Using Symbols

When and how to use symbols in resources.

Symbols are a part of our lives every day, even without us realising it. Company logos, shop and street signs and all the important symbols on the toilet doors help us navigate our world. But working or living with someone with learning disabilities bring a whole new meaning to the term! There are lots of ways to introduce visual elements into activities such as using photos, videos and pictures and even small hand gestures we may do without even thinking.

But as Laurie got older and his thinking became more abstract I found that it was time to move on, and have begun using a symbol maker to construct social stories, week plans and calendars. These help him understand what is happening and how events fit together. But one of my absolute bug bares is the improper use of symbol makers. Using a symbol maker is not a guaranteed solution. Typing up a phrase or sentence and pictures popping up is not the universal answer.

I have been using Widgit Software applications to support my visual resources at work for the last 8 years. But have also purchased Widgit online to use with Laurie at home. This is my own personal choice and there are many symbol making packages out there on the market but I find the usability and style of this application to my taste. But these strategies could be applied to other symbol packages or whether you are working without a symbol maker at all.

These are strategies that I use when making visual resources both for Laurie and for others learners I have taught who need visual support.

Symbols are brilliant to use with abstract concepts, activities and events

Symbols are fantastic tools which can provide continuity to a task or activity when other factors may change.

The symbol for “Swimming” can apply whether in or out of school, and can be used in any swimming pool anywhere, any time of day and the learner will understand the expectation of the activity. These are times when a photo would give too much specific information which may or may not apply. For example, a photograph of a book will only ever apply to one book. In these situations the symbols give clear, general and flexible information.

Symbols are ideal for building vocabulary

Symbols provide a clear representation regardless of differences such as branding. Making it great for lists and supports learning new words.

Think around the symbol

It is probable that reading skills of the user maybe limited, so a good resource should be able to carry the meaning of the document alone, and not be dependant on the words to be usable. Selecting symbols which have the meaning that you intend, may not be the ones you would initially expect. When using a symbols maker think around the word your after, and try some alternatives. If you want to say "prepare potatoes" Does the symbol for "peel","chop" or "cut" convey your meaning better? Symbols can be renamed to have a meaning more appropriate to your need. For instance, if“Watch” and “play” are not suitable. “Audience” can be renamed.

You can also construct your own symbols using a snip or screen shot and then insert your own new and improved symbol in its place.

Get rid of unnecessary clutter

Using a symbol maker is not a universal answer to visual resources. There are many symbols which contain no useful information, do not work in the context of the resource, or have no meaning to the individual. These over complicate and clutter the document.

Take away the words and look only at the symbols. Can you understand clearly what its meant without the words? How is the learner meant to understand if you cannot? Ask yourself; is the symbol useful and understandable to your learner? If not, either remove it or change it.

Symbols do not work for specific objects, people or places

A symbol cannot represent specific information which is important to the learner. In these situations the symbols have no meaning or the wrong meaning to the individual, and the resource is not of practical use. (Laurie’s responses in italics below)

What words are deemed a specific and important will grow and change all the time with the individual. They take up new interests and meet new people. Places become familiar or moving onto somewhere new. Symbols can also be learned over time when used every day and as reading skills develop this can outweigh the importance of the symbols for some. But this is a personal and fluid process and one person's resources will not be the same as another's.

The key detail really is that symbols should add information, and not over complicate.The meaning and understanding for the individual should always be at the centre of what we do.