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Static visual symbols, including icons, words, and pictures, can depict steps in a task remaining time, or illustrate behavioral expectations. Visual stimuli provide concrete images that remain in sight to circumvent potential problems with auditory processing and memory. Static visual cues have been used with individuals with ASD to increase conversational skills, play skills and transitioning. Picture prompts also have been used to support on-task behavior.

Unlike static visual symbols, video modeling presents information visually but the information does not persist in the environment. However, the video model can provide a distraction-free depiction of skills in a motivational format and can be replayed multiple times. Video modeling has been found to be effective for teaching purchasing skills to individuals with ASD, perspective taking, conversational skills, play behavior, and functional living skills.

Although both static visual symbols and animated visual symbols have been shown to be beneficial for supporting the learning of students with ASD, differential effectiveness has not been explored. For this reason, two studies were conducted to evaluate the relative effectiveness of pictures and videos on two sets of skills with two groups of children. In the first study, four preschool children with ASD were taught to identify body parts. In the second study, four elementary-aged boys with autism were taught to request leisure items. Both studies used an alternating treatment with replication within a multiple probe design across participants to compare the use of static pictures and video modeling to determine if one method was more efficient that the other. Presenters will describe outcomes of those e studies and discuss implications for teachers in terms of effectiveness for promoting learning and ease of implementation.