Dolly McCloskey Sunday, August 24, 2014 For more information visit my website!

1. Assistive Technology for Children with Autism Click on this photo for a video introduction. Dolly McCloskey Sunday, August 24, 2014 For more information visit my website! http://www.angelfire.com/planet/missdolly/

2. Introduction to Autism(scanned in picture & text) Click on ribbon to view OCR scan

3. What is Autism? • A developmental disability. • Affects a child's ability to: • Communicate • Form relationships with others • Respond appropriately to the environment • Usually diagnosed first three years of life • Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries • Autism Growth Comparison Chart 2004 (Prevalence) http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=allaboutAutism

4. Characteristics of Autism • Severe delays in language development • Uneven patterns of intellectual functioning • Severe delays in understanding social relationships • Difficulty with change or transitions • Lack meaningful eye contact • Inconsistent patterns of sensory responses.

5. What is Assistive Technology? • Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/sped/autism/assist/asst10.htm

6. Autism & Technology • Individuals with Autism process visual information easier than auditory information. • Assistive technology gives information through their strongest processing area (visual).

7. Types of Assistive Technology • “Low” Technology • Visual Representation Systems, Picture Exchange Communication System, & Sign Language • “Mid” Technology • Language Master, Cheap Talk, Alpha Talker • “High” Technology • ChatPC, DynaVox, DynaMyte

8. “Low” Technology • Visual support strategies that don’t involve any type of electronic or battery operated equipment. • Three examples of “low” technology • Visual Representation Systems • Picture Exchange Communication System • Sign language

9. Visual Representation Systems • Student uses pictures to communicate • Enhances the child’s expressive and receptive communication skills • Boardmaker computer program • “Picture Communication Symbols” • Can create visual schedules or visual direction schedules as shown To learn more click on the pictures!

10. PECS • Icon picture based system • Developed by Pyramid Education Consultants • Develops communication skills by using pictures or a series of pictures

11. Useful for individuals who have little or no verbal abilities or communication skills • Requires little training • Costs nothing • Requires adequate fine motor skills

12. “Mid” Technology • Any battery operated devices or "simple" electronic devices requiring limited advancements in technology. • Voice Output Communication Aids • Static Display Screens • Push picture to speak label • Three examples are: • Language Master • Cheap Talk • Alpha Talker

13. Language Master Records and replays one’s voice Used to build language skills and articulation Cheap Talk Static display Outputs pre-recorded messages at a touch of a button Types of “Mid” Technology • Alpha Talker • Digitized Speech device • Static Keyboard • One touch on picture outputs voice

14. Most expensive and complex Used for children with the most severe cases of Autism. Those who are nonverbal. Dynamic Displays Allow individual to navigate through different pages Three examples ChatPC DynaVox DynaMyte “High” Technology

15. PocketPC computer Synthesized and digitized speech output Dynamic Display Over 3,000 Mayer Johnson PCS symbols Messages output by a DecTalk speech synthesizer ChatPC

16. 12 inch color LCD touch screen dynamic display Benefits communicators with visual and fine impairments 17 communication page sets 3,300 different picture symbols called DynaSyms. DECtalk - 10 synthesized voice options Miniature DynaVox 6.5 inch color LCD touch screen dynamic display Perfect for ambulatory communicators Only 3 pounds – easy to carry Powerful processing speed Built in remote control DECtalk – 10 synthesized voice options DynaVox & DynaMyte

17. Take time to decide on a device to best fit the child • Process of trial and error • The right assistive device can make a world of difference. Conclusion Click on the picture to view my research paper!!

18. Click for closing remarks.

19. Resources • Autism Society http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=whatisautism • Autism Society http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6840&JServSessionIdr011=xrnbn 6y1f1.app7b&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=-1 • Autism Interventions and Strategies for Success- CESA 7 http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/sped/autism/assist/asst10.htm http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/sped/autism/assist/asst11.htm http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/sped/autism/assist/asst13.htm http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/sped/autism/assist/asst14.htm • Center for the Study of Autism http://www.autism.org/sign.html • Pyramid Educational Consultants http://www.pecs.com/WhatsPECS.htm http://www.pecs.com/index.php

20. Resources Cont. • American Sign Language Chart http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/kidsweb/asl.html • About http://deafness.about.com/cs/culturefeatures3/a/nonverbal.htm • Nebraska Educational Assistive Technology http://www.neatinfo.net/equipment/alphatalker.html http://www.neatinfo.net/equipment/chatpc2.html http://www.neatinfo.net/equipment/dynamyte.html • Technical Solution Australia http://www.tecsol.com.au/CheapTalk.htm • DynaVox Technologies http://www.dynavoxsys.com/ • Towson University Http://tiger.towson.edu/users/kaziz1/dynavox.htm