I made this picture schedule (using Pages and the Storyboard template) to help Chalrie only eat some things on some days. I saved the schedule as a photo (jpeg file), emailed it, then saved it on his iPad. He can X out days using the Doodle Buddy app.
Charlie wasn't quite sure what to make of the schedule earlier this week. I kept showing it to him and modeling X'ing out each day. On Friday, following a decent day at school (though he petered out by the end), he went on his usual bike ride with Jim but didn't (as Charlie has been doing a lot of late) spend much of the bike ride asking for a burrito or other food item. Charlie just rode his bike.
Friday was a night I had put down for him having a burrito so (after looking at the schedule together), we went out for one. Charlie enjoyed it (and kept it down).
I'm planning on making a new 'food schedule' for Charlie every week and slipping in different foods in what is something of a simplex elegans -- 'elegant in its simplicity' -- solution (which indeed describes some of the best 'innovations' for Charlie).
What a great idea! As Charlie gets used to this, he may even be able to contribute to the "menu planning" - as long as he doesn't get stuck in a rut! Good luck with this.
Posted by: Judy T | 21 January 2012 at 09:53
What is Saturday's food?
I am one of those people who can happily eat the same thing for lunch every day. Lately it's been either sushi or sauerkraut pierogies. My picture schedule would be boring.
Is their any theory as to why people with autism frequently have gut/digestive problems?
Posted by: Jill | 21 January 2012 at 10:05
Crafty mamma!
Posted by: Linda | 21 January 2012 at 10:26
With some food items, just make sure you're "out of the woods" with the stomach bug! As you know, white rice is great to help keep everything calm.
Posted by: Monica | 21 January 2012 at 14:45
For Jill---there are loads of theories on it, but no clear answer. FWIW, people with anxiety also are known to be prone to IBS( makes sense---stomach roiling due to nerves is nothing new!), and the two usually go together, so it may be just as simple as that.
Posted by: Ashmire | 21 January 2012 at 22:33
Oh, BTW, I do love the idea. For some reason I actually feel like I want one of these even though I have absolutely no practical reason for it in my life. Just an aesthetic appreciation, I guess, but there are certain things that seem to click an "autistic button" in my brain somewhere and this is one of them. Hopefully that's a good sign Charlie will like it, too!
Posted by: Ashmire | 22 January 2012 at 00:57
I feel like I used to work with a kid who could use this. Almost every day, he'd ask for McDonald's french fries. Not that his mom minded getting it for him most of the time, it's just plain not healthy to consume a large fry most days of the week (sometimes more than one), and somedays, there is a plenty good reason not to go out and get french fries (like today, it was very foggy, and I got my pizza delivered instead of going out to pick it up).
Posted by: Jen | 24 January 2012 at 00:36
I love the schedule!
Jane
Posted by: Jane | 27 January 2012 at 15:51
@Jane, glad you like it! Seems to be helping so far, too.
Posted by: autismvox | 28 January 2012 at 20:05