Online ISSN: 2325-7466
2006
Triannual
National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
United States

Articles

From Research to Practice: The Creation and Implementation of Activity Schedules for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Lisa Swindull, Ed.D, BCBA (Author)
    Lisa Swindull, Ed.D, BCBA. is a special education coordinator in a public ISD in Texas. She has over 15 years in public education serving individuals in special education. She is also a BCBA. She received her Masters in Special Education from Texas A&M University and her Ed.D in Leadership in Special Populations from the University of Houston. Her research interest include evidence based practices for students with Autism and the transition of students with disabilities into adulthood.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.583
Abstract
This paper aims to inform other practitioners working with students with autism spectrum disorder about how to create and implement activity schedules for use in schools. This paper includes a review of research regarding the effectiveness of activity schedules on on-task behavior and the ability to transition. Creating these schedules has been broken down into seven steps for practitioners to follow. Suggestions are included to facilitate practitioners using this intervention for multiple situations. Several case examples are also included to highlight how activity schedules may be implemented in a school setting.
Keywords
Activities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Behavior Modification, Cues, Intervention, Prompting
References

American Psychiatric Association (2013). DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder Fact Sheet. Retrieved From: www.phychiatry.org/autism Banda, D. R., & Grimmett, E. (2008). Enhancing social and transitional behaviors of persons with autism through activity schedules: A review. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 43, 324-333.EBSCOhost.

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Carlile, K. A., Reeve, S. A., Reeve, K. F., & DeBar, R. M.(2013). Using activity schedules on the iPod touch to teach leisure skills to children with autism. Education and Treatment of Children, 36, 33-57.EBSCOhost. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/etc.2013.0015

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Hitam, S., Tan, K. L., Sahbudin, R.K.Z., Mokhtar, S. B., Anas, A., & Sali, A. (2011). Digital visual schedule and training system for centre of autistic children. Journal of Applied Sciences, 11, 788-796. doi:10.3923/jas.2011.788.796. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2011.788.796

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There are 16 references in total.
How to Cite
Swindull, L. (2025). From Research to Practice: The Creation and Implementation of Activity Schedules for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 20(2), 191-204. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.583

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  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted April 19, 2025
  • Published June 15, 2025
  • Issue Spring/Summer 2025
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