Rikke Andersen is the mother of 10-year-old Zander, who has ADHD and autism. Zander has a strong need for structure, and it is also important for him to have an overview of what the rest of the family is doing. The family had previously used pictograms and other board systems, but these made Zander feel different. He often became angry at the tools because he was the only one using them.
The family tried to find a tool that could be combined with some of Zander’s interests and, in that way, gain his acceptance. Since Zander has a great interest in electronics, they began looking at digital tools. The choice fell on Mobilize Me.
Color codes make the difference
Mobilize Me has many different functions, but it was especially important for us to be able to use different color codes. Zander really wants to know what the whole family is doing, so we add appointments for the entire family with different colors. Little sister Lea, 6 years old, is red, mom is yellow, and dad is green. Appointments that are shared are white. “It’s a brilliant system, and we definitely get a lot of joy out of it.”
In addition to the color codes, the family is also very happy that it is possible to use different pictures in the tool, so you are not “locked into pictograms.” Mobilize Me is also so simple in its design that Zander can help plan his day himself, which strengthens his confidence and allows him to express his technical interests. If a template has been used for too long, Zander, for example, takes new pictures himself, which makes the activities interesting again.
“It gives him ownership of the tool, and the template function makes it easy for him,” Rikke explains.
Little sister’s interest in color codes
Når man skal lykkes med visuel struktur, handler det om at finde en balance mellem forudsigelighed og fleksibilitet, ifølge Denise. Man skal have en struktur, men også evne at afvige fra den, hvis situationen kalder på det.
På trods af hendes faglige viden og interesse for visuel struktur, har hun også selv gjort sig erfaringer, efter hun er begyndt at bruge visuel struktur med sin egen søn.
“Vi skulle med Molslinjen og havde sat et billede af en færge ind i Mobilize Me. Det gik slet ikke, og min søn løb rundt på færgen og kunne ikke finde ro. Det var tydeligt, at han havde behov for en endnu mere konkret struktur for at kunne forholde sig til, hvad der skulle ske”.
Derfor lavede Denise en mere detaljeret struktur i Mobilize Me til færgeturen hjem igen.
“Det var en helt anden dreng, vi havde med. Nu kiggede han på Mobilize Me og kunne se et billede af den færge, vi skulle med, derefter kunne han se, at han først skulle sidde på dækket og kigge på vandet, derefter spise pomfritter og til sidst se iPad. For ham var en færge ikke bare en færge. Han havde brug for en meget konkret visualisering af sin struktur, og hvad han kunne forvente”, forklarer Denise.
Denise understreger, at struktur aldrig må blive et krav. Strukturen skal være drevet af motivation og forståelse. Og det er netop det, hun drømmer om at hjælpe fagpersoner og forældre med gennem Visuel Ro.
