Ep. 19 Pictures vs. Videos: Choosing the Right Visual Support for ADL Goals

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

You've heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about a thousand prompts? When it comes to helping autistic kids master daily living skills like brushing teeth, washing hands, and tying shoes, the visual support debate is real: static pictures or dynamic videos? Occupational therapists Michele and Lacy discuss research that puts these two visual strategies head-to-head, revealing insights about which kids thrive with which approach. Spoiler alert: it's not a simple winner! Plus, get the scoop on Boom Whackers (yes, that's a real thing), safety tips for teaching knife skills in OT sessions, and how Michele's pool therapy days changed after multiple "code brown" incidents.

We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.

Benson, J. D., Cartwright, A., Szucs, K. A., Smitsky, D., Chippich, E., & Roebuck, L. (2024). Effectiveness of video prompting versus picture prompting in improving daily living skills of autistic children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(3), 7803205030. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050514

KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; picture schedule; video prompts; ADLs; Activities of Daily Living; autism; intervention; visual supports

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