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My child has autism and uses visual schedules at school and at home. They are very helpful in getting him to stay on task and understand routines and sequences however the symbol cards wind up all over the house. Does Do-N-Slide address this issue?
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It certainly does! The symbol cards that are in use are housed within the Do-N-Slide board itself - no velcro, no magnets, less chance of your child 'playing' with the symbol cards. Your child will simply slide the cards from one position to the other as they complete each task, all the while keeping the cards firmly inside the board. Cards that are not in use are stored is a durable plastic pocket that can be kept in a drawer or other location thats convenient for you.
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My child needs to hear directions several times before she actually follows through. How does Do-N-Slide help?
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Do-N-Slide provides your child with a visual reminder of spoken directions, which releases you from the need to continually repeat instructions. Children respond very positively to visual cues, and can complete activities with greater independence if their tasks or sequences are displayed in an organized manner, broken down into steps that make them feel less overwhelmed. Spoken instructions only remain in focus for a brief moment, however visual reminders can be there as long as your child need it.
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My child has ADHD. All the books say my son needs more structure. Is this a good way to provide that structure?
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Do-N-Slide is the perfect way to accomplish structure for those children with ADHD. Use the board to help your child be more in control of their time by teaching them how to eliminate distractions. Do-N-Slide can be used to break down any routine into a number of steps that can be easily followed, whether its getting ready for school, planning for the next day, or participating in household chores.
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My child has difficulty sequencing events, such as remembering what comes next when solving a math problem. How can I use Do-N-Slide to help her?
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You can use Do-N-Slide to solve a complicated math problem by representing each step involved in working through the problem until it is resolved. For example, the FOIL algebra method could be displayed on the board using one picture card per step. By using the blank picture cards that come with the board, you can visually represent any number of steps to help your child recall what comes next until they have achieved success!
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I have a very anxious child who 'freaks out' when things don't go according to his 'plan'. How can I use Do-N-Slide to help him?
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The higher the stress level, the more a child needs a visual support. Do-N-Slide can be used to ease your childs anxiety by preparing them for an unexpected change in their routine. For example, if your child is accustomed to going to the park after school, but tomorrow you need to take them to a dental appointment, use your Do-N-Slide to represent the change in their schedule by including a 'Dentist' card, or 'Change' card (with a different colored background) to let them know whats coming, and in turn decrease their anxiety over the intrusion of this event.
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My daughters speech and language is a little behind. Can Do-N-Slide help in any way?
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Absolutely. This system is perfect for her as all the pictures are paired with words which allows for better understanding of the activity or event. Initially, you might like to show her one picture and enact what that picture represents, i.e. show her 'toys away' and then place the toys back into their box. Some kids will 'get it' immediately, while others just need a little practice, but most kids can participate independently in some way (such as sliding the card into the 'All Done' column). In addition, as a child learns to 'sequence', it fosters their ability to read with understanding.
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My son is dependent on others to know what to do next. His teacher said he is 'prompt dependent'. Can Do-N-Slide help with that?
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Yes. With practice, your son can use Do-N-Slide to know what to do next rather than waiting for his teacher to say 'hang up your pack', 'go get your lunch-box', or 'take out a paper and pencil'. Simply have the teacher preload Do-N-Slide before class begins, then as class proceeds, instead of waiting for an unnatural and intrusive verbal prompt, he can follow the tasks on the DO-N-Slide board and feel proud of himself for accomplishing several tasks with independence. Its just like checking your own calendar or PDA throughout the day!
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My child is going to try some mainstream classes this year. Will the regular education classroom teachers/staff be willing to use Do-N-Slide to help?
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Any good teacher will actively encourage a child to succeed, and provide or encourage the use of tools for them to do so. In this case, the simplicity of the Do-N-Slide system should not in any way hinder or disrupt your child's teachers or classes. We have had feedback from a teacher who indeed uses Do-N-Slide with several students who have always been in mainstream classes but who could use a little extra cueing. Do not hesitate to ask your child's teacher to provide their support in helping your child get through their day with success.
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Is this the same as PECS?
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PECS, or 'Picture Exchange Communication System', was developed as an augmentative/alternative training package that teaches children and adults with autism and other communication deficits to initiate communication. It utilizes picture symbols, an example being the Boardmaker program which uses simple renderings to create printed communication boards, device overlays, worksheets, and schedules. Do-N-Slide also uses picture cards or symbols to make 'to-do' lists, and we encourage you to make your own to have Do-N-Slide depict whatever it is you are displaying for your child.
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Can my therapist use this in my son's therapy?
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Yes. It will help both your therapist and your son. It will help the therapist plan and prepare for the session, and it will help your son know what to expect as well as give him a 'time frame' for when the jobs will all 'be done'. If a card remain in the 'To-Do' column, there is more work/play to be done. If the cards are all in the 'All-Done' column, the session has ended. Using Do-N-Slide at home and during therapy will provide a measure of consistency that is familiar to your child, and will also help in encouraging their participation in sessions to get the most from their time and efforts.
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Is this product only designed for children with special needs?
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No. Think about the visual supports we use every day - calendars, memos, PDA's, cookbooks, grocery lists, post-its. Everyone can and does use a visual support in one form or another. Do-N-Slide is a support that is tailored to any child - especially those that respond positively to visual learning.
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