Autism+and+AT

There are several of us in the class that teach at DAP/Brennen, so I thought it would be beneficial to have a page of resources that are available connecting AT with children with autism.

This article was written by a person with autism. The authur of the article empasizes her need and want to be able to speak. One paragraph in particular, stood out to me regarding communication systems/devices. "I have a right to communicate in whatever means is possible for me to communicate (within the bounds of not hitting or throwing things at people, although I've often had urges to do that to autism "experts".) And not only do I have that right, but I have the right to //choose// what means of communication is appropriate for me. If I am unable to speak, I should certainly be given other options." http://www.autistics.org/library/spchasst.html

http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/articles/1999/jaba-32-03-0247.pdf This is a research study focusing on teaching students through Functional communication training. One student in the article communicates with an assistive device.

This article focues on using the assistive technology included in a PDA for students with Aspergers. They use the PDA to organize themselves, remind them of where they are supposed to be and when, and to communicate in a socially appropriate way. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/asseenon5/9279953/detail.html

Read this article critically. It is about a "mind reader" technology program that is used to determine the emotional states of people with autism. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2006/04/05/215228/mind-reader-could-help-those-with-autism.htm

"A Retrospective Analysis of Technology Use Patterns of Students with Autism Over a Five Year Period' A study was completed in this article regarding technology that was offered to students with autism to improve expressive communication, social interaction, and writing skills. Some of the students in the article were also offered communcation devices/output systems...most students acheived success with the use of technology as a support. http://jset.unlv.edu/15.3/Mirenda/Mirenda.pdf

This website is a great resource. It shows several boards created though BOARDMAKER to help students with autism communicate, improve writing, and other micellaneous/holiday activities. http://www.fcps.edu/ss/its/howtos/board/bdact.htm

[|Augmentative Resources] - this site has velcro, notebooks, visual aid displays, folders, aprons, display boards and picture schedules.

[|File Folder Activities] - printables that includes substraction and multiplication tables.

An alternative to Boardmaker....same idea, just a different company. [|Overboard Communications Overlay and Board Designer] - download a free evaluation copy. Overboard is a leading tool for parents, teachers and speech language pathologists for creating printed communication boards, schedules, reading/writing activities, visual supports and speech enhanced dynamic display (AAC) solutions.

For all of you that are brave enough to do cooking activities/lessons with our students...here is a site that has lots of recipes available with picture step by step direction. You can print them also! [|Picture Recipes] - these are printable.

[|usevisualstrategies.com] is a site developed by Linda A. Hodgdon who is the author of the book "Visual Strategies for Improving Communication"- (used in EDUC 620) The products and activity recommendations on this site are based on using visually mediated communication, which is has proven effective in developing communication in students with a variety of behavior/learning challenges, including individuals with Autism, Asperger's and PDD.

[|__http://web.teachtown.com/__] another software program for children with ASD. Here is a teachers comment from the site, "This program does everything that I spend months teaching support staff to do - scaffold learning, provide reinforcement, collect data... Not only that, but it explicitly targets skills that research indicates as areas of deficit in our students!"Jessica Lawrence, M.Ed.Preschool Special Education Teacher

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer This is the Autism Society of America website with lots of information and resources.

http://www.christina.k12.de.us/schools_district/Brennen/ This is the DAP homepage incase anyone has any questions you can contact the Autism Program for information.

http://www.cureautismnow.org/site/c.bhLOK2PILuF/b.2300343/k.5A17/Innovative_technology.htm This is Cure Autism Now website with Innovative Technology for students with Autism.

http://www.autistics.org/library/spchasst.html This site has information about Autism, Speech and Assistive Technology.

http://www.health-reports.com/autism.htmlIn this report you will learn what causes autism or autistic like symptoms. More importantly, you will learn how to improve autism in your child.

http://www.babybumblebee.com/autism.htm?gclid=CJHovYXVvI0CFQV5Pgodm3PtLg This video is used to help kids with autism and develop speech.

[|www.specialkids.com] **Welcome to SPECIAL KIDS**, where anything's possible for the learner with special needs! First conceived and created by a parent of a boy with autism - which produced a breakthrough that generated excitement around the world - SPECIAL KIDS exists today to reach and teach children with autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, dyslexia and other learning disabilities, delays or challenges.

[|www.celestefoundation.org] The Celeste Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the understanding of the challenges faced by children and adults with special needs and advancing the knowledge and practice in providing services to such individuals. To these ends, The Celeste Foundation conducts and enables research on problems and their solutions, convenes consumers and professionals to address issues of policy and practice, and consults on a variety of issues pertinent to individuals with developmental disabilities, emotional disturbance and others with special needs, especially those with behavioral challenges