Transcript Assistive Technology and Autism

Assistive Technology
and the Autistic Child
Presented by Jill Whalen
Fall, 2002
What is Autism?
• Rare mental
disorder
• Occurs only 4 in
10,000 born
• Autistic males
usually outnumber
females (4:1 ratio).
• Occurs in all ethnic
and social groups.
Autistic
Characteristics
• Social interaction seems
detached
• Inability to become
emotionally involved
• Unresponsive to eye contact or
cuddling from infancy
• Prefer to play by themselves
Autistic
Characteristics
• Sometimes develop repetitive
behaviors (rocking, head
banging)
• Don’t exhibit creativity or do
little with it
• Don’t express gratitude and
openness sometimes
Autistic
Characteristics
• No known cure
• Usage and patterns of speech
are usually abnormal
• Able to attain the power of
speech, younger children
barely use it much
• Lack of language development
What is Assistive
Technology?
• An assistive technology is any item, piece
of equipment, or product system, whether
acquired commercially off the shelf,
modified, or customized, that is used to
increase, maintain, or improve the
functional capabilities of children with
disabilities.
Assistive Technology in the
Classroom
• There are many
ways to use
assistive technology
in the classroom to
help autistic
students. Here are a
few examples of
what’s available.
Wearable Computers
• Teachers can develop
simple lessons that
integrate speech with
objects like rocks and
trees.
• Click on image, then the
move arrow. A voice says
what it is and shows
actions with that object.
• Teachers can cut and
paste pictures to create
lessons using numbers,
size, and colors.
Life
Skills
• CD Roms available
to assist autistic
students with life
skills such as
grooming, working
with others, and
making good
choices.
Cue Cards
• Very effective tools—
highly visual
• PEAT—Planning and
Execution Assistant
and Training System
• Assistance with
memory & attention
disorders
Communication
Devices
• Voice Output
Communication
Devices help
autistic students
become effective
communicators and
enhance their
communication
Sign Language
• Since
communication is
usually a challenge
for autistic
students, sign
language can be
another means of
communication.
Onscreen keyboard
• Onscreen/my-T soft at uses concept
called “heads up display”. The principal
objective is to keep users focus and
concentration centered in one place.
Communication Board
• System which allows
expressive communication
by pointing or gazing at
a letter, word, symbol, or
picture on a board.
• Board can be made from
paper, plastic, wood, etc.
Screen
reader
software
• Software which
permits a speech
synthesizer to
read text
displayed on the
monitor
• Printed documents
can be read aloud
AND FINALLY…
• Technology alone is not the answer.
Teachers must incorporate technology into
their curriculum activities using effective
behavioral teaching principles. You must
effectively use fundamental teaching
procedures such as clear instructions,
prompts and effective consequences for
educating students with autism.