How to Choose a Visual Schedule App
Not every visual schedule app is designed in the same way, and the right choice depends on the person who will be using it and the kind of support they need.
Before choosing an app, consider what information the person needs to understand, how much support they need, and how much control the caregiver needs over the schedule.
This guide applies to any visual schedule app. At the end, we show how Day2Day Calendar approaches these needs.
01Start with the person
Consider:
- Do they understand pictures?
- Do they understand written words?
- Would hearing the activity aloud be useful?
- Do they need help understanding what comes next?
- Do they need help understanding how much time remains?
- Do they benefit from seeing completed activities?
- Does the schedule need to work for a child, teenager, or adult?
The app should be adaptable to the person rather than requiring the person to adapt to the app.
02Consider how activities are represented
Look for options such as:
A person who has difficulty understanding written or spoken information alone may benefit from having more than one way to understand an activity.
03Consider time
A schedule can show what is happening without necessarily showing how long an activity lasts.
If time is difficult to understand, consider whether the app provides a timer for individual activities.
04Look for a clear way to show completed activities
For some people, seeing what they have already completed can be just as important as seeing what comes next.
Consider whether the app makes completed activities visually distinct from upcoming activities.
05Consider what the caregiver can manage
Look at whether you can:
- Create schedules
- Customize activities
- Repeat activities
- Choose images
- Control the schedule
- Adjust support to the individual
- Prevent accidental changes
The caregiver should be able to create a schedule that reflects the person’s actual day.
06Consider whether rewards are useful for the individual
Some people benefit from working toward a meaningful reward.
If this is important for the person, consider whether the app allows the caregiver to choose how rewards work rather than imposing a fixed reward system.
07Make sure the app is appropriate for the person using it
A visual support does not have to look childish to be useful.
Consider whether the images, language, interface, and overall design are appropriate for the person’s age and preferences.
08Make sure it works for you, too
The schedule needs to be realistic for the person managing it. Consider:
- How quickly you can create a schedule
- Whether common activities are already available
- How easy it is to make changes
- Whether recurring activities can be automated
- Whether the interface is easy to understand
- Whether the person can use the schedule without constantly needing your help
What Day2Day Calendar provides
Every person is different, and no single app is right for everyone. Here is how Day2Day Calendar lines up with the considerations above.
| Consideration | In Day2Day Calendar |
|---|---|
| How activities are represented | Visual activities with pictures, and spoken activities read aloud |
| Time | A timer for every event |
| What comes next | Daily and weekly views |
| Completed activities | Completed activities move to their own portion of the schedule |
| Getting started | Preset activities |
| Recurring activities | Repeating activities |
| Rewards | Customizable stars and rewards |
| Preventing accidental changes | View-Only mode |
| Fitting the individual | Personalized schedules |