort and be comforted.

Blessed are the children who see things differently, for they will change the world.

Blessed are the children who are always dirty, for they are at one with creation.

Blessed are those who struggle to read, for they will hear and express the gospel in wonderful new ways.

Blessed are the children who work alone, for they will know themselves and God.

Blessed are the children who clown around, for they make everybody happy.

For we are all children of God, fearfully and wonderfully made.

©Dena Kitchens 2024

See a printable/shareable graphic of Dena's poem created by Rotation.org

Here are some of the questions, comments, and resources shared by participants in the chat during the presentation:

Laura Range: Any tips on initiating conversations with parents of neurodiverse kids to better understand individual children’s needs?

Nancy Shade: I usually use "how can I help you, partner with you?” when talking with parents.

Kyle Creel: I do have a question about "diagnosis" and inclusion.

Ellen Allston: Every fall we have parents complete a registration form and invite them to share their child's IEP with us if they have one. That's a way to "ask" about a diagnosis without asking about a diagnosis. It's amazing how many families volunteer the IEP's.

Amy Grella: Do you have advice on training resources geared to help us train our volunteers working with kids?

Heather Horn: Keyministry.org

Ian Grimm: I’ll post links on our forum as well but two books my team has been going through are

• Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion by Lamar Hardwick and
• Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability by Stephanie O. Hubach

Nancy Shade: Any suggestions on how to promote inclusivity in the larger congregation for adults who aren't particularly comfortable around kids with different needs or the need to make noise or stim, etc.?

Amy Coen: https://www.keyministry.org/ has resources that are helpful.

Beth Tobin: I recently visited a congregation that offered head phones for children with sensory needs while at church.

Melissa: Is it ok to have an autistic adult teach children and teens for Sunday school?

(Dena replied in the recording that it is certainly ok, as long as there is another adult in the room.)

Melissa: Is it ok for an autistic adult to teach children and teens without another teacher? I teach and I am autistic.

LoriAnn Lavallee: We have an autistic young man (17-20) who has been one of our outstanding VBS leaders for the last few years. It depends on the individual.

Melissa: Should there still be 2 teachers in a class even in small class size of 2-4 kids?

Kyle Creel: You should never put a volunteer in a position where it will be just their word against a kids.

Dena Kitchens: Yes, Melissa. There should be 2 teachers

Amy Crane: Many churches' insurance requires that sort of safe child policy - 2 adults in classroom, even for a small group. Here are some thoughts on the subject in this discussion on Safe Sunday Schools at our site.

For those getting notified of changes to this topic...

The edited recording of Dena's presentation has been posted on YouTube at https://youtu.be/J8L-8ZyBX08?si=Do9xlLsMu6XvgOuL. That same video appears above in the first post of this topic.

Attached to this post is Dena's PowerPoint pptx file seen in the seminar You are welcome to use it for personal and teacher training purposes