The effectiveness of visual activity schedules for individuals with intellectual disabilities: A meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Background: This meta-analysis focused on the teaching of skills to individuals with intellectual disability (ID) to maximise independence increase the likelihood of full participation in all aspects of life, economic self-sufficiency, and independent living. Visual activity schedules (VAS) is an intervention with a growing evidence base that focuses on developing independence.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of VAS effects on independence skills of individuals with ID. Thirteen single-case design studies met the meta-analytic inclusion criteria, including evidence of a functional relationship via visual analysis. For each graph, three effect size metrics were calculated. The overall effect sizes were calculated with a random effect models and potential influence of moderators with meta-analytic regression models.

Results: Results suggest that VAS has a meaningful impact on increasing independent skills for individuals with ID with type of instruction the only moderator.

Conclusions: The results suggest all modes of VAS are likely to yield positive effects across age groups, settings, and skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Activity schedules
• intellectual disability
• meta-analysis
• single-case research
• independence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Wilhelmina van Dijk http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9195-8772