Comments on: Choiceworks Visual Support System

By: Sigrid Tirpak

Sigrid Tirpak — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:48:11 +0000

Hello, this is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting in your blog especially on how to determine the topic. keep up the good work.

By: Asperger parent

Asperger parent — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:52:24 +0000

We have been extremely satisfied with this product & the benefits. Not only did it exceed or expectations, but the supplier was a great resource and very responsive to our followup questions. I would highly recommend both the product and the company.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: BeeVisual

BeeVisual — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:49:15 +0000

"The Choiceworks System is very creative and thoughtfully developed and should be most helpful for teachers, parents and children."

Gary Mesibov, Ph.D.
Professor and Director TEACCH, UNC Chapel Hill

"I am so proud of the visual supports that Bee Visual has created, as the development of emotional regulation is so critical to a child's social and communicative competence. I believe Choiceworks is a wonderful asset and will help many children."

Emily Rubin, MS, CCC-SLP
Director, Communication Crossroads
Adjunct Professor Yale University

Rating: 5 / 5

By: Marie L. Jefferson

Marie L. Jefferson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:39:56 +0000

This is great teaching tool for my son with Autism to know his schedule ahead of time,be able to tell us how he is feeling when he otherwise couldn’t and most important learn to take turns and share. I would highly recommend this for home and school!
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Autsim tested, Mother approved

Autsim tested, Mother approved — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:24:20 +0000

My 6 year-old son with Autism loves this system. He looks forward to creating his schedule each morning, and loves being able to make his own choices for rewards. There are only three small design issues I have with this item.

First, because there is one stand and three boards, you either switch boards constantly, or have the other two sitting somewhere else. I found this to be less efficient, and hot glued magnets on the back of the orange and green boards so that they can stay put on my fridge door, and my son can reach them. The stand with the schedule board hangs nicely on the mounting hardware provided.

The second issue I have is with the timer which comes on the orange board. Not only was the battery difficult to replace, but it has no on and off button, so it stays on all the time. I have already gone through one battery in just a couple weeks. These little batteries are a pain to change out, and I chipped off a piece of the back plastic trying to pry the dead one out. I do like it’s magnetic component and clip component, however, and it’s easy use makes it perfect for kids to use.

Finally, because the graphics only come with a Caucasian male child, it may not connect visually with children, especially who are autistic, who are not Caucasian, or who are female.

Overall, I love this product, and would recommend it even to parents of younger children who may not have behavioral issues, but who benefit from visual aids. I look forward to the next phase of this product, and maybe even a release of additional graphic magnets, for things like traveling, grandparents, church, the movies, etc.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Cindy H.

Cindy H. — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:58:03 +0000

I purchased this product before I learned that autism is treatable. I guess this product is okay, but I wouldn’t say it made any significant improvements, if at all, to my son’s behavior. It probably did help with the day-to-day hassle of having to get him through the routine, in a way that, instead of manually create this tool using pencil and paper, this tool is reusable everyday. However, it did not get rid of the real problem, which was the fact that my son was struggling and autistic. My son used have tantrums, sensory integration issues, limited speech, and lack eye contact. He was hyperactive, “detached”, aggressive, loud, disruptive,unable to cope in the classroom setting, library, cafetaria, gym class, school bus, recess, etc. But at the end, as soon as I implemented biomedical treatments (i.e.: cleaned his diet, GFCF diet, cleaned his gut, added vitamins and supplements, methyl B12 shots, yeast treatments, digestive enzymes and probiotics) automatically his behavior issues disappeared and he is picking up all the skills for his age. He used to be full time in special ed class yet still struggled and barely learned anything in school or had any friends due to his inability to cope in large settings. Today, 2 years later, he is in the mainstream class with zero behavior issues and is very independent. No one can tell he has autism now.

If you have a child with autism, wherever you may be in the spectrum, I recommend you to fix the roots of the problem instead of treating the symptoms. A DAN! doctor can help treat your child based on the child’s individual need. I live in Northern VA and consult with Dr. Neubrander in NJ. Most DAN! doctors only need to see you once a year. Consults are via the phone. Dr. N is especially structured and efficient in treating his patients, you get the most out of your time and money. Tantrums is a symptom, but not the underlying cause of the issue. Fix the underlying medical issues, and the symptoms will improve. My son is a living proof that autism is treatable. [...]
Rating: 3 / 5