Using a visual support package to facilitate independent leisure engagement and choice-making for individuals with moderate to severe autism in Taiwan.
A short mix of picture schedules, video clips, and light prompts let three teens with moderate-to-severe autism choose and finish leisure tasks on their own.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Shan et al. (2024) worked with three teens in Taiwan who have moderate-to-severe autism. The team wanted the teens to pick and finish three leisure tasks on their own.
They used a short package: first a video preference test to find liked activities, then a visual schedule the teen built, plus short video models and gentle prompts. No extra candy or iPad rewards were given.
What they found
All three teens learned to choose three activities, snap the pictures into a schedule, and finish every step without adult help. Independence kept up after the prompts were faded.
The skills stuck around two weeks later, showing the package alone was enough reinforcement.
How this fits with other research
Jimenez-Gomez et al. (2021) got the same result with preschoolers, but they used a smartwatch instead of paper cards. Both studies show kids can self-manage play when the schedule is clear; the tool just needs to match the learner's age and tech comfort.
Watson et al. (2007) used only video modeling to expand toy play. Ge adds visual schedules and choice-making, turning passive watching into an entire self-run routine. It's a step-up, not a repeat.
Austin et al. (2015) looked at adults with brain injury who used high-tech switches to pick leisure items. Ge proves you don't need micro-switches or voice output; low-tech pictures and videos work for teens with autism too.
Why it matters
You can copy this package next week. Run a quick video preference assessment, print small activity photos, and teach the learner to build the strip. Start with one activity, add prompts, then fade them. No extra reinforcers needed, so sessions stay light and natural. Perfect for middle or high-schoolers who need meaningful downtime but now just wander or stim.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Self-determination encompasses various components, including decision-making and independence, making it a complex process. While the importance of self-determination for individuals with autism spectrum disorder has been explored in previous studies, there is limited research focusing on individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. Evidence-based practices such as visual activity schedules and video modeling have shown effectiveness in promoting independence among individuals with autism spectrum disorder. To address the need for independence and choice-making among individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder, this study developed a visual support package incorporating visual activity schedules, video modeling, preference assessments, and prompt procedures. By investigating the intervention's effectiveness in three participants, this study contributes to the existing literature on the use of a visual activity schedule and video modeling in enhancing choice-making and independent leisure engagement. Following the intervention, all participants were able to select three leisure activities, develop their own visual schedules, and complete them. Notably, this study conducted preference assessments to determine participants' preferred leisure activities and did not provide additional reinforcement. Practical implications of this research include incorporating video prompting as needed and adjusting activity engagement time. Future research should explore the long-term effectiveness of the visual support package and its application in developing novel skills or vocational activities for individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. This study fills a critical gap in the literature, providing important insights for practices and research in the field of autism spectrum disorder interventions.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2024 · doi:10.1177/13623613241245596