Picture This! - Creating Picture Supported Environments in Child Care and Head Start Programs
The Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) funded 12
Child Care and Head Start programs to implement field-based strategies
for facilitating meaningful interactions between young children
with disabilities and those without disabilities. This page shares
the successes they had when implementing picture supported environments.
These programs included:
One Birth to 3 program,
One Child Care Reference and Referral Center,
Five Head Start programs, and
Five Child Care programs.
Target Outcomes
Targeted outcomes of this initiative include:
- Training of staff in the appropriate use of picture-based language/communication
supports with young children with disabilities in naturally occurring
activities.
- Implementation of research-based practices that
enhance the communication opportunities of young children in early
childhood general education, and childcare settings.
- Increase the appropriate use of picture-based communication displays provided
in early childhood general environments that enable preschoolers
with disabilities to be educated, to the maximum extent appropriate,
with non-disabled peers.
- Document the increased use of picture
communication displays in typical settings by preschoolers who
receive special education programming with non disabled peers,
on mini-grant evaluation forms and child's IEP/IFSP.
- Share project outcomes through a network of Wisconsin preschools to demonstrate
best practice in the use of picture supports.
Materials
Each site received a computer, printer, and Boardmaker(r) software along
with several types of picture production materials such as laminate,
foam board, and Velcro(r). A few programs purchased the Sign Language
Picture Symbol library from Mayer-Johnson to compliment Boardmaker.
Training and Support
Personnel from each program attended a training
session conducted by WATI consultants. One to nine staff members
were initially trained. One school district that served multiple
programs trained 50 staff members. For another, the nine staff
trained represented over 80% of their staff. WATI consultants
were available after the training to provide technical assistance
as needed.
Several programs trained additional members of their
staff. The Child Care R & R program created a training binder
with examples to use as they trained additional staff.
They also created a traveling display of examples of picture supported environments.
One program requested a follow up training for four additional
staff.
